SF-Based Internet Archive Is Now a Federal Depository Library. What Does That Mean?

Under federal law, members of Congress can designate up to two qualified libraries for federal depository status.

Internet Archive founder Brewster Kahle said that while the nonprofit organization has always functioned as a library, this new designation makes it easier to work with the other federal depository libraries. That, he said, is a service to everyone.

In most situations, getting that designation provides extra funding and legal protection. However, all of that is managed by the federal executive on behalf of Congress… and these days that could result in added risk.

On the plus side, I believe it means that every work submitted to the LoC also goes to IA, which is indeed a good thing. Sure beats the lawsuits they had to endure following COVID.

What it means is that they, inexplicably, haven't yet fled to a country that isn't turning fascist and censorious.