Google Library Project
The Google Library Project aim is simple: make it easier to find relevant books. Google hope to guide more users to books - specifically books they might not be able to find any other way all while carefully respecting authorsī and publishersī copyrights. Google's ultimate goal is to work with publishers and libraries to create a comprehensive, searchable, virtual card catalog of all books in all languages that helps users discover new books and publishers find new readers.
But making copies can also be a problem. One big hurdle for the universal Internet library is copyright. Here is how Google will handle the books: If it is a public domain books, when Google scan a book from a library that is in the public domain, you can view the entire page as well as read through the entire book. But if the library books still in copyright, For books that we have scanned from a library which are still in copyright, you will only be able to view the bibliographic information and a few short sentences of text around your search term. 
An Escape Book on NY Times Best Seller
Thomas Hamillīs book "Escape in Iraq: The Thomas Hamill Story" has debuted on the hardcover nonfiction New York Times Best Seller List at No. 31. The book chronicles the extraordinary experience of Hamill, a truck convoy commander, delivering fuel to the U.S. armed forces in Iraq. On April 9, 2004, his convoy was attacked near the Baghdad International Airport. Hamill was taken prisoner and held captive for 24 days. "Escape in Iraq" delivers a chilling day-by-day account of Hamillīs struggle to stay alive and escape to freedom. The book is co-authored by Paul T. Brown and edited by Jay T. Langston.
2004 October Best Seller
"Northern Lights" by Nora Roberts (Putnam); "The Grim Grotto" by Lemony Snicket (HarperCollins); "The Da Vinci Code" by Dan Brown (Doubleday); "The Plot Against America" by Philip Roth (Houghton Mifflin); "The Dark Tower VII: The Dark Tower" by Stephen King (Scribner / Grant); "Five People You Meet in Heaven" by Mitch Albom (Hyperion); "Trace" by Patricia Cornwell (Putnam); "Shopaholic & Sister" by Sophie Kinsella (Dial Press); "Incubus Dreams" by Laurell K. Hamilton (Berkley); "Light On Snow" by Anita Shreve (Little, Brown) (F-H); "Are You Afraid of the Dark?" by Sidney Sheldon (William Morrow); "Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell" by Susanna Clarke (Bloomsbury); "Sunday Philosophy Club" by Alexander McCall Smith (Pantheon); "Double Homicide" by Faye and Jonathan Kellerman (Warner)
NONFICTION
"America (The Book): A Citizenīs Guide to Democracy Inaction" by the writers of The Daily Show, Jon Stewart (Warner); "Heīs Just Not That into You" by Greg Behrendt and Liz Tuccillo (Simon Spotlight Entertainment); "How to Talk to a Liberal" by Ann Coulter (Crown Forum); "Chronicles, Vol. I" by Bob Dylan (Simon & Schuster); "The South Beach Diet" by Arthur Agatston (Rodale Press); "The Purpose-Driven Life" by Rick Warren (Zondervan); "When Will Jesus Bring the Pork Chops?" by George Carlin (Hyperion); "A Paper Life" by Tatum ONeal (HarperEntertainment); "Shadow War" by Richard Miniter (Regnery); "Unfit for Command: Swift Boat Veterans Speak Out Against John Kerry" by John E. OīNeill, Jerome R. Corsi (Regnery); "Will They Ever Trust Us Again?" by Michael Moore (Simon & Schuster); "Your Best Life Now: 7 Steps to Living at Your Full Potential" by Joel Osteen (Warner Faith); "Good to Great" by Jim Collins (HarperBusiness); "The OReilly Factor for Kids" by Bill OReilly, Charles Flowers (HarperEntertainment)
2004 National Book Festival Draws Book Lovers
85,000 people from around the country turned out to celebrate Americaīs creative spirit at the fourth annual National Book Festival, which took place today on the National Mall. Over 70 award-winning writers, illustrators and poets were joined by basketball stars, childrenīs storybook characters, reading advocates, librarians and book lovers of all ages at this free event organized and sponsored by the Library of Congress and hosted by First Lady Laura Bush. The day truly offered something for everyone with highlights including:
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Presentations and book signings by some of the nationīs favorite authors including Clive Cussler, Marc Brown, Neil Gaiman, Anna Quindlen, Joyce Carol Oates, R.L. Stine, Sandra Brown, Robert B. Parker, Edward P. Jones, E.L. Konigsburg, Ron Chernow, Connie Willis, Katherine Paterson, Juan Williams, Azar Nafisi, David Rice, Richard Peck, Douglas Brinkley, Nicholas Sparks, Kate DiCamillo, Nathaniel Philbrick, Cokie Roberts and Dana Gioia, Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts
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Presentations in the "History and Biography" pavilion by special guests Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Congressman John L. Lewis (D-GA)
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A live broadcast on Liberty Broadcasting by Heloise, author of the " Hints for Heloise" column and contributing editor to Good Housekeeping magazine. During the broadcast, Heloise interviewed Librarian of Congress James H. Billington and several award-winning authors
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Special guests in the "Home & Family" pavilion including Leigh and Leslie Keno from PBSī " Find!," Kevin OīConnor and Tom Silva from " This Old House," also seen on PBS, and chef Patrick OīConnell of the Inn at Little Washington
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Story collections for two oral history projects: Voices of Civil Rights, a joint project of the Library of Congress, AARP, and the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, and the Veterans History Project
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Over 9,000 pictures taken of children with their favorite PBS and storybook characters including Clifford the Big Red Dog, Grover, Arthur and others
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Over 75,000 bookmarks and 30,000 bottles of water distributed to festival goers throughout the day.
