Ambivalent nature of the Internet
It is marvelous that the new technology has enabled us to diffuse cultural heritage in an unprecedented way. We first have to admire and be grateful for the progress of the technology. However, new technologies have a dual nature. For example, reviewing history, you can find that the invention of printing greatly developed the diffusion of the culture, which was, until then, rather limited. But at the same time, it caused cultural inequality, leaving minority culture behind.

The Internet has the same ambivalent nature. So it is important to know which final purposes the technology serves as a tool: diversity of culture and languages, the relevance of what is said (question of truth and falsehood), and the maximum access to the people.

Relating to these purposes, three threats or dangers are posed. The first is pursuit of profit. The second is the circulation of inaccurate information with remarkable rapidity. The third is the intellectual paralysis caused by a flood of unsystematized information.

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Digital library and private companies

Dr. Jeanneney

The first reaction to the Google announcement in 2004 of the intention to create a digital library was a kind of elation. It immediately presented a problem, however, of how to avoid the dangers mentioned earlier when providing a large amount of books. In addition, as the selection of books tends to be done automatically giving preference to the Anglo-Saxon culture, such a monopoly must be ruled out.

Another problem is that classification or ranking of the contents may be affected by advertisements when a commercial enterprise conducts the project. This might cause the removal of some works which at first publication sell few printed copies but are potentially of value and may be highly estimated in future. While the dynamism of the market has its own advantage, we cannot leave everything to the market alone. For example, we can introduce a framework similar to that of broadcasting in which public broadcasters compete with commercial ones.

It is often said that the Internet is good because it offers information for free, but there is nothing which is really free. People are sometimes not aware that they are paying in a certain way such as through advertisements. It is essential to recognize this fact and ponder how to pay to obtain accurate information, guaranteeing, at the same time, wide access and cultural diversity.

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European digital library
I took Google´s announcement for a challenge, having in my mind the French word "défi," which implies a challenge which can be at the same time a great opportunity. Actually, this led to the creation of the European digital library named "Europeana" with libraries of European countries working together. Unlike commercial companies, libraries are experienced in the classification and organization of knowledge, which enables them to provide information methodically. Some people may argue that the libraries provide services using public funds. But for great nations, the budget necessary for the promotion of digital libraries is not so large.

My book* has been translated into 15 languages, including minority ones. I believe that is because my point appealed to many people. It is also because Google is making many linguistic minorities feel threatened: they are aware of the risk that they might be squeezed out if they do not defend their position officially.

*Quand Google défie l'Europe : plaidoyer pour un sursaut. Mille et une nuits, 2005.

Digitization and libraries, authors and publishers
Digitization of works with copyright greatly affects authors and publishers. The question is the balance between profit and culture. Bookstore owners and librarians were also concerned with their future. But we can say that if digitization is carried out thoroughly, intermediaries who classify the information will be needed more than ever. For the sake of publishers, it is required to establish a system which reduces fraud and provides access to books at a low price.

Google has pressed on with its digitization project without obtaining the agreement of publishers and right holders until now, but it seems that the wind is changing direction. In Europe, publishers express their objections, and in the United States, people are paying attention to how cases against the company will be settled as the risk of monopoly tends to be increasingly stressed these days. These are signs of change and we need to continue our legitimate resistance so as not to let things of value be absorbed into narrow interests.

Necessity of systematization of information and question of inaccuracy
Thought is a form of classification, in which explication and demonstration are conducted. Data which are just thrown together without any order of significance are not good for thought. It is necessary for information to be classified and systematized, to be provided, for example, in a tree structure, so that everyone can examine information critically. Such a guide is needed if we hope that not only popular culture, but high culture, can be shared by the many.

As we can see from Wikipedia, there is an idea that information on the web will eventually end up being accurate even if it is not so at the beginning. However, this is a dangerous idea because inaccurate information may cause significant damage on the way of circulation.

