Google has signed an agreement with the Italian government to scan up to 1 million antiquarian books.

(Kazan, March 11, Tatar-inform). The contents of Italy's two national libraries are set to be digitised at Google's expense and made available free on the internet, BBC reports.

The internet search engine has signed an agreement with the Italian government to scan up to one million antiquarian books.

The project will include the works of Dante, Machiavelli and Galileo and literary masterpieces of the 19th century.

Italy has been ill-equipped to maintain its national collections of antiquarian books because of a short supply of qualified librarians and limited library budgets. The Italian government is pleased with the agreement and hopes it will ensure the continuance of the Italian language and culture.

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