What do you think of Googles announcement today that they will be working with various prestigious libraries to digitize the entire library so that you can search it online? Is this amazing or what? Anyone in the world will have access to this vast information. It might take 10-20 years. Do you think this will accelerate the freedom movement throughout the world? How will dictatorships like Saddam keep the people from reading...and learning about freedom when this information becomes a click away? Isn't it amazing how these things accelerate the freedom movement faster than cruise missiles?

 

I think it is one of the greatest things that has happened. The availability of information will lead to a more educated, better informed world. This can only be good.


Carmen, I agree with you. Knowledge is all powerful.

A number of years ago, at my oldest son's 5th grade graduation, his reading teacher made the comment that, "Until the end of the 5th grade you learn to read, but after the 5th grade you read to learn." If ever there was a true statement that is it. If all of this information becomes available online, there will be no limit to the learning.

Perhaps this will help the next generation to figure out how to achieve peace.

The future looks very bright.

 

On a smaller scale, you can already do this at Amazon.com, methinks?

 

Always the cynic, I wonder how much impact it will actually have, or how much it will be utilized. It's a grand idea, but many folks don't always act in their own best interests. They would much rather entertain themselves with mind-numbing crap that requires no thought than exercise their brains, hence the popularity of much of the sludge that passes for television programming these days.

Dean

 

I agree with everyone. It's a grand idea that some people will take advantage of while others watch Springer reruns. As far as places like China where political information on the net is already restricted, I imagine they'll just include the books among the information that is banned.

Here's ScrappleFace's wicked take on Google's announcement.

(Edit: I should have mentioned that ScrappleFace is a news satire site--kind of like The Onion. I sometimes forget that not everyone has the same bookmarks as I do and if you're not familiar with the site, then what I posted would seem to be a very odd article indeed. I'm sorry if I confused anyone. )

Google Brings 'Thrill of Public Library' to Your Desktop
by Scott Ott

(2004-12-14) -- A cooperative venture between Google, the internet search engine company, and several major universities promises to bring "the thrill of the public library" to home and office, making it easier for millions of ordinary people to access the contents of books that few want to read.

"Studies show that 80 percent of U.S. families did not buy or read a book last year, and 58 percent of adults never read another book after high school," said a Google spokesman. "When this project is complete, we'll place tens of thousands of volumes of classic literature at their fingertips, where they can fail to read them in the privacy of their own homes."

If the project succeeds, the source said, public libraries could dispose of their collections of flammable dust-magnets (trade jargon for 'books') and could finally focus on their primary mission -- reheating homeless people while they surf the net at broadband speeds.

"And for those who enjoy a lazy afternoon reading a book, doing so online will enhance their enjoyment of this leisurely pursuit," said the Google source. "In fact, with a dial-up internet connection it could take as long as three leisurely minutes just to turn the page."

 

I believe that knowledge is pervasive (in a very good way) and eventually it spreads. This is mostly good but sometimes misinformation spreads as quickly.

Overall, I see this as a true net positive.

 

I heard that that can make you go blind.... Now when they can provide somebody to read that online library to me while I work out (okay, okay....that's something I've decided to try again in the new year).....

By not giving them computers?

 

"Studies show that 80 percent of U.S. families did not buy or read a book last year, and 58 percent of adults never read another book after high school," said a Google spokesman. "When this project is complete, we'll place tens of thousands of volumes of classic literature at their fingertips, where they can fail to read them in the privacy of their own homes."

To someone who reads an average of five books a week, that's scary

 

That's horrendous. I wouldn't be so shocked by the numbers (well, in the first place, if I knew the source of the "studies"...) if it were a world total, but there's just no excuse for those statistics in the U.S. It's no wonder spelling and grammar have degraded.

 

Check out the NEA's report on the dramatic decline of literary reading in the US.

I have a well-educated friend with a Masters who never reads and that just blows my mind. I can't imagine going through life without books. Lots of books. IMHO, having parents who read makes a difference in which kids become adult readers.