THE British Library has signed a landmark deal with Google, making one of the largest collections of books and pamphlets in the world available and searchable online for the first time. The arrangement will allow Google to index and produce links to texts which date back to the 18th century. Internet users will be able to search for and access the huge volume of out-of-copyright works for free for the first time on the internet. The deal, which is being described by the British Library as a strategic partnership was formally announced at a press conference this morning hosted by Dame Lynne Brindley, the chief executive of the reading institution and Peter Barron, the former Newsnight editor turned Google head of external relations. TG