A recent story in the New York Times describes how some libraries are choosing not to take Google up on an offer to digitize the books of their collection. The most common restriction is that a book scanned by Google (or Microsoft) cannot be found via any other search service. This, of course, generates business for the company that scans the books (and in my opinion is a good business plan). Instead of going with Google or Microsoft, the libraries are choosing the Open Content Alliance, a nonprofit group that will allow the scanned materials to be found via any search engine. The following quote, from Brewster Kahle, founder and director of the Internet Archive, sums up many a librarian’s attitude toward Google:
“Scanning the great libraries is a wonderful idea, but if only one corporation controls access to this digital collection, we’ll have handed too much control to a private entity.”
One hurdle, which could be a major one, is that unlike scanning done for one of the major companies, using the Open Content Alliance costs money. It costs as much as $30 per book and/or 10 cents a page to scan these books.
I think that a little competition is good for business. Having books available via one of the search engines is a definite plus. But, as others have noted, only having it part of one search engine, even if it is out of copyright, does not do much good. Thus, I tend to favor something like the Open Content Alliance. Take a look at the Open Library to get a better idea of what they want to do. If you’re interested in learning more about the Open Library, I suggest you browse through Mr. Kahle’s book The Open Library. However, having the behemoths of Google and Microsoft as competition with their blank checks (the Open Content Alliance is relying on grants for some of the scanning projects, self-funding for others) I think it will be more difficult for the little guy.
Who knows where this will go? I certainly don’t. I like the idea of books being scanned, but until the day that ebook readers are more practical, I’ll stick with the hardcover book.
2 Comments
October 26, 2007 at 2:52 pm
This reminds me of Cory Doctorow’s recent story in RADAR: http://www.radaronline.com/from-the-magazine/2007/09/google_fiction_evil_dangerous_surveillance_control_1.php
I generally think of Google as a benevolent force. They’ve certainly made my job easier. What bugs me is the fact that we librarians didn’t lead the way in search engine technology 15 years ago, and now we’re playing catch-up in so many ways.
October 26, 2007 at 3:38 pm
Excellent article. Thanks for the link!