Research Help Guide: Google Book Search

Google Book Search

  

Richard Byrne. (2019. May 15) How to use the New Version of Google Books. [Video File] Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PhMoq77NkA&feature=youtu.be

Google Book Search

• Google Book Search is a service offered from Google that searches full text of books that Google scans and stores into its digital database. Google Books was formerly known as Google Print when it was first introduced at the Frankfurt Book Fair in October 2004.

• The books stored in Google's database are from two sources: publishers and libraries.

• You are also able to download PDF files of entire books if they are out of copyright (usually this refers to books published prior to 1923) or if the publisher has decided to allow PDF downloading.

• Google Book Search has also combined with several magazine publishers to digitize their archives, such as Life Magazine, New York Magazine, Ebony, and Popular Science.

The Numbers on Google Books

• As of June 2020, Google announced that the number of scanned books entered into the database now totals at over 25 million.

Pros:

• An excellent way to discover information concealed in a book.
• Search the full text of books and download a PDF or learn where to borrow or purchase at a later date if needed.
• Search by using phrases, keywords, or characters that will not appear in an online catalog.

Cons:

• Issues concerning digitization which is often inconsistent at best.
• Search options allow for more in-depth searching.
• There is no way to sort or filter given results.
• Information that is found on publications is often inaccurate.