Google launches "The Literacy Project"

Web giant Google launched a website yesterday that aims to bring together people, resources, and research on reading. "The Literacy Project," unveiled in Frankfurt, Germany, this week, is a collaboration between Google, LitCam (a German literacy organization), and UNESCO's Institute for Lifelong Learning. (Read about it in the Boston Globe, via ASCD's SmartBrief).

The website, dubbed "A resource for teachers, literacy organisations and anyone interested in reading and education," features:

• A link to Google's Book Search search engine (it's amazing)
• "Google Scholar," a search engine for scholarly research on reading and literacy
• Google Video, a new service designed to compete with YouTube and other video sites
• A map feature to help educators find literacy organizations around the world
• A link to Blogger, a web service that helps people create, maintain and search weblogs (like this one)
• "Google Groups," billed as a place to " discover forums on literacy projects and ideas, or start your own debate."

While many of these services already existed (Google launched its book search engine back in August, for example), the consolidation in one place may prove handy for educators and scholars trying to expand the breadth and depth of literacy and reading around the world. Check it out!