Summer's here and that means two things: summer reading and the commencement of Shakespeare festivals around the country.

Today, Google Book Search celebrates both traditions with the launch of its "Summer with Shakespeare" website, a place to find and search all the plays of Shakespeare – from the popular favorites to the lesser-known gems. The site launches in conjunction with the first day of Shakespeare in the Park, New York City's famous outdoor festival, which this year will feature the production of Macbeth.

In Shakespeare's day, gaining greater access to theatrical events meant duking it out with the other "groundlings" for the best view of the stage. It took centuries before the modern publishing industry could make works like Macbeth widely available. Today, the Internet is continuing to remove the barriers between people and knowledge, and Google Book Search is helping people all over the world browse and discover the great texts of history.

At www.google.com/shakespeare, book lovers and theater fans alike can explore Shakespeare's entire oeuvre right from their desktop. You can search for famous lines in Macbeth without toil and trouble, browse through all the plays you know, or follow your curiosity to discover new works on the site. And if you decide you want to buy a copy of one of Shakespeare's works, the "All editions" link will show you every version in Google Book Search, many of which are available for purchase.

While on the site, readers can check out other ways to enjoy Shakespeare by:

• Uncovering more resources on Shakespeare with Google Web Search
• Exploring scholarly perspectives on Shakespeare with Google Scholar
• Connecting with Shakespeare enthusiasts through Google Groups
• Watching Shakespeare in action on Google Video
• Browsing Shakespearean images on Google Image Search
• Finding the latest articles on all things Shakespeare with Google News
• Visiting the Globe Theater and other Shakespearean landmarks with Google Earth