For the less poetic among us, I find Peter Brantley's follow-up (linked from the bottom of his original post) more interesting.

It is a worthwhile discussion. Should we have gotten more out of our deal with Google? Yes, perhaps. But, at the same time, this deal is improving discovery and access at a scale and pace we could not have accomplished otherwise. And, if I remember correctly, providing digital copies for preservation.

I think it also helps that we are pursuing parallel efforts with OCA (though I wish the scanning funded by Microsoft was still under OCA principles).

To me, the more important question is: what lessons can we learn from this experience? And how do they translate into new directions? How could we be using this data with its restrictions? (Think MBooks for example.) Harrison, others - what are your thoughts?

I also found Peter Brantley's followup more useful. I'd be even happier had he (or perhaps you, Harrison) set forth the actual things he wished we had negotiated for. His post is about process, good. But sometimes, I think, we get lost in questions of process and lose sight of the particulars. I think we're ready for the discussion he wants...and I'd welcome all to offer what they think should be the first concrete points to *be* discussed.

I think we are still in the middle of this experience (of being googlized) and this project in and of itself is a very profound new direction -- which will have unknown consequences for all of the UC Libraries. The question is can we shape or respond to it in a way that is beneficial for our users (and for us).

One glaring absence in all of this is what our side of the partnership -- besides getting the books ready for google in NRLF -- is? I understand that MBooks http://www.lib.umich.edu/mdp/ (U of Michigan Digitization Project) already has links of its google book resources in its catalog. We are waiting on OCLC to do this. Why is it taking us so long to get this done? One lesson learned from this experience might be that our bigness -- so good in negotiating content deals -- very well might slow us down in cases like this. If we are to coordinate every project and service development through CDL and now OCLC, the interlocking machinations required by 11 campus libraries alone will mean we will be waiting for a while. Instead maybe we should be actively developing new services around this project locally.

A couple of quick responses...

For starters, regarding the agreement, it would have been nice to have had a requirement that Google make a formal recognition of the work of the librarians that selected, collected, and protected these books. Perhaps a "Powered by Librarians" logo on every page ;-)

As for what we could be doing here at Berkeley, I'd suggest doing a little research into what Michigan has been working on since they became involved. The MBooks site (http://www.lib.umich.edu/mdp/) is a good starting point.

Libraries, and Librarians have long been in the business of teaching others how to succeed without us.

So, this should not be a shock. For so long, our mission has been one of granting access right?

But, if this particular arrangement crossed a line, what line was it? Again I ask, what is our mission in these changing times?

Should we be more business like and protect our own interests? Or should we continue to support the goals that Libraries have striven for...even if it may put us out of a job and relegate us to Museums?

Like Tim, I've wondered when our catalogs will start linking to these books. This seems like one of the most basic things we'd arrange at the start. I've heard CDL has a group working on this; some news of their progress would be welcome.

On October 26, 2007 some Google folks gave us three hours of their time in Oakland: Dan Clancy, Jodi Healy, Kurt Groetsch, and Francies Haugen. The ULs invited them, along with the AULs for Collections and for Public Services across UC. The President of LAUC was also our guest. No tee-shirts were distributed, but there was a good exchange (in my view)on the way we think in Libraryland and the way Google is tackling some of our classic challenges. The roughly 30 folks from UC will be sharing what they learned, I am sure.