Library Groups Voice Concerns About Google Books
Wendy Davis, MediaPost News Online
5/7/09
http://www.mediapost.com/publications/?fa=Articles.showArticle&art_aid=105460
The American Library Association, Association of College and Research Libraries and Association of Research Libraries - which represent 139,000 U.S. libraries - are concerned over Google's new "digital books," which I'm guessing are very comparable to the more-known Kindle (by Amazon). Their concerns lie with a potential settlement in a lawsuit against Google, by authors and publishers, that could leave Google in a very powerful position in the up-and-coming digital books market - a market in which they plan on collecting personal information from buyers while they are not obligated to keep confidential. Authors are also worried about this settlement, because they feel that their readers won't want to purchase books without assurances of confidentiality, especially if those books deal with more risqué topics (e.g. sex, drugs). The library groups feel that Google's stance could "stifle intellectual freedom" because they would only have to make 85% of the in-copyright books it has scanned searchable and would most likely censor the books that deal with non-government-approved books (e.g. alternative lifestyle-esque, evolution, etc.) However, Google feels that this movement would benefit authors, publishers and readers, as it will yield a vast accessibility to books.
While I am completely for a higher accessibility to books, I do not feel that a single enormous company, such as Google, should really be in control of the whole digital book market. I can definitely see why the libraries are concerned over the whole privacy aspect, especially since I'm aware that libraries have always strived for private book browsing/reading/etc. And of course I can see why the more alternative authors are worried that their readers may feel that they are under surveillance while they contemplate buying a digital copy of their next book. The whole situation is unnerving, but personally I feel a bit detached from the whole ordeal, probably because I'm not really tapped into the whole digital book market. I borrowed a Kindle from my friend's aunt one time, while we were vacationing in Hilton Head Island, SC, and I just felt uncomfortable with it and my initial excitement over the new technology slowly evaporated. I'd be interested in hearing how the settlement turns out and I at least hope that any "Google book" buyers are aware of their (lack of) privacy when they purchase the product.
I agree with your idea that a single company like google should not be in control of the entire digital book market. Although I think the digitizing of books will benefit authors much in the way the availability of music on the web has benefited musical artists. It reminds me of when Metallica took legal action against the creator of Napster and in fact Metallica's record sales had increased since the creation of Napster. The digitizing of books should allow authors and scholars to get their name out to the public, and possibly increase their literary sales.
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