Thank you Pavi. It is good to hear some word on this from someone who can give an official answer. It is especially good to hear that these talks are ongoing. If seven million books were added to the collection that I could choose from I would be both overwhelmed and as happy as a pig in mud. It is also good to hear from you on this subject because in my first message about it I said that this would be more properly a question for Pavi and said, attention Pavi, but then everyone replied to me with messages amounting to, why are you asking us; ask Pavi. "Philosophers have merely interpreted the world in various ways; the point is to change it." Karl Marx table with 2 columns and 6 rows Subj: [bksvol-discuss] Re: Google's agreement with publishers and libraries Date: 2/6/2009 5:22:30 PM Eastern Standard Time From: pavim@xxxxxxxxxxxx Reply-to: bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx To: bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent from the Internet (Details) table end Hi Roger, Bookshare’s senior management is in continuing discussions with Google on this topic to explore options as it would of course be wonderful if something did work out. We will certainly keep the Bookshare community informed when/if anything is confirmed. Warm regards, Pavi Pavi Mehta Volunteer Coordinator, Bookshare Benetech 480 S. California Ave., Suite 201 Palo Alto, CA 94306-1609 USA Phone: +1 650 644-3459 pavim@xxxxxxxxxxxx www.benetech.org The Benetech Initiative - Technology Serving Humanity A Nonprofit Organization From: bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Guido Corona Sent: Friday, February 06, 2009 12:55 PM To: bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Re: Google's agreement with publishers and libraries Roger, my answer to you once again is that this kind of questions should be addressed directly to Pavi. Regards, G. Guido Dante Corona IBM Research, Human Ability & Accessibility Center, (HA&AC) Austin Tx. Phone: (512) 286-5794 Email: guidoc@xxxxxxxxxxx Web: http://www.ibm.com/able 'there is nothing worse than a sharp image of a fuzzy concept' Ansel Adams Rogerbailey81@xxxxxxx Sent by: bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 02/06/2009 02:07 PM Please respond to bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx table with 2 columns and 3 rows To bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx cc Subject [bksvol-discuss] Re: Google's agreement with publishers and libraries table end Okay, that is exactly what I was asking about. The answer is that, indeed, Bookshare has tried to do that. I was unaware of that, but I am gratified that it has been tried. Now the question is what is the problem with Google anyway? "Philosophers have merely interpreted the world in various ways; the point is to change it." Karl Marx table with 2 columns and 6 rows Subj: [bksvol-discuss] Re: Google's agreement with publishers and libraries Date: 2/6/2009 2:48:02 PM Eastern Standard Time From: siss52@xxxxxxxxxxx Reply-to: bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx To: bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent from the Internet (Details) table end Roger, Jim Fruchterman mentioned sometime back that he was trying to get Google to do just what you are asking. At that time, they were uncooperative. Why don't you write to him about this? None of us can do anything about it. <smile> Sue S. ----- Original Message ----- From: Rogerbailey81@xxxxxxx To: bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Friday, February 06, 2009 1:34 PM Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Re: Google's agreement with publishers and libraries I understand that. I am asking about the feasibility of asking Google to supply their millions of books to Bookshare like publishers supply their publisher quality books. "Philosophers have merely interpreted the world in various ways; the point is to change it." Karl Marx table with 2 columns and 6 rows Subj: [bksvol-discuss] Re: Google's agreement with publishers and libraries Date: 2/6/2009 2:21:00 PM Eastern Standard Time From: guidoc@xxxxxxxxxx Reply-to: bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx To: bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent from the Internet (Details) table end Roger, Volunteers are to submit only books they scan from hard copy. Any submissions of any electronically sourced materials is reserved to Bookshare staffers. If you have questions, please contact Pavi directly for guidance. Regards, G. Guido Dante Corona IBM Research, Human Ability & Accessibility Center, (HA&AC) Austin Tx. Phone: (512) 286-5794 Email: guidoc@xxxxxxxxxxx Web: http://www.ibm.com/able 'there is nothing worse than a sharp image of a fuzzy concept' Ansel Adams Rogerbailey81@xxxxxxx Sent by: bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 02/06/2009 10:05 AM Please respond to bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx table with 2 columns and 3 rows To bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx cc Subject [bksvol-discuss] Re: Google's agreement with publishers and libraries table end I was aware of all that, well, most of it anyway. My point is that we are allowed to scan and post almost any book for distribution among a population of people with documented disabilities without compensation to or permission from the copyright holders. That should mean that it should be legal for Google to turn over the complete text of all those millions of books, with the exception of certain books such as collections of plays, to Bookshare. In the case of Bookshare those restrictions should not apply. Now, my understanding may be wrong, but if it is it doesn't show as such from this item from Google itself. That is why I am asking if Google has been approached or if there are any plans to