No, it does not mean that. The ability to download scans for private research exists for all, via the public interface (which is, of course, designed to make it difficult to download hundreds of scans at once). The only perk that transcribers enjoy is the ability to download scans via a less cumbersome interface. There is no wish to withdraw that perk, and if transcribers want to download small amounts of material for personal use via the GUS interface, that isn't going to cause a problem. Unfortunately, a number of transcribers have abused the perk. The download limits are helping to an extent, but what we are seeing now is some transcribers setting up automated downloaders that download until cut off, and continue trying until the access is reset, and download the limit again. Some people see the download limit as a daily allowance that they are entitled to. In composing the message below, I overstated the case in the final paragraph, which should have read "he scan download facility should only be used to download allocated scans and limited numbers of scans for genuine personal research" On 29 September 2010 14:49, D LOWE <derek_lowe@btinternet.com> wrote: > Just to clarify this. Does this mean that the only perk that our volunteer > transcribers have ever had - the ability to download scans for their > private > research - is now totally withdrawn and that in future they will only be > able to download scans of pages allocated to them? > > I appreciate that now you have employed a Executive Director you have to > watch the pennies so that his salary can be paid, but I would have thought > that the limits imposed earlier on downloads would not lead to the bank > being broken and would not upset those of our generous, valuable > transcibers > being alienated by a total ban. > > Derek Lowe > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "david mayall" <david.mayall@googlemail.com> > To: "freebmd-syndicates" <freebmd-syndicates@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Wednesday, September 29, 2010 11:18 AM > Subject: Use of FreeBMD scans > > > > As many co-ordinators will recall, there was a discussion a few weeks ago > > on > > the FreeBMD lists about ways of downloading multiple scans easily. > > > > At the time, I was less than happy that such tips were being given, as > > they > > inevitably lead to a spate of people thinking that it is a good idea to > > download lots of scans that they are not due to transcribe. > > > > As expected, this was exactly what happened, and over the past few weeks > a > > new mechanism was introduced to block excessive usage of the server. > > > > Where transcribers are blocked from downloading, we contact them to > > determine WHY they were downloading excessive numbers of scans. Almost > > invariably the answer is that they were engaged in some "personal > project" > > or that they were doing some work that they had dreamed up to check other > > people's work. > > > > We need to remind transcribers that scan downloads have a cost to the > > organisation, and that FreeBMD is not in a position to provide facilities > > for mass downloads for personal projects. Neither do we have resources to > > fund well-meant attempts to duplicate existing quality control systems. > > > > Could I ask that all co-ordinators add to the initial information that > > they > > give to transcribers the fact that the scan download facility should only > > be > > used to download allocated scans. > > > > > > -- > > Dave Mayall > > > > ------------------------------- > > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > > FREEBMD-SYNDICATES-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' > > without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > FREEBMD-SYNDICATES-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' > without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > -- Dave Mayall