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Saturday 28 August 2010

Haiku #246

Digitise the books
democratise the libraries
they say -- Google hears?

9 comments:

Elisabeth said...

Google hears alright, Dave, in the same way a lion hears a mouth squeak.

Either the lion will most likely eat the mouse or ignore it. Probably more the latter, but I may be too cynical.

Thanks, Dave.

David Cranmer said...

Google, some say, is 1984's Big Brother.

Unknown said...

Not sure how this would work, Dave, if it's intended to be free. The site would probably be clogged with advertising!

Tabor said...

It is always about the money and since libraries have no money, rarely get much money, their voice is not going to be listened to with any real enthusiasm.

Rachel Cotterill said...

I've just ordered a Kindle... the digital revolution is handy for those of us with poor eyesight, and will save lugging around large-print books.

Windsmoke. said...

I prefer the feel and smell of a real book with real paper and real print the way it's supposed to be.

Rachel Fenton said...

Not be long now before kids don't know what libraries were and wonder about those strange "books" their grandparents used to hoard...no fear, google will have the answers!

If everyone in the world could decide to stop using google for a couple of days at the same time it could be a good warning to them. They need us but all we seem to think is that we are at their mercy. C'mon people, what are you going to do about it? Moan at Dave or take action?!

(Yeah, because I do so much...dum de dum...)

Kass said...

If we gag google
will words and meaning be gone?
(google the answer).

Dave King said...

Hi Everyone and thanks.
This came from reading that there's a growing consensus that the world's books should be digitised, but that Google should not have control over them, that the digital libraries should be democratically administered.

Rachel C. I take that point absolutely. I think there are other uses for digital access to books as well. It just underlines the importance of what is being said.

I also accept completely the views of Rachel F and Windsmoke, which I share.

Kass, I think I'm going to Google the question!