My understanding is that libraries that contract with Google to have books digitized are provided with copies of the digitized books, in part to address this very concern. In the end, the survival of Google Books will come down to whether there is a viable business model. But even if Google Books went away tomorrow, it wouldn't be the end of the world. The digitized books from library collections would survive elsewhere. For example, I'm sure the Hathi Trust would thrive in such an environment.
The question of metadata is an interesting one, and I have to believe Google is accumulating a wealth of data on how people are navigating Google Books with the metadata they currently provide (such as it is). It would be fascinating to know what they're clicking on (and not clicking on) and where they're going (and once they get there, whether or not they're staying), if only to know what links people find useful and which ones they don't. Links are for use, as Ranganathan might have said.
Ed Jones
National University (San Diego, California)
-----Original Message-----
From: Next generation catalogs for libraries [mailto:NGC4LIB_at_LISTSERV.ND.EDU] On Behalf Of James Weinheimer
Sent: Tuesday, April 26, 2011 8:57 AM
To: NGC4LIB_at_LISTSERV.ND.EDU
Subject: [NGC4LIB] Google can't be trusted with our books
Here are some important comments in an article from the Guardian: Google
can't be trusted with our books / Simon Barron. (Guardian online 26
April 2011)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/apr/26/google-books-videos
"Google announced last week that it would be deleting the content of the
Google Videos archive. After a public outcry, it said it would work on
saving all the video content and making it available elsewhere. In this
instance, the public managed to change Google's mind and stopped the
mass deletion of a unique digital archive but the situation raises
concerns about data under Google's control, including the unique archive
of Google Books."
The author goes on to discuss some other points, including metadata. My
own opinion is that these issues can and will be solved once Google can
"monetize" its books project. As it stands now, it is just an expensive,
interesting financial exploration.
--
James L. Weinheimer weinheimer.jim.l_at_gmail.com
First Thus: http://catalogingmatters.blogspot.com/
Cooperative Cataloging Rules: http://sites.google.com/site/opencatalogingrules/.
Received on Tue Apr 26 2011 - 12:38:41 EDT