Google pens agreement with libraries

In addition to the earlier story, thanks to Jeff Peterson for this one:

Google pens agreement with libraries

New York: Popular internet search engine Google has reached an agreement with four universities and one public library to scan their books and make them available the digitised contents of the same, aiming to challenge competitors Yahoo and Microsoft.

California-based Google sealed the agreement with Harvard University, Oxford University, The University of Michigan, Stanford University and The New York Public Library.

The project will take around five years to be completed and will deliver a database of volumes that Google users can search, according to the Forbes Magazine.

Scrappleface is not amused but very amusing:

If the project succeeds, the source said, public libraries could dispose of their collections of flammable dust-magnets (trade jargon for 'books') and could finally focus on their primary mission -- reheating homeless people while they surf the net at broadband speeds.

"And for those who enjoy a lazy afternoon reading a book, doing so online will enhance their enjoyment of this leisurely pursuit," said the Google source. "In fact, with a dial-up internet connection it could take as long as three leisurely minutes just to turn the page."

Thanks to Jeff Peterson for the latter link too.

Update (20.16): The Stoa provides some useful links for more on this story, New York Times, BBC etc. And now (20.19) see also The Guardian.