Thoughts from readers:

"I have started to research my family history. My grandfather was Commissary of Provisions to the troops in Canara, India. I searched Google Books for "Commissary of Provisions" to find out what on earth he did. Up came the niche book, Supplementary Dispatches and Memoranda of Field Marshal Arthur Duke of Wellington, containing letters the Duke had written. I read the paragraph about the Commissary, scrolled down, and found my ancestor mentioned by name in the letter from 1800! Couldn't believe it. Without Google Books, I'd never have uncovered it..."
– Susan, Hertfordshire, England

"I was asked by a client to make a check list of every employment law issue that might arise in a merger situation. That's a huge question and I wasn't sure that I would hit every issue especially the benefits issues since I don't often practice in employee benefits matters. I typed a search into Google ("employment law issues in mergers and acquisitions") and the first hit was a Google Books reference to "Employee Benefits in Mergers and Acquisitions" by Ilene Ferenczy. (I have attached a scanned copy of the title page here.) The Google Books link gave me the table of contents and some other information more than enough to tell me that this was a great book for my project."

"Searching Google further, I was able to determine that the book was at a library in Chicago. I thought about purchasing the book but it sells for approximately $800. My local law library (Social Law Library founded in 1803!) tried to arrange to borrow the book, but ended up buying it when it looked like the inter-library loan would be a problem."

"It was an amazing example of the power of the web and Google Books. And, to the benefit of the author and publisher, it resulted in one additional purchase of a very expensive book."
– Michael, Boston, MA

"I've been waiting for this since I first learned about the web – thank you for finally delivering it. In five minutes, with my first search, I found a facsimile, written in his own hand, of Lincoln's Gettysburg address, buried in the middle of a children's book published in 1896. And it was simple."
– Fred, Consultant, Newton, PA

"While searching for my family surname, I found Plymouth Labor and Leisure: Images of America, a book by James W. Baker containing the name 'Robichau.' Clicking the link brought me to a 1914 photo of my great uncle, Earl Robichau. Never before could I have found such an obscure and wonderful gem. Google Book Search prompted me to buy two copies of a book that I never would have known about, otherwise. My father in Florida, who happens to be homebound most of the time, spends hours combing through the pages of this book. Most of the photos in it were taken during his childhood when he spent much time in Plymouth. I sat for long periods of time over Thanksgiving listening to my father recount memories triggered by Mr. Baker's book. Google, along with the publishing company, brought some unexpected happiness to someone who really needed it."
– Bernie, Technology Professional, Columbia, SC

"I was fooling around with Google Book Search and discovered that I am cited in Hybrid Fictions: American Literature and Generation X. Far out. The first thing I did was go to Amazon to order a copy."
– Chris, Bookseller, Denton, TX

"I was searching for a topic called 'simulated annealing in VLSI.' It's a small topic, and I've searched in local libraries but couldn't find anything. I tried Google Book Search and found many books, and I immediately bought two."
– Kalyan, Embedded Systems Engineer, Evanston, IL

More thoughts from readers