Edelfäule (roughly translatable as “noble rot”) is a video of books being scanned, like those for the Google Book Project or the Open Content Alliance.  Except that these books have mold damage.  And the result is hypnotic…

found on if:book

It seems that not all is rosy with Google’s recent agreement with the CIC libraries.  There are apparently some fairly restrictive clauses in the contract, some limiting the libraries access to the digitized materials they provide.

The project, as well as the Open Content Alliance’s scanning project, is terrific as long as everyone wins:  the organization doing the scanning, the library, the publishers, and the public.  If all four groups are able to derive benefits from being able to access the materials (respecting fair use), then the boon for society would be hard to exaggerate.  If any group finds itself cut off, then there is a serious problem.

found on Open Access News

Digital versions of books by and about Abraham Lincoln, brought to you by the University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign) and the Open Content Alliance.

from ResourceShelf