Along Came Google: A History of Library Digitization

Along Came Google explores the history of Google's book digitization project and its implications for libraries, authors, and publishers. It examines how librarians and scholars responded to Google's plans and the missed opportunities when a settlement with the tech giant failed. The book sheds light on the transformative effects of the project on scholarship and discusses how we can continue to expand the digital availability of knowledge.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 232 pages
Publication date: 09 May 2023
Publisher: Princeton University Press

Libraries have long envisioned providing universal access to information for all. However, when Google announced in 2004 its plan to digitize books to make the world's knowledge accessible to all, questions arose about the roles and responsibilities of libraries, the rights of authors and publishers, and whether a powerful corporation should be the conduit of such a fundamental public good.

Along Came Google: The History of Google's Book Digitization Project and Its Implications for Us Today, by Deanna Marcum and Roger Schonfeld, delves into the history of Google's book digitization project and its far-reaching implications. The authors conducted in-depth interviews with individuals who both embraced and resisted Google's plans, including librarians, technologists, university leaders, tech executives, and the heads of leading publishing houses. They explore previous digital initiatives aimed at providing open access to knowledge and examine how Google founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page made the case for a universal digital library, leveraging their company's substantial financial resources to bring it to fruition.

Marcum and Schonfeld examine how librarians and scholars responded to Google's actions, highlighting the missed opportunities when a settlement with the tech giant failed. The book sheds light on the transformative effects of the Google Books project on scholarship and discusses how we can continue to think creatively and collaboratively about expanding the digital availability of knowledge.

In conclusion, Along Came Google provides a comprehensive and insightful history of the Google Books project and its implications for libraries, authors, publishers, and society as a whole. The book offers valuable insights into the complex dynamics surrounding digital access to knowledge and highlights the need for continued dialogue and collaboration to shape the future of information dissemination.

Weight: 316g
Dimension: 140 x 217 x 17 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780691224374