Books

Books

Some reporting  information of the committee of supply of the Senate estimates that Google is an actor ” incontournable” to digitize the French literary inheritance. It points the lack of public finance to manage to carry out this project. The digitalization of the French literary inheritance is a subject with bounce. In a d’ report/ratio; information of the committee of supply of the Senate entitled ”

The policy of the book vis-a-vis the challenge of the numérique” , its rapporteur estimates Google appears an actor ” incontournable” to carry out this project. ” The ministry for the culture and the communication n’ is qu’ an actor among d’ others of the policy of the livre” indicate Yann Gaillard, senator UMP of l’ Paddle while specifying to have conceived ” some indulgence” for Google during its work. A ” indulgence” who seems dictated by a principle of realism. With a budget of 35 million per annum, France n’ does not have the means of its ambitions in this field. ” The National library of France (BnF) digitizes 100.000 documents per annum, but only 40.000 books.

According to the ministry for the culture and communication, the average costs of digitalization d’ a book in the mass market of BnF is of l’ order of 50 euros. One can thus estimate, in first analysis, qu’ with the current means of BnF, one would need approximately 750 d’ million; euros and 375 years to digitize l’ together ouvrages.” indicate the report ratio. A power struggle favorable at Google According to Bruno Racine, president of BnF, ” the totality of the funds of BnF could be digitized in 10 years by Google”. But the negociations entered into with the american company are cold since l’ summer 2009, in particular following criticisms launched by its predecessor Jean-Christmas Jeanneney.

Last January, a report ratio on the digitalization of the inheritance (still one!) given by Marc Tessier to the Minister for the Culture insisted on the need to digitize l’ together funds of BnF. A project which would cost nearly 400 million over 10 years when the great loan does not envisage ” que” 142 million. And still it is necessary that this financing is ensured, which n’ is not gained according to the report ratio of the Senate. To achieve this objective, ” it appears inevitable to resort to Google” note Yann Gaillard, by obtaining a ” agreement; more balanced possible”. Remain that ” d’ a quantitative point of view, BnF n’ does not have large-thing to currently exchange with Google.” raise the senator UMP. Why? ” Google digitized definitely more French-speaking books than BnF. Under these conditions, the principle “a book for a book” seems to have to relate to flow, more than stock, and to require that BnF increase its rate of numérisation.” considerably; indicate it.

Mitterrand at Google in April The situation does not seem therefore in l’ dead end. Bruno Racine, candidate for his succession with the head of BnF, is in favour of the dialogue. ” One should not be afraid to discuss with Google.Le minister of the Culture must go to California in April. Some is the decision taken, that wants to say qu’ it was legitimate to be posed the question” explain it in an interview with dated March 4 Libération. A manner of saying that the decision will be dictated by the result of arm wrestling between the partisans d’ a public-private partnership and those d’ a financing 100% public.