WBUR Newsroom Election 2008 CommonHealth Blog Radio Boston Blog Boston Weather Climate Connections BBC World News NPR Top Stories NPR's Morning Edition NPR Topics: Books NPR Topics: Movies Fresh Air All Things Considered Marketplace Submit a News Tip RSS Feeds Podcasts Digitizing Libraries By Curt Nickisch Listen to story (Real Audio) At the Boston Public Library, a worker scans a book to put it online. (Photo: Rebecca Philio) BOSTON, Mass. - March 03, 2008 - A 17th century historian wrote that a closed book is but a block. Now four centuries later, technology is giving libraries the ability to open books like never before. Online, to anyone, anywhere. Boston-area institutions are leading the way. But they differ on how to go digital. Harvard is teaming up with Google to scan books into computer databases, while the Boston Public Library and others have rejected offers from private companies. The reason: they don't want their digitized books subject to commercial restrictions. That story now from WBUR Business and Technology Reporter Curt Nickisch. RELATED LINKS Link to electronic databases at the Boston Public Library Search Harvard University's books online The Internet Archive's open access collaboration One colorful example of a digitized book: spider watercolors!    From The WBUR Newsroom Tipping the Balance BOSTON, Mass. (May 16, 2008) Tipping the scales of justice, as some workers take their bosses to court over the question of who should get the gratuities. Big Apple in Boston BOSTON, Mass. (May 16, 2008) Geeks and gizmos abound, as Apple opens a new store -- the country's biggest -- in Boston. The products attract fans but Apple is banking on its service strategy to keep them coming. Shutoffs Loom for Thousands BOSTON, Mass. (May 16, 2008) As the weather warms up, the heat is on for people to pay this winter's oil, gas. and electric bills. But this year, many more can't foot the bills, and now face shutoffs. Review: "Cardenio" BOSTON, Mass. (May 16, 2008) To Shakespeare scholars, "Cardenio" is the stuff of legend. To WBUR critic Ed Siegel, the ART production of the Bard's revamped script is the stuff of some laughter.