Short answers, pulled from the story.
The Internet Archive displayed a Scribe book scanner in 2011. This machine represented a shift from older methods where books were placed on flat glass plates.
Project Gutenberg started its work in 1971 to create a digital library of free eBooks. The Million Book Project began around 2001 with similar goals of mass digitization.
High-end scanners capable of thousands of pages per hour now cost thousands of dollars. Do-it-yourself models built for US$300 can still reach speeds of 1,200 pages per hour.
The National Archives of Australia suggests a resolution of 400 ppi for bound books during the digitization process. They recommend 600 ppi specifically for rare or significant documents to capture fine details.
Common file formats include DjVu, Portable Document Format, and Tag Image File Format. Human proofreaders usually check the output for errors after the initial conversion process.