Announced today, the Internet Archive has been designated as a federal depository library by Senator Alex Padilla. The designation was made via letter to Scott Matheson, Superintendent of Documents at the U.S. Government Publishing Office.
Senator Padilla explained the designation in a statement to KQED:
“The Archive’s digital-first approach makes it the perfect fit for a modern federal depository library, expanding access to federal government publications amid an increasingly digital landscape,” Padilla said in a statement to KQED. “The Internet Archive has broken down countless barriers to accessing information, and it is my honor to provide this designation to help further their mission of providing ‘Universal Access to All Knowledge.’”
Internet Archive’s founder and digital librarian Brewster Kahle remarked on the designation:
“ I think there is a great deal of excitement to have an organization such as the Internet Archive, which has physical collections of materials, but is really known mostly for being accessible as part of the internet,” Kahle said. “And helping integrate these materials into things like Wikipedia, so that the whole internet ecosystem gets stronger as digital learners get closer access into the government materials.”
Read the letter: https://archive.org/details/padilla-designation-letter-to-gpo-7.24.2025
Learn more about the designation: “SF-Based Internet Archive Is Now a Federal Depository Library. What Does That Mean?” (KQED)
Congratulations
special thanks itrs important for me.
Congrats folks!
I am totally and permanently disabled and require a reader to read books. You granted me print disability to read books on archive.org. However, as of today, I am no longer able to download books to read with my reader. The link to download books no longer appears when I check out a book. I am now no longer able to read books still available for non-disabled readers to read on your website, archive.org. Please restore access to your disabled patrons.
this is not the fault of IA unfortunately. take it up with the publisher of the books you’re trying to read.
Now the government has jurisdiction over you and what you can or cannot put on this site. Given the recent censorship campaign. I feel this has ill intentions. Is this what you want for your hard work?
Libraries in the Federal Depository Library Program are required to give the public free access to certain federal materials. That’s basically it. The Program does not give the government control over local collections or library administration. In fact, many FDLs are pre-existing public and academic libraries, and their governance does not change as a result of FDL status.
I have a *really* bad feeling about this.
What exactly stops the Federal Government (the current administration) from steamrolling the IA now that it’s under some kind of federal umbrella? Is this anything more than just a designation, or is any control transferred?
It’s a fair concern but not quite how the FDLP works. Rather than becoming part of the Federal Government this program allows approved libraries can become stewards of Federal documents. Meaning the materials are merely housed with the partner library which in turn makes them accessible to their usership. You can learn more about FDLP here https://www.fdlp.gov/basics
More people should be worried about this.
Padilla does seem to like the whole free information for everyone mantra going by his precedence. i’m just thinking maybe this isn’t the administration to do it under. they are trying to change laws at the drop of a hat and i’m worried the FDLP could be utilised by bad actors in power to hamper information dissemination.
I’ve been expecting something like this to come along. Clearly this is a move by the current administration to expand its censorship power over the American people. The Archive has been the only place to find those things they have been scraping off the Net to hide their crimes. Declaring it an official government entity just gives them power over it.
Can the Internet Archive confirm that all of FBI agent Peter Strzok’s twitter and X posts have been deleted from the WayBack Machine?
If so who authorized this and why would the Internet Archive allow it, how much ultimate control does the IA now have really?
I’ve never been more worried about this kind of stuff than now, it just doesn’t feel right.