 "We are delighted that so many readers of all ages came to this annual celebration of creativity and imagination. The day has been filled with a wonderful spirit of appreciation for books, reading and writing," said Librarian of Congress, James H. Billington.
Among the popular pavilions this year were "Science Fiction and Fantasy," a first-time addition to the National Book Festival, and the "Children" pavilion where WNBA and NBA celebrities such as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar were present to support the "Read to Achieve" program. Hundreds of festival goers also flocked to the "History & Biography" pavilion to hear Juan Williams, senior national correspondent for National Public Radio (NPR), and Congressman Lewis discuss the Civil Rights Movement.
 Thousands more turned out to talk with their favorite authors while having their books signed. Among the most sought-after authors was best-selling novelist Neil Gaiman, who appeared for two additional book signings due to popular demand. In total, Gaiman signed more than 500 books throughout the day.
This yearīs festival was made possible by generous support from charter sponsors AT&T, Target Stores, The Washington Post and the Institute of Museum and Library Services; patrons AARP, the James Madison Council, Jones International University, the National Endowment for the Arts, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.; contributors Barnes & Noble, PBS, and Scholastic Inc.
56th Frankfurt Book Fair Opens
Frankfurt Book Fair 2004 is the global publishing industry's biggest gathering that opened doors on Wednesday to end October 10. The worldīs biggest book fair begins following a ceremonial opening by Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder on Tuesday.
This yearīs Fair is focusing on the Arab world amid worries that the U.S.-led occupation of Iraq and war on terrorism have warped Western perceptions of Arab culture - something that participants say makes building bridges even more important. Writers working in Arabic have been singled out as this yearīs "guests of honour". Among the topics that 200 Arab writers and cultural representatives will wrestle with at Frankfurtīs sprawling fairgrounds: prospects for democracy and human rights in a region dominated by authoritarian rule, and relations with the West.
The Arab worldīs lone Nobel laureate for literature, 92-year-old Naguib Mahfouz of Egypt, wonīt be making the trip, organizers said. "This book fair is very important for editors and publishers," al-Ghitani said. "I hope for many agreements between Arabs and Europeans to translate our books, and I also hope for more discussion to hear our voices. We must build a bridge". More than 200 Arab writers, artists and intellectuals are expected in the German finance capital, including the Syrian poet Adonis, considered one of the founders of modern Arab verse, and Algerian writer Assia Djebar, winner of the fairs prestigious peace prize in 2000.
According to the organiser, it is estimated that close to 300,000 people may be attending this event. The number of exhibitors at the event, which opened today and runs through Oct. 10, increased 1 percent to about 6,700 this year. The fair this year has exhibitors from 110 countries this year presenting more than 350,000 books and related products. The U.K. and U.S. are the second- and third-largest exhibitors at the show respectively after Germany.
Amazon refusing to stock books
The Amazon is refusing to stock copies of a book detailing alleged links between US President George W. Bush and prominent Saudis. House of Bush, House of Saud: is about the secret relationship between the world's two most powerful dynasties. The book centres upon alleged lucrative business links between Bush's inner circle and a Jeddah-based Saudi billionaire. The writer's investigative works were a major inspiration for Michael Moore's documentary movie "Fahrenheit 9/11," a box-office hit in North America and Europe.
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