Is the Internet culture sweeping away the long-lasting humanist culture? I believe that humanity has a great capacity for response and imagination. Active optimism is better than grumbling pessimism.

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Dr. Jeanneney and Dr. Nagao, Librarian of the NDL

In the discussion, picking up broad topics including questions from the audience, Dr. Nagao posed questions to and exchanged opinions with Dr. Jeanneney.

Dr. Nagao: How will Europe cope with Google in general?

Dr. Jeanneney: I have been making the point that cultural diversity should be considered by taking the whole of Europe as a cultural sphere. Each country, taking responsibility for the books of its own country, needed to cooperate in having a technical standard and in intellectual coordination. This led to the realization of Europeana with support of the then president of the French Republic, Jacques Chirac, and others.

Dr. Nagao: We have been hearing a lot about libraries having contracts with Google these days. However, there seem to be many issues to consider such as possible violation of copyright and monopoly. What is your opinion?

Dr. Jeanneney: One of the reasons why some libraries signed up with Google is that digitization costs a lot. It is comforting that no large national libraries have a plan to work with the company at the present, and I am confident that the BNF, in France, after a short hesitation, will fortunately abstain from going into that way. There are always the same opponents: advocates of a laissez-faire policy who do not want government interference, and young people who blindly admire information available for free and are not aware of the necessity of well organized knowledge.

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Dr. Nagao: What is your opinion or what kind of discussion do you have in Europe about Google search?

Dr. Jeanneney: One of the problems is the selection of books and how to present them. We have another concern about the long-term availability of digital data including metadata because there is no guarantee that a commercial company will not disappear in the future.

Dr. Nagao: Are European publishers concerned about digitization? In addition, I would also like to know more about the system of micro payment you proposed.

Dr. Jeanneney: In France there are three types of publishers according to their attitude to digitization. Few publishers of the first type are just worried about their future without taking any action. The second type is a few small publishers who decide to cooperate with Google to compete with large publishers. The third type is those who reject Google. The system of micro payment is an economic and technical model, in which users pay a small amount and publishers and authors get a part of it.

Dr. Nagao: I also proposed the concept of a similar system about one and a half years ago. I would like to pick up another important topic for libraries: collection of online publications including websites. What is the situation in Europe? In Japan, at present, we need permission to collect websites and we collect those created by the national and local governments and the like. There are large amounts of important information on nongovernmental websites which are not yet collected.

Dr. Jeanneney: Preservation of all the information on the Internet is a great challenge. For example, when we want to conduct analysis of the results of a certain election, various information including printed materials, recordings of radio and websites will be needed. In France, Institut national de l'audiovisuel (National Audiovisual Institute) preserves all the websites concerned with radio and television. We had the same problem about legislation for the collection and preservation of web information in France. With a government decree, it is now possible to make digital archives of web information collected by the national library available inside the library.

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Dr. Nagao: I received questions from the audience relating to the possibility of a digital library that can largely improve services for the disabled.

Dr. Jeanneney: We studied a lot about this issue. The rapidly improving technology will benefit minorities with richer reading opportunities. I would like to point out another important issue: newspaper digitization. In France, our policy is that public institutions digitize old newspapers to make them available all over the world.

Dr. Nagao: In Japan, newspaper companies have digitized most of their papers, so libraries do not necessarily give priority to newspapers except for old ones and local papers. By the way, how do you cope with the digital divide in France?

Dr. Jeanneney: It is essential that children learn how to use computers in school. The same concern was seen when television appeared in the 1960s. The important thing is to develop skills to understand contents in relation to other contents and to grasp the essence.

Dr. Nagao: To conclude this discussion, I would like to hear your opinion about how the libraries of the world should cooperate with each other in sharing the knowledge and culture of various countries to make the world prosper.

Dr. Jeanneney: Throughout human history, "otherness" has sometimes proven to be a source of attraction; it must not be that of hostility or segregation. The Internet can be a tool to smooth out the complexity of the world as well as to review its diversity. By using the Internet wisely, we can promote better understanding among peoples.