Why you can't find a library book in your search engine

This is a good explanation of OCLC and its business model. I worked my way through about a year of my undergraduate degree program doing data-entry for OCLC back in the 1970s. I can gain OCLC WorldCat access from my home computer by logging in as a patron of my county library system, but it's too bad more people can't get the same functionality at a better known site without a log-in barrier.

what I don't get...is why we don't have an online library

I mean seriously...if I can get a book for free from my public library, why shouldn't I be able to go to an online library website and get the ebook for free as well?

I think anyone in the world can search the catalogs of Minnesota libraries through MnLINK.

http://www.minitex.umn.edu/mnlink/

There was a strong flavor of Newspeak in the OCLC woman's explanation. Judging by that metric, at least, they seem to be the villains here.