The Renaissance , Europe's period of cultural, political and scientific rebirth, began in Florence around 600 years ago. At Google we're interested in a (small "r") renaissance of a different kind â€" a digital one. Since the launch of Google Books, we've been working with libraries and publishers around the globe to bring more of the world's books to more readers around the globe. Any school child should be able to access the works of Petrarch, Dante or Vico (or,