Okay, I surrender to the Google train
It's the last day of the conference and I feel like I've finally hit my stride. I'm active, listening, interested and critical… well, I'm always those things – but now it's healthily focused.
I just attended this morning's kenote with Rich Wiggins (Michigan State Univ), Roy Tennant (needs no introduction), and Adam Smith (Google Print/Library Project Manager). These were great – in the style of Washington Week – Rich and Roy debated the goods and bads of Google's relationship with libraries and library materials. I've been suffering from Google overload and have been tuning lots of the conversation swirling around it out – but this was quite good. Basically Rich was pro-Google Print and made some great points. My favorite of which was that what's been going up as 'digital libraries' is NOT… A online collection of biographies of first ladies, does not a library make – it's the equivalent of one thin volume on the shelf in Chocorua (my old haunt). How can we make a true digital library? He proposes digitizing the entire Library of Congress. I would propose a focus shift – PLEASE stop calling your digital initiatives “libraries” – they're good and valuable parts of a library, but they are not libraries by themselves. Let's not further confuse our already beleaguered users.
I've been looking forward to hearing Roy Tennant speak for a long time – I think it was good that this topic and context was the first. He went through a number of ways that the Google Print project would be harmful to libraries. Among others, these were: they're claiming fair-use which has been the domain of libraries for awhile- they're drawing too much attention which might ruin it for everyone. The results screen points to purchase the primary sources, not borrow from your local library. Many libraries, especially big academic ones have no-weeding policies – do we really want to digitize the garbage? The items falling under fair use will be available in full-text and the newer stuff, protected by copyright, will not. The consequence might be that older, and perhaps innaccurate sources, get more use. Also a good concern is that Google is a company and every good business major knows that companies have life spans do we really want to trust our “intellectual heritage” to a company over a well established library? (my answer is something like – why can't it be both… but more on that when me thoughts get clearer AND I love the term “intellectual heritage”.) Also he mentioned advertisements and secrecy on Google's part.
Okay, so, my feelings about this are really fence-ified – but lean toward Rich, I think – Of course I would prefer that a large library does this project, but the fact is that they're not. Nor does it look like the will in any timely manner… libraries are not known for their nimbleness. I hope they get better.
Next Adam Smith spoke – my reactions to him were a bit different – sort of an 'outsider' or 'enemy' hyper-critism? But also a little envy – I want to work for Google! Also the visual contrast of the two aging (sorry guys), white haired, patriarchal librarians and the slick, young, smart, wired, well-spoken Google guy was such an amazing metaphor – bordering on cliche, actually. [I know it's not professional to say, but he's not too bad on the eyes, either - man I love geeky guys. Talk nerdy to me, indeed. Also, when did I get old enough to be attracted to someone wearing a wedding ring... sigh... dissappointing on so many levels.] In general I thought his responses appropriate, well thought out, and understanding. At times they were also a bit Bushian- I picture him patting our collective bunned heads and murmuring “there there, don't worry about your silly little profession – we'll look out for you.” Liz Lawley asked a great question about how Google reconciles their statements that they're only benevolently interested in open information access while simultaneously keeping almost every detail secret. Ironically, although not surprisingly, he dodged this question.
Overall a great and provocative keynote… man, I wish I got this jazzed in the beginning of the conference.
In closing, I wonder if Google, Microsoft, and other for-profits who are suddenly moving within the sacred realms of libraries – dread speaking to librarians. These people are FIESTY – they're smart, well-informed, and they can be damn combative too…. I love 'em.
In other news – I'm finally convinced and I set up a Del.icio.us account last night. My username is The Gloaming. I haven't put much on it yet, but I'm giving it a shot. It's a professional necessity [insert battle cry]. One thing that it doesn't seem to support is rss feeds, something I love about Firefox bookmarks – I really don't want to set up another account with a reader for these… anyone have any insight?
