National Library of the Netherlands Releases 80,000 Digitized Books From 18th and 19th Century Online

Note: Here’s the Dutch language news release from the National Library of the Netherlands (Koninklijke Bibliotheek) mechanically translated into English with Google Translate.
Direct to Full Text News Release (via KB)
Direct to Books Database
Material is also accessible via Google Books

Fast Facts

• This digitization project (KB partnered with Google) to digitize 160,000 books (today one-half go live) available was announced in 2010. Here’s Google’s blog post about it (in English). The EU did not object to the project.

• Digitization began at end of 2011

• “The collection includes historical, legal and social Dutch publications from the 18th and 19th centuries that are of great interest to scientists and researchers, both within the Dutch language as the rest of the world.”

• Books are full text searchable, free to access.

• Books are public domain, out of copyright in the Netherlands

• The agreement with Google is in addition to other KB digitization initiatives

• Google’s  contract with KB was made publicly available September 12, 2011

• No date as to when the remaining 80,000 books will be available online

See Also: Sample of Digitized Pages from Books
Direct to Books Database
Material is also accessible via Google Books

Google’s Promo Video For Today’s Announcement (in Dutch)

Filed under: Digital Preservation, Libraries, National Libraries, News