Assignment #88

Google’s Book Search tries hard to be an index for all books, or at least all the books it has scanned. It used to be better before their legal problems but they’re trying to make a comeback. I’ve no doubt that at some time in the future, copyright holders will realize what a tremendous benefit it is to have somebody index your book along with the surrounding text for the search term. Right now Google’s snippet thing is somewhat painful but they are trying and they are getting better. Here’s an interesting video presentation on Google Book Search and Google Scholar:

http://www.google.com/librariancenter/librarian_movies.html

Here’s their Book Search Blog:

http://booksearch.blogspot.com/

Get some handouts and posters here:

http://www.google.com/librariancenter/librarian_tools.html

A couple of years ago I researched the movie/book Don’t Go Near the Water (1956-57) and it’s relationship to Guam. Wasn’t much on the Web but Book Search was invaluable.

Play!!