Library Link of the Day

I've subscribed to Library Link for some time now. It usually brings me something interesting, like today from yesterday's Wired blog: Google settles BookScan lawsuit: Everybody Wins! http://blog.wired.com/business/2008/10/google-settles.html
Google has settled the three year old lawsuit for $125 million dollars. They will pay publishers and authors for any books they scan that are currently out of print, but still under copyright. The article notes that these are books that probably never will be reprinted anyway. And they are establishing a non-profit Book Rights Registry to manage the royalties. "Publishers now have the option of activating a Buy Now button for readers to download a copy of the book. Google will take a 37% share of the profits, and the remaining 63% will go to authors and publishers." It goes on to state "Universities and institutions can also buy a subscription service for unlimited viewing of the entire collection, and U.S. public libraries will have terminals for students and researchers to view the catalog for free."

I LOVE the fact that Google worked this out so that everybody wins. Sure, there are going to be quibbles about different issues - but the larger picture is that less information will be lost and the people of the entire world benefit because they can all have ACCESS. It's not often you can make that statement and not sound goofy.

I was afraid of this....Library Thing

For several years now, in my wanderings around the web, I have found many, many references to how cool Library Thing was. I was afraid to explore it, because...and let's be honest...I love books! I love books and reading in ways I sometimes think aren't normal. You don't think I became a librarian because I was in love with sensible shoes, do you? No, it was because I would be surrounded by books, and (having a key to the building) I would never, ever be without something to read.

I also love the look, feel and smell of books, and could be considered being just this side of a bibliomaniac. I don't even attend Friends of the Library booksales anymore, because of that certain corner of my house that is filled with bookshelves and stacked with books. And the wall-to-wall bookcase in my bedroom that's full, and the pile of books next to my bed, and next to the couch, and under the windowseat in the kitchen... I've given up trying to keep up with reading the professional book reviews because I've got reading lists pages long already, and my reserve que for my library card is full, and I'm at my library card limit, too. Oh, and did I mention the books on cd in my car?

So one can list one's books on Library Thing, which is great for people who like lists - but better yet - it groups books by subject by tags! Heaven on earth! So when I enter one of my all time favorite books - Pride and Prejudice - it gives me other books I might like to try also. Like books about Mr. Darcy - ooooh; or what happened after they were married - haven't you always wondered? And on, and on, and on....

So now Library Thing will help feed my obsession, and my poor husband and daughter will have to arrange some type of intercession to bring me back to the real world.