WebProNews

Electronic Books May Become Really Popular

According to various sources, Google is preparing to launch an electronic bookstore called Google Editions. With Editions, users would be able to buy electronic books and read them on any device that uses a web browser. This of course means big competition for devices like the Amazon Kindle.

Google Library Partners Making Their Own Database

A group of libraries that are participating in the Google Books Library Project want to make sure that their work lives on in case Google doesn't. They're forming a backup database of digitized books in case Google should go out of business in the future (insert joke or snide comment here). The database is called HathiTrust.

Libraries Expand Digital Content

In an effort to attract readers, libraries have increased the amount of digital content they offer including books, music, and movies that can be downloaded by patrons to a computer or mobile device for free.To access the program users need a library card, access to the Internet and some downloadable software such as Adobe Digital Edition, the Mobipocket Reader or the OverDrive Media Console.

Bill Would Deny Kids Access To Social Networks In Libraries

U.S. lawmakers are considering a bill that would prohibit children from accessing social networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace in public libraries in order to protect them from sexual predators.Rep. Mark Steven Kirk, R-Illinois, who sponsored the bill, says the measure would prevent sexual predators from communicating with minors who are using a library computer. Children would be allowed to access social networking sites with parental permission.

Study Looks at Internet Use in America

The newest PEW/Internet and American Life study indicates just how important the Internet is becoming in . . . well, American Life. Of the nearly 2800 Americans surveyed, 58% turn to the Internet first for answers.

Libraries Reject Google In Favor Of Open Source

The Google Library Project gains new members fairly frequently, and a comparable service from Microsoft also does all right.  A number of libraries have steered clear of the corporate rivalry, though, and have instead opted to side with the Open Content Alliance (OCA).

Cornell University Joins Google Library Project

Attending Cornell University as an undergrad will cost you around $17,000 per semester.  But if you just want to look through the school’s libraries, it’s free - some of their content will become available to everyone, thanks to an arrangement with Google’s Library Project.

Googler on Flash vs SVG and VML

In Seeking Alpha’s ongoing Q&A with the Google Finance product manager, my question was: Google Finance is one of the rather rare Google apps which makes use of Flash. I’m curious, at Google what considerations go into deciding whether to go for Flash or DHTML/ Ajax/ browser vector languages like SVG?

Less Sensationalism in Social Media

I submitted an article written in 2005 to Netscape (for those of your outside of the social media world, Netscape a runs "submit and vote on news site" like Digg).

Google Reads Up On Book Downloads

Visitors to Google Book Search will have the opportunity to download and print classic titles from the service. Sometime today, Google Book Search should open its virtual doors to literary fans and allow them to download PDF copies of certain titles, and to print them.