Unneeded materials from other depository libraries can now be transferred to the Internet Archive. Under 44 USC § 1912, depository libraries may dispose of outdated material, but must first offer to transfer to nearby depository institutions.
I'm having trouble finding what this means. Does IA now have new obligations, or gets new information, or something else, or all of the above?
The submission says:
> These records account for “millions and millions of pages” that can take up entire floors of public libraries, Kahle said. San Diego’s public library gave up its federal depository status in 2020 because its government documents took up so much space and often went unused. [...] The GPO [...] has ramped up efforts to digitize the Federal Depository Library Program.
Does IA now have to store floors upon floors of paper copies of information, at least until it got digitized? Or are they now merely obliged to host the digital materials insofar as they already exist? That sounds like what they are doing already for the whole web, and also apparently since 2022 when they started "Democracy’s Library, a free online compendium of government research and publications", just that now they're legally obliged to do this or something?
What I find on doi.gov[1] is "The mission of Federal depository libraries is to provide local, free access to information from the Federal government" and nothing really further on what this concretely means. Sounds like just an obligation though?
What I find on gpo.gov[2] is "The Federal Depository Library Program [ensures] that the American public has access to Government information in depository libraries". Could mean anything. The program ensures that, but let's assume that means the designated libraries ensure that, so then do these libraries get extra info that the public doesn't get (but in order to disseminate them to the public)? Makes no sense either
The GPO page and the submission also say that "Members of Congress may designate up to two qualified libraries." Did they get picked and now it's IA's obligation, or did IA ask for this? What do they get out of it?
As I understand it, it’s voluntary and like the government document version of the Twitter firehose. Direct access to all published government documents as they are created.
> "...in response to the enclosed letter I received from the Founder and Digital Librarian of the Internet Archive, Mr. Brewster Kahle, I am designating the Internet Archive as a federal depository library in California."
Which seems a lot more agreeable than unilateral designation (which is also how I initially read this).
They already remove “inconvenient” webpages on the Wayback Machine if someone asks nicely enough. If I remember correctly, if you use it to save a software company’s documentation pages or evidence of something embarrassing like a potential data breach, they could remove it if the company asks. I think Oracle might have done something like this before.
It's a one way street. This provides more access to materials held by the federal gov for ingest into IA's storage system. Bit of a policy interconnect, if you will. Reminder to donate to the Archive.
I've heard it has already happened. Specifically the internet archive removed vidoes of the TempleOS developer Terry Davis' live streams because of problematic content.
If the internet archive is already curated for content then yeah there is a 100% chance that there will be more curation of content.
Back in the days when things were sane my first thought reading this headline would have been: Nice, that‘s sounds official and important. Nowadays my first thought is: Wait, does this mean Trump can mess around with this?
My take on this is that in desperation to become a real library despite Kahle's radical hatred of content creators, Kahle will end up dragging the legislative narrative in a direction that takes down real libraries with him. He will almost certainly broadcast his status as a federal depository library as part of his defenses in his numerous lawsuits.
One selfish man unwilling to recognize he is doing more harm than good.
"radical hatred of content creators" is a very harsh and specific allegation. I wasn't aware that Kahle was considered such a bad actor. I did some googling and wikipedia-ing and can't see much that supports that claim. I am very open minded to the nuances of IP rights vs information-wants-to-be-free so I'd love to hear more details about your position particularly as it relates to the federal depository designation.
They were already recognized by the state of California as a library, and have received federal funds for infrastructure under that designation. They’ve also been accepted into consortiums made up of other libraries in the US. Whether you believe they’re a library is immaterial.
bmurray7jhu|7 months ago
dylan604|7 months ago
lucb1e|7 months ago
The submission says:
> These records account for “millions and millions of pages” that can take up entire floors of public libraries, Kahle said. San Diego’s public library gave up its federal depository status in 2020 because its government documents took up so much space and often went unused. [...] The GPO [...] has ramped up efforts to digitize the Federal Depository Library Program.
Does IA now have to store floors upon floors of paper copies of information, at least until it got digitized? Or are they now merely obliged to host the digital materials insofar as they already exist? That sounds like what they are doing already for the whole web, and also apparently since 2022 when they started "Democracy’s Library, a free online compendium of government research and publications", just that now they're legally obliged to do this or something?
What I find on doi.gov[1] is "The mission of Federal depository libraries is to provide local, free access to information from the Federal government" and nothing really further on what this concretely means. Sounds like just an obligation though?
What I find on gpo.gov[2] is "The Federal Depository Library Program [ensures] that the American public has access to Government information in depository libraries". Could mean anything. The program ensures that, but let's assume that means the designated libraries ensure that, so then do these libraries get extra info that the public doesn't get (but in order to disseminate them to the public)? Makes no sense either
The GPO page and the submission also say that "Members of Congress may designate up to two qualified libraries." Did they get picked and now it's IA's obligation, or did IA ask for this? What do they get out of it?
[1] https://www.doi.gov/library/collections/federal-documents
[2] https://www.gpo.gov/how-to-work-with-us/agency/services-for-...
abracadaniel|7 months ago
braiamp|7 months ago
[deleted]
JumpCrisscross|7 months ago
What does this mean. U.S. Senators can unilaterally designate federal depositories?
ssalka|7 months ago
> "...in response to the enclosed letter I received from the Founder and Digital Librarian of the Internet Archive, Mr. Brewster Kahle, I am designating the Internet Archive as a federal depository library in California."
Which seems a lot more agreeable than unilateral designation (which is also how I initially read this).
permo-w|7 months ago
>Under federal law, members of Congress can designate up to two qualified libraries for federal depository status.
MPSimmons|7 months ago
layman51|7 months ago
toomuchtodo|7 months ago
themgt|7 months ago
jahewson|7 months ago
chrisg23|7 months ago
If the internet archive is already curated for content then yeah there is a 100% chance that there will be more curation of content.
BSOhealth|7 months ago
odo1242|7 months ago
ranger_danger|7 months ago
ChrisArchitect|7 months ago
ironmagma|7 months ago
m3kw9|7 months ago
ironmagma|7 months ago
doener|7 months ago
stillwzcited|7 months ago
I hope that all of the world libraries join with the internet archive into a global cooperative.
I also hope there is a secret sub-basement in a different dimension that contains powerful artifacts, guarded by a master librarian.
A man can dream can’t he?
bigstrat2003|7 months ago
dsadfjasdf|7 months ago
ocdtrekkie|7 months ago
One selfish man unwilling to recognize he is doing more harm than good.
bahmboo|7 months ago
toomuchtodo|7 months ago