Revisitando Google Books

Once we convert atoms from physical books into digital bits, we can begin to change some of that [la dificultad de acceder físicamente al libro, que ese libro esté disponible en cantidades muy limitadas, o se encuentre en custodia de ciertas organizaciones o universidades]. While atoms remain fairly expensive, digital bits are on a trend where they become ever cheaper to produce, transport, and store. For example, providing every student in a school district with a paper copy of Shakespeare's Hamlet might cost thousands of dollars. Yet if those same students already have cell phones, laptops, or access to the Internet, then they can access a digital copy of Hamlet for just a fraction of the cost. Often times, public domain texts in digital form are more affordable and accessible to the public than their physical parents.

All of this of course assumes that a digital version of the book exists. I love going into work each morning knowing that we're working to convert atoms into bits and that by doing so, we hope to make knowledge more accessible. In a world where educational opportunities are often disproportionately allocated, it's exciting to think that today anyone with an Internet connection can download any of over one million free public domain books from Google Books. Who knows. Maybe some kid will read Treasure Island on their phone and be inspired to write their own great novel some day.

Download Over a Million Public Domain Books from Google Books in the Open EPUB Format
Wednesday, August 26, 2009 at 11:05 AM