Article URL: https://www.pgdp.net/c/ Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/

Distributed Proofreaders operates a web-based system that turns public-domain books into e-books by splitting the work into individual pages, allowing many volunteers to contribute simultaneously. The site says this speeds conversion. Volunteers compare scanned page images with corresponding OCR text on a single web page and submit corrections back to the platform.

The workflow is multi-stage. After an initial proofreading round, a second volunteer reviews that work against the same page image and corrects it as needed. The book then moves through a third proofreading round and two formatting rounds in the same interface.

Once all pages complete these steps, a post-processor assembles them into an e-book. The post-processor may make the title available for “smooth reading” so volunteers can check for errors before final submission. The finished book is then submitted to the Project Gutenberg archive.

The project relies entirely on volunteers. Registered users can proofread, smooth-read e-books, manage projects, provide content, or help develop site improvements. The site reports 334 active users in the past 24 hours, 712 in the past seven days, and 1,248 in the past 30 days.

Volunteers can join with no commitment beyond doing their best, and the site encourages one page a day or smooth reading when time allows. Its mission is “preserving the literary history of the world in a freely available form for everyone to use.” Recent titles include Ralph Henry Barbour’s “Coxswain of the Eight” (PG #79884) and Compton Mackenzie’s “Gallipoli memories” (PG #79882).

The platform also lists a 1649 Dutch-language title, “Beschrijvinge van het machtigh koninckrijcke Japan,” among recently completed works. The site’s last update date is April 29, 2023, and it solicits registrations and donations to the Distributed Proofreaders Foundation. By coordinating many small volunteer contributions, the project aims to preserve literary history and expand free e-book access.

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