approach Google just like publishers have been approached for publisher quality books. "Philosophers have merely interpreted the world in various ways; the point is to change it." Karl Marx table with 2 columns and 6 rows Subj: [bksvol-discuss] Google's agreement with publishers and libraries Date: 2/6/2009 1:13:44 AM Eastern Standard Time From: popularplace@xxxxxxxxx Reply-to: bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx To: bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent from the Internet (Details) table end Roger, There are limitations. Below is the skinny, as we used to say, which I found at http://books.google.com/googlebooks/agreement/ Cindy "The Future of Google Book Search Our groundbreaking agreement with authors and publishers. Three years ago, the Authors Guild, the Association of American Publishers and a handful of authors and publishers filed a class action lawsuit against Google Book Search. Today we're delighted to announce that we've settled that lawsuit and will be working closely with these industry partners to bring even more of the world's books online. Together we'll accomplish far more than any of us could have individually, to the enduring benefit of authors, publishers, researchers and readers alike. It will take some time for this agreement to be approved and finalized by the Court. For now, here's a peek at the changes we hope you'll soon see. 1. Book Search today 2. How Book Search will change 3. Three types of books 4. The Book Rights Registry 5. Libraries and universities 6. Looking forward Book Search today Right now, you can search over the full text of some seven million books through Google Book Search. Try it out for yourself: Whenever you do a Google web search, you're also searching our book index; any relevant hits will appear in your search results, and clicking on a result will take you to the relevant page in the book, where you can browse a few more pages and learn where to borrow or buy it. [photographic samples deleted] The books in Google Book Search come from two sources. The Library Project We've partnered with renowned libraries around the world to include their collections in Book Search. For Library Project books that are still in copyright, our results are like a card catalog; we show you info about the book and, generally, a few snippets of text showing your search term in context.. For Library Project books that are out of copyright, however, you can read and download the entire book. Snippet view of in-copyright book Full view of out-of-copyright book Preview of Partner Program book The Partner Program We’ve also partnered with over 20,000 publishers and authors to make their books discoverable on Google. You can flip through a few preview pages of these books, just like you'd browse them at a bookstore or library. You'll also see links to libraries and bookstores where you can borrow or buy the book. You can learn more about, and sign up for, the Partner Program here. How Book Search will change Once approved, this agreement will allow us and our publishing industry partners to greatly expand the number of books that you can find, preview and buy through Google. Here's how. Out of print books Until now, we've only been able to show a few snippets of text for most of the in-copyright books we've scanned through our Library Project. Since the vast majority of these books are out of print, to actually read them you'd have to hunt them down at a library or a used bookstore. Snippet view Preview Paid Full View This agreement will allow us to make many of these out-of-print books available for preview, reading and purchase in the U.S.. Helping to ensure the ongoing accessibility of out-of-print books is one of the primary reasons we began this project in the first place, and we couldn't be happier that we and our author, library and publishing partners will now be able to protect mankind's cultural history in this manner. Accessing books This agreement will create new options for reading entire books (which is, after all, what books are there for). * Online access Once this agreement has been approved, you'll be able to purchase full online access to millions of books. This means you can read an entire book from any Internet-connected computer, simply by logging in to your Book Search account, and it will remain on your electronic bookshelf, so you can come back and access it whenever you want in the future. * Library and university access We'll also be offering libraries, universities and other organizations the ability to purchase institutional subscriptions, which will give users access to the complete text of millions of titles while compensating authors and publishers for the service. Students and researchers will have access to an electronic library that combines the collections from many of the top universities across the country. Public and university libraries in the U.S. will also be able to offer terminals where readers can access the full text of millions of out-of-print books for free. * Buying or borrowing actual books Finally, if the book you want is available in a bookstore or nearby library, we'll continue to point you to those resources, as we've always done. To unsubscribe from this list send a blank Email to bksvol-discuss-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx put the word 'unsubscribe' by itself in the subject line. To get a list of available commands, put the word 'help' by itself in the subject line. ************** Great Deals on Dell Laptops. Starting at $499. ( http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100000075x1217883258x1201191827/aol?redir=http:/ /ad.doubleclick.net/clk;211531132;33070124;e) ************** Great Deals on Dell Laptops. Starting at $499. 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