Google and the Library

Sessions Attended:
Friday, January 30, 2009

#1019 Finding and Getting: Google Books, Google Scholar and Free Tools by Melissa Belvadi, University of PEI

#1100 All Conference Plenary Session by Michael Enright, Broadcaster and Journalist

#1212 When is a Library not just a Library? by Ingrid Parent, Library and Archives Canada

#1318 Readers' Advisory 2.0 by Alexandra Yarrow, Ottawa Public Library


In session 1019, Melissa Belvadi showed us some current tools in Google, especially Google Book Search and Google Scholar.

We must recognize the fact that more people are comfortable reading books on various electronic devices in today's world, especially the younger generation. Currently there are over 700 million books searchable in Google, and full-text (full view) is available free of charge if it's in the public domain. This is not confined to books in the academic world. Many popular fiction, classic titles, non-fiction, and even magazines are readily available.

Recently I have been reviewing the magazine collections of MPL. Out of curiosity I tried to find out what titles are available in this Google tool (full-view but not current issues). Here are some examples:

- Maximum PC
- Travel Cruise
- Women's Health
- Men's Health
- Prevention
- Popular Science
- Popular Mechanics
- Baseball DIgest
- Ebony
- Vegetarian Times

I find this fascinating. Google Book Search is currently growing, even though the US publishers and authors have filed a lawsuit against Google three years ago. More information is available on the Google Book Settlement website -- http://books.google.com/booksrightsholders/

Google has also formed partnership with a number of academic libraries, with the intention to include library collections in Google Book Search.

In addition to the content presented in this session, I also learned how important it is for libraries to keep ourselves up-to-date in this information world. In order to serve MPL customers better, it is useful for me to understand HOW they try to get information, and WHAT other resources they may be using.

Looking at the bigger picture, do we want people to rely on Google more than the Public Library? What's the relationship between Google and the Library in the future? Here's a quote I heard in session 1212 -- When is a Library not just a Library?

"Access to knowledge is the superb, the supreme act of truly great civilizations. Of all the institutions that purport to do this, free libraries stand virtually alone in accomplishing this." -- Toni Morrison