Democracy’s Library (part of Internet Archive) brings together more than 1000 collections from over 50 government organizations. We feature ongoing digitization from local government documents–with more than 10 million documents (and counting) from local, regional, and national governments.
Democracies depend on an educated citizenry, which in the 21st century requires easy online access to reliable information for everyone. To address this need, the Internet Archive is building Democracy’s Library—a free, open, online collection of government research and publications from around the world.
Internet Archive founder Brewster Kahle, who is leading the effort, noted that governments have produced large amounts of information and placed it in the public domain, yet the public often cannot easily access it. By gathering these public documents into a single curated and searchable interface, citizens can use the research, learn how their governments function, hold officials accountable, and become better-informed voters.
Kahle observed that valuable information on the internet is frequently locked behind paywalls. He argued it is time to reverse the scarcity model and build an internet grounded in abundance. Equitable access to objective, historical information is needed to counter the flood of misinformation online.
Libraries have long collected and preserved materials that educate the public. That role continues, but collections must now include digital items to serve the internet generation. Over the next decade, the Internet Archive plans to collaborate with libraries, universities, and government agencies worldwide to bring historical government information online. It is inviting citizens, libraries, colleges, companies, and Wikipedians to help unlock useful information and reintegrate it into the web.
The project forms part of Kahle’s broader vision of an internet that prioritizes the public interest over private profit and operates on an abundance model in which data can be discovered, unlocked, and reused in new ways. He noted that while there is an information flood online, much of it lacks depth; experts in a subject often find the best material buried or absent entirely.
Democracy’s Library aims to open the massive public investment in government research and publications to everyone. Kahle described it as a stepping stone toward more empowered and engaged citizens. The initial materials were made available at the collection page, and the project was celebrated at a “Building Democracy’s Library” event held in San Francisco and online on October 19, 2022.