“The Library of Alexandria was begun in the 4^th century BC and became the largest library in the ancient Greek world, a centre–and symbol–of learning and scholarship. Its accidental destruction by Julius Caesar in 48 BC may not be an accurate account, but it helps emphasise the tragic loss of knowledge on a grand scale that took place as a result. Jorge Luis Borges’ “Library of Babel” is partially inspired by the reputation of the Library of Babel as a universal repository of knowledge, but postulates that the universe itself is such an information repository. New media critics often cite this story as anticipating aspects of the development of the internet.”

Google’s Google Books project is also inspired by the Library of Alexandria in trying to create an online repository of all printed books. There are issues raised with making books available at such a large scale. Before I talk about those issues, I wanted to connect it to something we talked about in class. We were discussing how music is shared and downloaded by all. People said that it’s not as important or problematic as having books on the web, because it is just something that we listen to. While brainstorming that in class, I realized that even artists need to write down their lyrics and song notes. Ultimately, they are allowing their piece of art to be spread on the web. Music artists can be stuck up and try to get discovered without the help of the web or keep their notes and musical discoveries to themselves, but most of them prefer quick feedback and recognition, as should writers.

I do understand that listening is different than reading, because I ultimately DO PREFER BOOKS, but let’s be realists here. Music is on the web, languages are taught by the use of CD’s, which require the use of a computer, books are also turned into CD’s that many people buy or rent from the library to listen to, we share pictures on the web (that most people criticize), we even type our papers with the use of a computer. The Internet is dangerous, but fascinating. My mind can’t even fathom its resourcefulness and how innovative it is! I feel that with innovation comes destruction! Of course there will be issues raised with making books available, but they are already available! You can find almost anything on the web now. I mean, maybe not full novels, but most short stories, articles and blogs are made public.

As with many issues concerning industrialization in the past, digitalization will have it’s issues, but only people on the borderline of change (like ourselves) will be sensitive towards this change. We are border crossers. By border crossers, I mean that we cherish tradition and the notion of the textbook, but also understand the phenomenon behind digitalization. I can go back and forth finding pro’s and con’s for both ends of the spectrum. Today kids are more and more emerged into a digital society. Soon that might be all society knows.

There are  many issues concerning the digitalization of books. For one, the problem of copyright that Miguel Helft raises. I think author’s deserve to know where their work is being published. That can also be an issue, because how are millions of authors or extended families supposed to be contacted by google? As for the orphan books, if there is no author available, then it can’t be our concern to stop others from making money. I mean, yes, it’s unfair, but business is never fair. Which one is better, not to have access to an orphan book that might be mind opening and genius, or to protect it from the public so that no one can read it (so others don’t money from it)?

Other issues involve the validity of the works that are posted. What if the meaning of books change? Oral tradition wasn’t too trustworthy, because stories changed from mouth to mouth. What if the digital tradition makes it easier for people to alter books by the click of links and hypertexts? Where will truth and privacy be kept once everything is open to the public?