Content Matters

Google has announced that it will take a six month breather from digitizing any more publisher content from libraries, under the Google Print program announced a year ago.

The goal will be to provide publishers a window of opportunity to decide which published works they do or do not want included in the Google offering.  Under the new model, publishers can either opt-in or opt-out by providing lists of works they want included or excluded. 

When Google first announced its Library project in October, 2004, they did it in typical Google fashion.  In other words, rather than approaching some of the major publishers and striking a deal on how to proceed, Google bypassed the publishers entirely, partnering with library centers.

It's good to see Google rethinking this initiative.  While the concept of libraries without walls is a compelling one, it's worth remembering that libraries don't own their content and that for reference and data publishers, library license agreements were based upon assumptions of usage.  If you change those assumptions, you're going to see data publishers pull out of the library market, or at least change their license structure.

At the same time, this whole issue makes book publishers seem sort of like the music industry with its head in the sand.  As John Blossom points out, the reaction by publishers to Google Print "seems to be more about publishers  awakening to the opportunities for books online rather late in the game."