From the BBC: British Library books go digital.

More than 100,000 old books previously unavailable to the public will go online thanks to a mass digitisation programme at the British Library.

The programme focuses on 19th Century books, many of which are unknown as few were reprinted after first editions.

The library believes online access to the titles will help teachers.

"If there are no modern editions teachers cannot use them for their courses," said Dr Kristian Jensen, from the British Library.

"What we can read now is predetermined by a long tradition of what has been considered great literature," he added.

At full production approximately 50,000 pages per working day will be scanned. [continue]