We previously mentioned the concerns of the U.S. library community about Google’s project to massively digitize public domain books. The digitizing is welcome, but the secret nature of the contracts with some libraries, and attending non-disclosure clauses, are worrisome.

In the words of Brewster Kahle:

“We want a public library system in the digital age, but what we are getting is a private library system controlled by a single corporation.”

Update on the controversy is here.