ALA Warns Libraries: Google's Calling, So Here Are Questions
Libraries should press Google about pricing, privacy, censorship
Norman Oder -- Library Journal, 05/14/2009
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- Google is approaching libraries
- ALA wants Google to respond to issues raised by library community
- Fairness hearing October 7
(For a set of links, go to LibraryJournal.com/GoogleBookSearchSettlement.)
Little more than a week after three major library organizations filed comments with the federal court overseeing the proposed Google Book Search Settlement, calling for vigororous oversight, Google representatives have begun contacting library leaders with its perspective on the settlement—an effort that the American Library Association (ALA) Washington Office warns may be a “public relations campaign."
Questions for Google
ALA suggests several questions for libraries to ask Google. The first involves pricing. “Since no other comparable product or service currently exists, how will Google keep from disparities in access to its product if subscription prices are, or become, too expensive?” ALA asks. And what mechanism would libraries use to challenge pricing?
Beyond Google’s publicly stated commitment to privacy rights, what solid assurances can Google offer about privacy, ALA asks, noting that the issue was not mentioned in the settlement.
Also, given that Google can omit up to 15% of in-copyright, but not commercially available books it has scanned from libraries, what criteria will Google use in choosing those books and how will it avoid censorship pressures?
October 7 hearing
“Moving forward, it is important to remember that this proposed settlement that broadly outlines the terms and conditions Google, the AAP and the Authors Guild reached during private negotiations is not yet final,” observes ALA. “Recently, the judge presiding over the case extended the deadline for filing comments to the court by four months to September 4, 2009, and scheduled a final fairness hearing for October 7, 2009.”
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ALA Warns Libraries: Google's Calling, So Here Are Questions
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