US: ATM for books in Google print deal
Fri Sep 18 04:05:29 EST 2009
Thu Sep 17 18:05:29 UTC 2009
WASHINGTON, Sept 17 AFP - More than two million books in the public domain can be turned into instant paperbacks under a deal announced on Thursday between Google and the company behind a high-speed book-printing machine.
Google, which is scanning millions of out-of-copyright books as part of its controversial book project, signed an agreement with On Demand Books that will give the maker of the Espresso Book Machine access to public domain titles.
Espresso Book Machines are located in bookstores and libraries in more than a dozen locations in five countries -- the United States, Australia, Britain, Canada and Egypt.
Like its name implies, the Espresso Book Machine can print and bind a library-quality paperback book with a full-colour cover in about the time it takes to brew a cup of coffee.
"In a matter of minutes you can get a paperback book identical to one you can get in a store at point of sale," On Demand Books chief executive and co-founder Dane Neller said in a statement.
Jason Epstein, On Demand Books chairman and fellow co-founder, described the machine, which was named one of Time Magazine's Best Inventions of 2007, as "an ATM for books".
"With the Google inventory the Espresso Book Machine will make it possible for readers everywhere to have access to millions of digital titles in multiple languages, including rare and out of print public domain titles," he said.
