Rare Book Monthly
Articles - December - 2006 Issue
Google Lands University of Virginia for Book Search Project
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It would be hard for either side to dispute the statement from University of Virginia President John Casteen that, "This is an historic moment. When Jefferson designed the University, he placed the library at its center -- both physically and academically. Reading and the quest for knowledge were all-important to him. Reaching out into the world ... was central to his vision of what an American university must do to promote the knowledge that sustains personal freedom."
What would Jefferson have thought of digitization of books? Unfortunately, we cannot ask him, and it's doubtful he ever contemplated these issues. However, it just so happens that the University of Virginia is also home to the Rare Book School, the nation's foremost educator of those who devote their lives to the preservation of rare and antiquarian books. We asked its director, Terry Belanger, what his thoughts were on the controversy. Mr. Belanger expressed his strong support for the digitization of everything "that's legal." However, he expressed greater reservations than did the University when it comes to copyrighted material (The Rare Book School, while located at the University of Virginia, is a separate entity not involved with this project). He described Google's right to use the copyrighted material as "uncertain," and noted, "If I were the judge, I think I'd be on the publishers' side." Of course, neither Mr. Belanger nor I, the University of Virginia, Google, or the publishers will be the judge. But, someday there will be a judge, and whatever decision that person makes will have a momentous impact on the free flow of information and the rights of copyright holders. We will be watching.
