WASHINGTON, Nov. 22 (UPI) -- The Library of Congress, aided by a $3 million grant from Google, plans to create an online collection of rare books and more in the World Digital Library.
James Billington, the librarian of Congress, said the most ambitious international effort ever to digitally copy items of artistic, historical and literary significance is intended to allow people to learn about other cultures without ever leaving home.
"The danger we all face is a clash of civilizations," Billington told the Washington Post.
However, Billington and Google President Sergey Brin said they have the same dream.
"To me, this is about preserving history and making it available to everyone," Brin said.
While Google is embroiled in a lawsuit brought by publishers objecting to its digitized copying of collections at a number of U.S. universities, Association of
American Publishers Vice President Allan Adler said the Library of Congress project is unlikely to raise legal issues.
