The Digital challenge

Google is being sued for copyright violation for its "plan to scan and digitize the libraries of Harvard, Oxford, the University of Michigan and Stanford, as well as of the New York Public Library," and offer access to the results to researchers, ala Lexis-Nexis.

It's long been evident that there's a difference between a public library and the internet, but it isn't one of kind, but reach. Are libraries going to have to start paying the authors of books for allowing those who haven't bought them to read them? Unlikely. The library system is too old and well-established and credited with promoting reading. But something is going to have to be worked out to assuage the fears of authors and publishers that the internet will gut their ability to make money from intellectual works. I certainly think that Google shouldn't make money at the expense of authors and publishers, but I live in an area without a Borders or Barnes & Noble within 100 miles, so I'm conflicted.