I run across a lot of references to books that are out of print. Most are nearly impossible to find. They’re not available through inter-library loans, in used book stores, or other sources. When I’m researching, this has been a traditional point of frustration.
It was pleased to see that Google will be able to offer in-copyright but out-of-print books online — for a fee. I don’t know what the fees to access those books will be, but at least there will be a way to access these books.
Now if the publishers of scientific journals would ask for something less than hundreds dollars to enter their hallowed gates and peer upon their papers….