Category Archives: online books

How to find complete multi-volume works in Google Books

Posted on March 30, 2009 by John Mark Ockerbloom

While Google’s agreement on copyrighted books has been the subject of much discussion lately, they’ve also been continuing to add public domain titles at a brisk pace.  For instance, they announced in February that they now had 1.5 million public … Continue reading →

Posted in online books | 3 Comments

The Google Books settlement: A symposium, and a call for library action

Posted on March 18, 2009 by John Mark Ockerbloom

Last Friday I went to a fascinating symposium at the Columbia Law School: “The Google Books Settlement: What Will it Mean for the Long Term?” The symposium included presentations by US copyright register Marybeth Peters, and antitrust expert Randal Picker … Continue reading →

Posted in libraries, metadata, online books, open access, reading, sharing | 2 Comments

Neil Gaiman wins Newbery medal; more Newbery honorees go online

Posted on January 27, 2009 by John Mark Ockerbloom

I just got back from a whirlwind trip to Denver for ALA Midwinter.    While I was there, they announced the winner of this year’s Newbery medal: Neil Gaiman‘s Graveyard Book.  I’ve been hoping to get around to this book– but … Continue reading →

Posted in awards, copyright, online books | 1 Comment

Why Banned Books Week matters

Posted on September 29, 2008 by John Mark Ockerbloom

It’s Banned Books Week again, and Amnesty International, the American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression and the American Library Association are among the groups noting the occasion. I’ve also updated the links on my ongoing exhibit Banned Books Online in … Continue reading →

Posted in censorship, crimes and misdemeanors, libraries, online books, reading | 8 Comments

Changing the subject(s)

Posted on August 19, 2008 by John Mark Ockerbloom

When I implemented subject maps for browsing the Online Books Page by subject a while back, I had a big problem to face: I didn’t actually have subject terms for the books. How could I implement subject browsing without subjects? … Continue reading →

Posted in discovery, libraries, meta, online books | 2 Comments

Celebrating freedom, in various ways

Posted on July 2, 2008 by John Mark Ockerbloom

This week marks both the anniversary of Canadian confederation (Canada Day, July 1), and the anniversary of American independence (Independence Day, July 4, or should that be July 2?) This week I’m also finishing up subject cataloging of online books … Continue reading →

Posted in online books | Comments Off on Celebrating freedom, in various ways

A break, and coming attractions

Posted on June 5, 2008 by John Mark Ockerbloom

I’m about to head off to the wilds (okay, the farms) of Saskatchewan to relax with family on a much-welcomed break. I’ve got to the point in packing where we’re trying to figure out which books to bring. (Which involves … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, online books, reading | 1 Comment

An implementation of the DLF’s Basic Discovery Interfaces recommendation

Posted on May 16, 2008 by John Mark Ockerbloom

The DLF’s ILS-Discovery interface recommendation work, which I’ve been leading, continues. We’re now in the process of producing the official recommendation, which I hope will be out soon. (Especially since I fully intend it to be out there before I … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, online books | Comments Off on An implementation of the DLF’s Basic Discovery Interfaces recommendation

Hurry, hurry! Free books, going fast! (And new site feature)

Posted on February 28, 2008 by John Mark Ockerbloom

Okay, it’s a trend: Feb. 9: Tor books launches their “Watch the Skies” program, where they send out free ebooks once a week to readers who register on their site. These are best-selling and critically acclaimed books like John Scalzi’s … Continue reading →

Posted in online books, publishing | 1 Comment

The right to read, circa 1906

Posted on February 27, 2008 by John Mark Ockerbloom

For a few years in the early 1900s, some American book publishers came up with a brave new marketing paradigm. Instead of offering books for sale the old-fashioned way, they essentially decided to license them. Purchasers were warned of dire … Continue reading →

Posted in copyright, online books | 1 Comment