Google Books - Good Vs. Good Enough

Examining The Purpose and Function of Google Books Project

(Live Law)

But several things have united them all: a common purpose for the true good of the community, the highest standards of quality in both technology and content, and a deep-seated and long-abiding concern for the curation, and wide dissemination, of our cultural heritage as a living process that goes beyond commodification.                                                                                                                                        -    Ronald G. Musto

As suggested above by Ronald G. Musto, digitization projects usually work to provide high quality digital resources to render information more accessible for the masses. In the case of the culturally-important artifacts, libraries play a major role in carefully preserving our past to ensure that primary resources will be available for future generations. Similar to libraries and publishers, one could argue that Google is another major working body that manages information and makes information digitally accessible to the public. In parallel with library efforts to digitally preserve and house information for future generations, Google Books Project hopes to "make it easier for people to find relevant books – specifically, books they wouldn't find any other way such as those that are out of print – while carefully respecting authors' and publishers' copyrights" (Google Books). In digitizing tens of thousands of materials, Google Books has undertaken quite an endeavor which has revolutionized the public's ability to access information. As a result of rendering primary sources digitally accessible, this project has caused a litigious ripple effect on behalf of publishers and authors whose work they feel should not be made "free" online.

On a more basic level though, beyond the nuances of ownership and copyright, Google has at times diminished the quality of the information they have digitized. In their rush "to create a comprehensive, searchable, virtual card catalog of all books in all languages," the quality of digital renderings persists error-filled digital versions (Google Books). Musto argues that the project guaranteed "a valuable, reliable, open-access research tool" to benefit the greater public good, but has not produced these results. The (mis)treatment of some primary sources has resulted in scanned pages that depict the hands of the archivists and whole sets of missing pages.

Distorted maps, scanning machinery, disembodied hands, folded pages, and even more errors can be found on BuzzFeed's 21 Google Book Scans That Bring Surprising Intimacy To The Digital Book World and on a Tumblr titled, The Art of Google Books.

(Wikipedia)

Last page of De morbis puerorum Tractatus shows the tip of a finger at the bottom of the page (scanned by Google Books)

While the accessibility and searchability of Google Books is a great feat, authenticity and quality should not to be taken for granted when it comes to the preservation of cultural artifacts and documents. Whether an academic or a public library, patrons coming to use library services depend on the quality of the information provided to maintain a high degree of relevancy, quality, and credibility.

Questioning quality control is definitely important when one thinks about the populations of individuals that will seek access to these materials. Downloading an Ebook as a PDF or an EPUB could benefit disabled patrons immensely, especially considering digitally-accessed books allow users to manipulate settings to read text in a larger print or change the screen color. Catering to the cognitive or physical impairment certain users possess allows for greater equality, inclusion, and  dissemination of information. Not all individuals have access to this EReaders or computers, which is where libraries can play a role in providing the tools to facilitate the access to resources like Google Books.

While Google Books does have some improvements to make on the quality of the materials that they provide, there is something to be said about the open-access element of this concept. In rendering materials publicly-accessible, Google helps those who struggle to read and access print materials transcend barriers that otherwise restrict access.


Works Cited

Musto, Ronald G. "Google Books Mutilates the Printed past." Chronicle of Higher Education, vol. 55, no. 39, 12 June 2009, p. B4. EBSCOhost, login.ezproxy.palomar.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=f6h&AN=42531452&site=ehost-live&scope=site.

Orme, Richard. “Technology Brings New Era for Readers with Disabilities.” Elsevier Connect, 24 Oct. 2013, www.elsevier.com/connect/technology-brings-new-era-for-readers-with-disabilities.

Townsend, Robert B. "Google Books: Is It Good for History?." Perspectives on History, vol. 45, no. 6, Sept. 2007, pp. 45-47. EBSCOhost, login.ezproxy.palomar.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=31h&AN=26471581&site=ehost-live&scope=site.

