Many feel that the DPLA should have a scholarly counterpart so that it can focus more on the public aspect of the library, as is warranted by the "P" in its acronym. The author of a list of friendly suggestions for the DPLA, writing for librarycity.org, says that "A well-stocked national digital public library system, intertwined with a mostly privately financed scholarly counterpart, might ultimately be the difference between public libraries failing and surviving."
The DPLA does not need to mean the end of the brick and morter public library, indeed it could enhance it. While many books would be available online for public access, the physical library would be there for the more corporeal needs of its visitors. Not everyone comes to the libraries only for the books. The Digital Public Library of America might even be freeing in some ways to the existing libraries; no need to carry so many copies of "50 Shades of Grey". More money and effort could be spent on programming and expanding the collection to be more diverse rather than redundant.
Going along with this idea of a scholarly counterpart, it seems like an opportune place for Google Books to step in. While they are currently wading through a legal battle with the Authors Guild and the Association of American Publishers, perhaps some sort of partnership with the DPLA would be a blessing to all. As to how that may be worked out, I leave it to the legal minds.
Websites accessed for info:
http://dp.la/wiki/Main_Page
http://librarycity.org/?p=1112
http://go-to-hellman.blogspot.com/2011/10/dpla-muster.html
http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/dplaalpha/about/elements-of-the-dpla/
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