Live Search Books

Last Tuesday, Microsoft announced the launch of Live Search Books. Consisting of copyright-free works, Live Search Books launches with a considerable collection. I have a more in-depth review in Information Today's NewsBreaks. In working on this story, I came across an interesting example of how some books may only be found at one service or the other.

While Live Search Books is entering what might seem like a crowded market for online books, there are plenty of old books waiting to be digitized. Each of the collections will likely have some unique books. Interestingly, after coming across Ulrich Zwingli, the Patriotic Reformer at Live, I checked to see which other collection might have it. Google Books has it in their database; however, it is only available in snippet view (not full text) despite its 1868 copyright date. It turns out that this title is also available at the Internet Archive and on Amazon. Searching further finds an additional copy from the University of Michigan’s Making of America Books. Another book at Live, Lamb's Biographical Dictionary is not yet found at Google Books, Amazon, or the Internet Archive,