Google Books
by Ana Ignacio
Technology has increasingly transformed how we access information, gradually replacing many physical formats. Libraries, in particular, have evolved by incorporating extensive digital collections. In the early 2000s, Google launched Google Books, partnering with major academic libraries to digitize books.
This collaboration, known as the Google Library Project, aimed to make vast amounts of book content accessible online. Depending on copyright status, some books were made fully available, while others offered limited previews. The initiative served as a tool for discovery, helping users locate library materials or directing them to purchase options.
However, the project also sparked significant legal challenges. Questions arose about copyright infringement and whether Google's large-scale digitization was fair use under U.S. law.
Google Books marked a pivotal point in the evolution of digital information access. By making digitized collections available to a global audience, it demonstrated the potential of technology to expand knowledge sharing. Still, this advancement underscores the need to respect and uphold copyright laws in the digital age.
Carnevale, D. (2007). Google Strikes a Deal With 12 Universities to Digitize 10 Million Books. Chronicle of Higher Education, 53(41), A35.
Huwe, Terence k. (2015). Building Digital Libraries. Collaborative Collection Development Comes of Age. Computers in Libraries, 35(3), 25–27.
Google aims to create largest digital library. (2009, September 4). Associated Press.
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