Google Books and Public Libraries

Yesterday’s class changed my mind about Google Books and collection development. Currently, I remain ambivalent about GBooks, as my previous enthusiasm has diminished. Less than a year ago, I created an online subject guide (http://subjectguides.fortlewis.edu/content.php?pid=67772) of full-text 19th and 20th century American magazines and newspapers; many titles came from Google. I was amazed at the extensive access users had to years of publications, some going back to the early 19th century. For history students (whom the subject guide was created), Google Books has a wealth of primary sources to cite. However, I remember searching through each digitized issue to check the scanning quality, often finding many pages messy.

Getting to the Google legal settlements of 2008-09, I think the provision that only 1 computer terminal per library has access to GBooks is sufficient for small public libraries. Larger library branches serving larger populations, such as the Chicago Public Library, should have 2-3 Google computers per building. Libraries cannot deny that there's a public demand for accessing books electronically. However, I'm troubled with Google's invasion of patron privacy (one of the key values of librarianship) and the possibility of the company gaining a monopoly over all text. By alloting 1 computer (2-3 computers in the bigger branches) per library building, we are still giving patrons the opportunity to access Google Books, which does have a treasure trove of books. GBooks are an option, not the only way, for patrons to read. As for subscription rates, it’s hard for me to place an exact monetary value for public libraries. Obviously GBooks shouldn’t charge for public-domain materials like “classic” books or magazines. However, use of materials like reference books and "orphan books" should have some fees. I think it’s completely unfair that users can’t save or print books (at least public-domain works) or at least portions. I created that subject guide hoping that patrons could print copies of articles when needed.

If libraries don't "piggy-back" on GBooks, this resource might help facilitate weeding in public libraries. For example, GBooks has digitized Life Magazine from 1936-72; libraries could weed these copies to save shelf space if the online text's scanning quality is good. GBooks has extensive access to other popular magazines ranging from Popular Mechanics to The Weekly World News. I think that GBooks could be very useful to collection management because its digital library of "classic" books (Grimm's Fairy Tales, The Red Badge of Courage) allows public libraries to save more shelf space by weeding these books.

Despite my reservations about completely embracing GBooks, I find it challenging and exciting in today's collection development. I hope to deal with this issue if I ever go back into public librarianship again.

TS