Using the Google Book search, you are able to search for books and sometimes find PDF copies of the first chapter or 2 of a book. Now Google has reached a deal with American Association of Publishers to publish books online that are OUT-OF-Print, even if the copyright still exists and Google will share the revenues with the publishers and authors. They will create a new business model and they expect to increase sales of online books by 2018. Another way the internet is evolving.
This article is from the NY Times, November 9th.