Internet search giant Google announced plans on Tuesday to digitise the contents of millions of library books and make them searchable online.
The Silicon Valley firm said it is working with the libraries of Harvard, Stanford, the University of Michigan and the University of Oxford, as well as the New York Public Library.
The books from those collections will be scanned digitally so that users worldwide can search them in Google.
“Even before we started Google, we dreamed of making the incredible breadth of information that librarians so lovingly organise searchable online,” said Larry Page, Google co-founder.
“Today we’re pleased to announce this programme to digitise the collections of these amazing libraries so that every Google user can search them instantly.”
The project is an extension of an existing Google Print programme, which allows users to search contents of newly published books.
The new programme will make it possible to search across library collections, including out-of-print books and titles that weren’t previously available anywhere but on a library shelf, Google said.
“Google’s mission is to organise the world’s information, and we’re excited to be working with libraries to help make this mission a reality,” Page said.
“We believe passionately that such universal access to the world’s printed treasures is mission-critical for today’s great public university,” said Mary Sue Coleman, president of the University of Michigan. — AFP