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Let me start off by saying I don't think I have the heard the term "Google Books", like ever. I am a hard copy type of gal, so this is new to me, too. But I am reading about this term, and it is quite interesting and then it hits me, "Duh, I know what this is, but did not think there was a term for it."
Since 2009 Google has partnered with Libraries to digitize the books they hold on their shelves. But if we acknowledge the authors of these books we have to take into consideration that Google might have a problem with copyright issues.
A Good or Raw Deal for Libraries? Google Books and its Implications for Libraries, written by Travis Bonnett talks about these copyright issues. "Some authors felt that Google doing was in violation of copyright laws because authors and publishers felt they were not being fairly compensated for their materials or even asked for their permission to scan their materials (Singel, 6/2009)." (Bonnett, 02/2010).
In case that last paragraph gave you questions, yes, there was a lawsuit where authors and publishers took Google to federal court, back in 2005. Which eventually led to a settlement that gave Google legal status to scan the books but only twenty percent of it and then readers had to pay for the rest.
Bonnett states that the purpose of scanning these books was to make research projects easier and faster. "The project is a great benefit to researchers because rare items, such as Jane Austin's letters from the end of the 19th century or a 1919 Harvard alumni directory, that may be in only one library or archive now may be accessed from anywhere in the world via an internet connection (Toobin, 2007)" (Bonnett, 02/2010).
Google Books seems to have the right idea. Digitize every single piece of literature and with a swipe and click we have access to it in the palm of our hand. It makes research and just leisure reading more convenient, don't you think? But, downside here, everyone wants to be paid, which I can get behind since if it were me and I worked my butt off on something I would want recognition at the end of the day. Google and the authors and publishers did some compromising and now we are fortunate to have access to EVERY piece of literature there is out there. Even if we have to continue to pay a few bucks to read the full thing.
Now actually, reading that out loud made me realize that reading the first twenty percent of a book is good way to think it over if I am interested in purchasing it later on. But that's just my opinion.
Cited
Bonnett, Travis. (02/2010). A Good or Raw Deal for Libraries? Google Books and its Implications for Libraries. http://www.ala.org/rt/nmrt/news/footnotes/february2010/a_good_or_raw_deal_for_libraries_bonnett_
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