The Internet Archive just became an official U.S. federal library

Mashable.com ^ | July 25, 2025 | By Chase DiBenedetto

[thecodont]

Internet Archive — the no-cost, nonprofit digital library that has become embroiled in the nationwide battle over copyrights and free speech — is now an official source for government documents.

According to a new designation announced by California Senator Alex Padilla, the website will join a network of more than 1,000 libraries around the country tasked with archiving government documents for public view. Unlike other designated federal depository libraries, as they are known, the Archive is entirely online. The news was first reported by San Francisco's KQED, who spoke to both Padilla and Archive founder Brewster Kahle about supporting the mission of "universalizing" all knowledge through digitization — this includes, says Kahle, "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.”

The status is particularly notable as the Trump administration has systemically removed information from federal websites under new, "anti-woke" executive orders. Archive visitors will now have access to primary, government sources, in addition to materials uploaded by users or saved through accessible websites. The Internet Archive also operates the Wayback Machine, an online source that stores web history going back more than 28 years, and partners with libraries to pinpoint important online archival material through its Archive-It initiative.

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TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Government; News/Current Events; Technical
KEYWORDS: alexpadilla; audiobooks; books; california; chasedibenedetto; computers; govdocs; governmentcontrol; internetarchive; libraries; mashable; technology; waybackmachine

[LadyDoc]

a valuable resource. Alas, with copyright claims it has been harder to down load books (although some you can register and borrow or read on line).

Also you can find old movies to watch.

[thecodont]

For Federal Deposit Library locations, see below:

https://www.gpo.gov/how-to-work-with-us/agency/services-for-agencies/federal-depository-library-program

Search for “Internet Archive” and here it is:

https://ask.gpo.gov/s/fdldsearch?type=searchAll

[thecodont]

https://ask.gpo.gov/s/account/001SJ00000XWi2zYAD/internet-archive-library

[ProgressingAmerica]

Every single one of our free open source Founding Fathers audio books ultimately gets placed on the archive.

https://freerepublic.com/tag/freeperbookclub/index?tab=articles

[Freee-dame]

Thank you for this link. I listen to audiobooks and did not even realize that we had such a resource at Freerepublic.

[FatherofFive]

Cool

[P.O.E.]

Thank you for that link. What a treasure trove!

[sauropod]

Review

[SunkenCiv]

The status is particularly notable as the Trump administration has systemically removed information from federal websites under new, "anti-woke" executive orders.

[Travelin’ Right]

Rush Limbaugh’s TV shows are available

[Southside_Chicago_Republican]

Bookmark

[DAVEY CROCKETT]

Congrats, job well done!

[ponygirl]

This archive has been an incredible source for genealogy research in the UK. They’ve got scans of dusty old antiquarian books I would never be able to find in a million years… and they are text searchable! I was able to find a description of the ancient manor house of my ancestors… including a description of the priest hole. The house was demolished in the 1700s.

[thecodont]

Neat!

[thecodont]

Thanks!

[combat_boots]

Many thanks