Yellow pages struggle with Google threat

Libraries aren’t the only ones feeling the pressure from Google. YP publisher woes are symptomatic of an industry in which once vital publications — like Encyclopedia Britannica or the Official Airline Guide — have had to adapt to the Web. In the case of directories, high debt has compounded the challenge.

Internet giant Google and other online outlets can offer more flexible and far cheaper advertising than print media. Google also offers free listings linked to its popular maps to the small businesses on which directories depend.