Thread: British Library books go digital
View Single Post
Old 10-02-2007, 04:32 PM   #12
andym
Groupie
andym has learned how to read e-booksandym has learned how to read e-booksandym has learned how to read e-booksandym has learned how to read e-booksandym has learned how to read e-booksandym has learned how to read e-booksandym has learned how to read e-books
 
Posts: 189
Karma: 793
Join Date: Oct 2006
Quote:
Originally Posted by Studio717 View Post
Don't know about the books, but the 18th century collection is locked down to university access. Nothing "public" about it, unfortunately. (Unless maybe you go to a university library and read them online.)

I hope - but don't expect - the books to be truly available to the public. I have no idea why they feel they have to lock down knowledge. It's very frustrating sometimes.
The British government's policy (rightly or wrongly, there are good arguments on both sides) is to encourage public bodies like the British Library to maximise income. Another example is our Ordnance Survey which licences mapping date (which in the US is, I think, in the public domain) on expensive and restrictive terms.
andym is offline   Reply With Quote