Assistive Technology, Libraries and The Digital Divide

Information Empowerment

(EdTech Update)

After twenty-five years as the head of the Ohio Library for the Blind and the Physically Disabled, Barbara Mates writes from a place of knowledge and experience when she speaks about how digital improvements in library resources have greatly increased disabled patrons accessibility to information and literature. Her article titled, "Information Power to All Patrons" illustrates how shrinking the digital divide between disabled patrons and electronic resources greatly empowers library users with special needs. Specifically, she cites “54 million people (approximately 19 percent of the US population)” as possessing a disability. In considering this statistic, it becomes clear to the reader that there is a great need for access to assistive technologies and e-resources that uphold the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), which work to increase accessibility to web content for people with visual, physical, auditory, learning, or cognitive disabilities.

Mates further suggests that libraries who fail “to provide full access to information will prevent people from fully participating in the learning process.” As in any library, understanding the demographics that utilize your library services is one of the first steps in identifying how to accommodate users who may be affected by a disability.

One of the biggest obstacles that libraries face in accommodating handicapped individuals is the diminishment of library budgets. As purse strings tighten, the digital gap between users and technology widens. It takes effort on behalf of the library to seek further help and support from organizations willing to provide monies or support. Mates advises libraries and staff to check for Library Service Technology Act (LSTA) grants that “target funds for accessibility projects.” According to the ALA's description of LSTA, one can describe this act as consisting of:

Federal resources [that] help target library services to people of diverse geographic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds, to individuals with disabilities, and to people with limited literacy skills.

According to Mates, increasing access to assistive technology is only part of the fight for more increased access for handicapped patrons; she also believes that the patrons themselves are resistant to embracing new forms of assistive technologies because of a steep learning curve in understanding certain technological tools or utilizing the internet.

In parallel with this opinion, another article by Lussiers-Desrochers et al. examines the power of digital citizenship for people with Intellectual Disabilities (ID) by discussing how to “enhance people’s power to act and promote equal citizen participation” through the use of digital communication and technology. Lussiers-Desrochers et al. suggests that some software programs promoting autonomy and social participation creates more inclusivity for this particular population.

Similar to other disabilities, the digital inclusion of those with ID has many benefits including: social belonging and increased social communication (Lussiers-Desrochers et al.). Libraries possessing an awareness of internet or technology acquisition usage for persons with disabilities will be able to better customize resources and training to create more inclusivity.

For more information about Library involvement in ameliorating the digital divide, watch this short video by the American Library Association to understand how access to technology is imperative to a person’s ability to thrive in the 21st century. Facilitating digital literacy for individuals with disabilities through inclusive assistive technology and instruction enables all library users to truly benefit from library resources. Enhancing the accessibility to technology, communication, and information for disabled individuals can enhance autonomy and inclusivity within marginalized communities; this action empowers persons with disabilities by providing the tools necessary to thrive in a world governed by technology.

Works Cited

ALA Washington Office. “Libraries, the Digital Divide and How We Can Bridge It.” YouTube, YouTube, 25 Jan. 2013, www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vBNp0AdWgE.

Lussier-Desrochers, Dany, et al. "Bridging the Digital Divide for People with Intellectual Disability." Cyberpsychology, vol. 11, no. 1, Mar. 2017, pp. 53-72. EBSCOhost, doi:10.5817/CP2017-1-1.

Mates, Barbara T. and Char Booth. "Information Power to All Patrons." Library Technology Reports, vol. 48, no. 7, Oct. 2012, pp. 7-13. EBSCOhost, login.ezproxy.palomar.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=83242900&site=ehost-live&scope=site.

Who Does Assistive Technology Help?

As the student who first set up this blog, I was responsible for contacting my blog comrades, naming the blog, and ensuring that each group member was invited to the blog. As the creator, I was also responsible for then assigning "Admin" status to each group member.

As a creative act, I also wanted to embed a video, relevant to the subject of our blog. In an effort to introduce the topic of Assistive Technology, I thought it important to illustrate who benefits from these devices and how these devices have changed people's lives in relation to literacy and books. Having worked with learning challenged students for many years, I have seen first hand how assistive technology helps young minds to grasp new concepts while coping with their learning challenge.