Google Library Keeps Growing, and Growing

The University of Texas library in Austin Texas has better than one million written works, and Google intends to convert them all into digital format and add them to the Google Library Project. Some of the university's collection includes some rare books and manuscripts from early Latin American history.

Google initiated the Google Book Search project in 2004. Its aim was to scan every literary work into digital format and make them available online. Google has partnered with the New York Public Library and major universities such as Harvard, Oxford, Complutense of Madrid and the University of California to add their collections to its virtual book shelves.

They have of course faced some opposition as received outcries from publishing houses and authors. For this reason, Google modified its online library to offer only summaries of copyrighted works along with information regarding where to buy or borrow the books. Additionally they have seen complaints saying that since Google is a U.S. company, they are favoring only English works, but Google plans on rolling out a Google Book Search in French.