On 14/09/2007, Tim Spalding <tim_at_librarything.com> wrote:
> What do people here think of the following idea, both personally and
> what how you think other library people would respond:
>
> Embedding links to Google Booksearch Books within the standard OPAC.
>
> 1. Only books with the full text would be linked to, not "limited
> preview books."
> 2. Other similar resources could be added too (PG, Open Library, etc.)
>
> It seems to me this would be a service—check out a book before you get
> it. But I could imagine it would also touch a nerve.
Coincidentally, I was discussing doing this just yesterday... what was
suggested was putting this in place for our rare books and special
collections, slapping a Google Books link . A fair proportion of these
have been scanned by Google, and most of them are old enough that the
rights issue means they're likely to be fully accessible.
Having the electronic copy is particularly useful for these, as
they're are the ones we prefer to avoid giving out to people; the
electronic copy can serve as a proxy if you want to work with it
outside the library. Where a book is actually available to be loaned,
I think the electronic text is somehow less important, or at least a
lower priority to list.
For Gutenberg, which concentrates more on works than actual "copies of
books", the dynamic is a bit different; the sensible idea would be to
link to it [or to a local copy?] and call it an ebook, I think.
--
- Andrew Gray
andrew.gray_at_dunelm.org.uk
Received on Fri Sep 14 2007 - 10:32:09 EDT