Google Book Search is an application created by Google that allows users to search over seven million books and magazine issues at once. The end result included four years of scanning printed texts and partnerships with 20 internationally-known libraries. Google Editions, the book buying application, will appear on Google Book Search Results starting in June or July.http://www.searchenginejournal.com/google-to-roll-out-book-search-and-buy-feature/20628/ The latest developments with Google Book Search and Google Editions are found on this page.

Currently, over 7 million books have been scanned and are available for search on the Google Books webpage. This total includes the contents from 20 internationally-known libraries around the world, including the university libraries at Cornell, Columbia, Harvard, Michigan, Oxford, Princeton and Stanford.

Google has also partnered with 20,000 publishers and authors to provide access to their books, and create income for those publishers and authors. Once the agreement is signed, the library project will include many of the out-of-print books completely available for preview, reading, and purchase or locate a nearby library.Google: The Future of Google Book Search

In October, 2008, Google settled two class-action lawsuits with copyright holders. Once the settlement is finalized, users will be able to search for books using simple text string searches, and then purchase digital or hard-copy books online or look for available copies in nearby libraries.New York Times: Google Hopes to Open a Trove of Little-Seen Books (January 4, 2009)

Beginning January 5, 2009, potential claimants to the settlement will have four months to comment, opt-out, or object to the settlement. Copyright holders—book authors and publishers—have until April 5, 2011 to object or comment.Library Journal: Hurdles Await Google Settlement (December 15, 2008)

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