An Infinite Possibility

Technology Review posted an interesting article from its May 05 issue titled “The Infinite Library.” To summarize, it discusses the current push by Google and others to digitize the vast collections of major libraries in an effort to preserve and share the volumes held within their walls. From the article:

Most librarians and archivists are ecstatic about the announcement, saying it will likely be remembered as the moment in history when society finally got serious about making knowledge ubiquitous.

As a passionate consumer of information, I find this terribly exciting. Of course copyright issues abound, but change in context can possibly bring a change guidelines. The article continues:

Mass digitization may eventually force a redefinition of fair use, some librari­ans believe. The more public-domain literature that appears on the Web through Google Print, the greater the likelihood that citi­zens will demand an equitable but low-cost way to view the much larger mass of copyrighted books.

I really hope so. Currently, the Google Library Project will provide full texts only for books published before 1923. Others will be provided in “snippet” form, for preview only. Even with the current restrictions, I am eager to peruse the collections at the Bodleian Library at Oxford, or even Harvard’s Libraries.

It will likely be my only opportunity to visit those resources.


In the “Can’t buy this at Best Buy” category:
Nicholas Negroponte, of the MIT Media Lab is working to build a laptop for third-world countries that costs under $100. Can it be done? Time will tell.