Dear Friends, See the news item "Libraries unite to strike digital gold for NZers" appears very recently at http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/ED0401/S00014.htm The news item says - ...... In a move that is the first of its kind in New Zealand, public, education, research and special libraries have joined together to buy collective access to tens of thousands of electronic resources that can be used by people from all parts of the country. ......... ..... "This collaborative venture also realises the vision of making information more easily available to a farmer in Southland, a student in Kerikeri, or a researcher in one of the large metropolitan areas," adds Ms Carnaby. "It's a great step for information democracy in this country." Primary, intermediate and high schools around the country will also have access to the resources, at no individual cost - the Ministry of Education is funding every school library in New Zealand to be a part of the group for the first year. ............... Can any such consortia be made in our own country for the general public? There may be many hurdles in doing so (no need to mention) but whether anyone thought of doing such things? One may also be interested in the title "How to Digitize Eight Million Books", an interview with Michael Keller, University Librarian, Director of Academic Information Resources, and Publisher of HighWire Press and the Stanford University Press. One can read it at http://www.honco.net/os/ Regards. Madhuresh Singhal Aurigene Discovery Technologies Limited, Electronic City, phase II, Hosur Road, Bangalore 562 158 Phone 8521314-16 Ext.- 422 Mobile 98861 82822 Fax 852 6285 E-mail: madhureshsinghal@yahoo.com http://nettalk2.tripod.com/