post #3- Google books

Very recently, I have started handling the difficult interlibrary loan requests at work. We've had an influx of students requesting books from the 1700 and 1800's.

Obviously, no libraries are willing to loan out these materials, and the best we can typically get is a reel of microfilm. When I started looking into these requests, I realized that over 50% of them have been digitized by Google.

I was thrilled!

It seems like a win-win situation for the patrons and the library. The benefits go on and on...
great image quality (for the most part)
immediate access
no cost
no due dates
text is fully searchable!
PDF download available
available anytime, anywhere

So... why don't I feel like I have discovered the best resource of the century!?!

People just aren't the excited about what I've “discovered. “ Sure, the students are. But when I tell them about Google books I sense the attitude of "okay, but you won't tell my professor I'm doing this, will you?”

What's wrong with Google books???

I am aware that there are certain copyright issues with Google, so let just focus on the old public domain works such as the ones that my students are in need of. No copyright issues. Just sheer ease of access to quality information... for free! Isn't that what we are all about!

No librarian or professor has directly denounced Google books, but one professor did emphasize the fact that she really wants to "get her students into the library." Whenever I send her students links to Google books, I feel I have to word everything in such a way that her student will still feel dependent on the physical library. I feel like a traitor.

When I first asked my librarian colleagues about directing these ILL requests to Google books, I got the feeling of "well… If that’s what we've got to do." Since when has preservation and universal access become a last resort? I guess since it got the name Google attached to it.

I’m sure you can tell I’m just venting at this point. Has anyone experienced a similar attitude towards utilizing books digitized by Google (that’s how I refer to them now, sounds less threatening than calling them Google Books)? Can anyone help me understand the lack of acceptance of Google’s efforts to digitize works in the public domain?

post #2 - cracking the code

My biggest technical exploration since my last post has been… HTML and CSS… (shiver)

I’ve always enjoyed being on the end-user side of technology, and now, after my first glimpse of the other side, I can say that I am extremely grateful to those who have developed the coding and programming that keeps this world running. I promise to no longer take websites, programs, and applications for granted. I promise to complain less about poorly designed websites, programs that don’t quite meet my needs, and having to wait for ages for the next update. (Oh, that almost sounds like I’m complaining again… I’ll work on it… I promise).

My recent introduction to web development has been exciting; don’t get me wrong. I am just a bit overwhelmed by the sheer enormity of what goes on behind the scenes when I check my email or buy something from Amazon. My measly little personal webpage that I am creating even seems overwhelming at times.

Although I am sure that the majority of my technological endeavors will continue to stay on this side of the fence, I know that this exposure to HTML will enable me to tweak and manipulate different tools to help them better suit my needs. This type of control is very exciting to me.

I wonder if some day, everyone will need to have the ability to create a webpage or understand basic coding language. Up to this point, I’ve felt that being able to create a webpage was a very esteemed, valued, and enviable ability- similar to speaking a foreign language. Now that I’m joining the ranks, I’m wondering what will come next. What’s after XHTML? Will I be left in the dark again? Of course, as long as there is Amazon.com, there will always be “Learn [insert new technology] the Quick and Easy Way!” just a few clicks away.