Google Print needs a new feature -- the ability to access a copyrighted work in greater depth, in exchange for payment.

Example: I am, even as we speak, trying to find out whether the holders of commons rights in 18th century England were compensated at all when a commons was enclosed, and, if so, how much. 30 seconds on Google Scholar (bless you, Google - twp years ago this would once have taken a trip to the Libary of Congress!) produced J.M. Neeson, Commoners: Common Right, Enclosure and Social Change in England, 1700-1820, which looks dead on. But I can only access a few pages (properly so, since if I could get the information I would not buy the book, would I?). So I cannot answer my question.

I probably will buy the book, since I have a continuing interest in the issue, even though it is Cambridge Univ. Press, and thus rather expensive. But that does not help me now. I am in the middle of a thought, here. I don't want to suspend this project for a week. I would much like the option of further on-line access immediately, and I would be happy to pay for it.

So come on guys - get cracking.

P.S. (10:45 a.m.): Just bought it used for $6.00+shipping. A bargain! But it does not solve my time problem. It looks like there was compensation, but a lot of questions about its adequacy.

posted by James DeLong @ 10:18 AM | Books

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