ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. Libraries and Google is an independent publication offered by The Haworth Press, Inc., Binghamton, New York, and is not affiliated with, nor has it been authorized, sponsored, endorsed, licensed, or otherwise approved by, Google, Inc.14. It is hard to remember that the early stages of interrelationships with Google, and that not so long ago Google did not even exist. For libraries, Google does have very profound implications, and is accelerating trends that would have developed eventually anyway, such as the digitization of library collections, and a shift to disintermediation which leaves many librarians feeling like fifth wheels, even while it empowers users and seemingly frees them from dependence on library buildings and collections. Google is the de facto search engine for factual inquiries, and its potential is only just beginning to be realized is only just beginning to be realized.
