Minneapolis (MN) - 12 Midwest universities including the University of Minnesota have joined Google in its effort to create a comprehensive digital library.

The new partnership with universities in the Committee of Institutional Cooperation (CIC) will give a huge boost to the Google Books Library Project.  With the new move, Google will be able to digitize over 10 million books.

Google has a six year contract with the CIC schools, each of which will help the cost of the preparation and scanning of library books.  The estimated cost for each volume is around $60.

Google says this new deal is the largest of its kind in the world of digital book scanning.  Both Microsoft and Yahoo have also tried to enter the field, but so far the idea of digital libraries has not been very lucrative for anyone.

Other universities included in the new initiative are the University of Chicago, University of Illinois, Indiana University, University of Iowa, University of Michigan, Michigan State University, Northwestern University, Ohio State University, Pennsylvania State University, Purdue University and the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Why is the University of Minnesota the headliner? I...

Jun 07, 2007 11:45     

Why is the University of Minnesota the headliner? Isn't the University of Michigan the most prestigious university on the list?
Chris report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

No, University of Michigan sucks.

Jun 07, 2007 12:11     

My skool is better than your skool.
Dood report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

U of M

Jun 07, 2007 12:15     

It's because the University of Minnesota is the school that's spearheading the entire initiative.
TGD Mark report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

you are wrong

Jun 07, 2007 12:17     

pfft, THE Ohio State University is the most prestigious :-p author is probably a Minn. grad or fan
beanz report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Haha, take that Big Ten.

Jun 07, 2007 14:27     

My Alma mater pulls through again. It's okay, you all still kill us at football. :P We sort of led the way with Gopher too. ;)
Jhouserok report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Saint Xavier University not on the list???

Jun 11, 2007 09:30     

Didnt these fool sknow how larg SXU's library is ??? I could literally smoke weed in the library without anyone knowing... ahh the good old days... ;-)
xavier report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

UoM (MN)

Jun 13, 2007 23:03     

MN>MI sorry also,UoM(MN) is just a better university overall. oh, and im going there, and I = awsome. therefore we can deduct that google=evil evil=awsome I=evil awsome Ink Deal=good.
Joz report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0