Google's announcement to digitize copyright-expired collections in five libraries created a great deal of buzz in many circles, as covered in a Monitor article.  This is good news for libraries, but it isn't new.  Digitization efforts have been underway for some time, such as the e-text center begun in 1992 at the University of Virginia Library, one of the most established collections dedicated to electronic integrity of full text works. 

Another fact to remember about the Google! initiative is that many of these older books are not checked out very often, and digitizing them for any users with an Internet-enabled device will only increase the likelihood that it will be read.  It can also free up valuable space for libraries for new materials, if they no longer need the original copy of the book.

That's good, because it will increase circulation statistics - increasingly important for budget planning, and the growing emphasis on accountability, particularly at universities and public libraries.

This will only add to further good news about libraries: they are in use more than ever, in more varied ways.  The latest statistics on library trends from the Association of Research Libraries, which includes most major public and university libraries in the United States, indicate that use of materials, interlibrary loans, user education programs, and other activities had increased in all areas.  Even staff levels have increased. 

The report indicates that users are renewing books more often and keeping them out for longer periods of time - surely a justification for more digital copies of books.

The one category with any significant decrease was in-house use of materials.  This interesting fact combined with the increases in use in all other areas reflect that users want to use library materials, but at their convenience or at home.  Surely a case for more digital works, to advance scholarship and cut down on waiting for books.

Speaking of full-text digitization, The Christian Science Monitor's issues were recently digitized from microfilm, by ProQuest Information and Learning. They are searchable back to 1908 via several fields such as author, type of article, date and keyword.  While the pre-1980 archive service is not yet available through csmonitor.com's archive search page, it will be in the future. 

At present, it may be used at many public and university libraries, and possibly remotely with your library card.  For further information, contact your public or university library, or consult the following link.