View the Unveiling of Democracy's Library

What if the Internet were a place where people could easily find quality reliable information without having to sift through hit after hit of commercially provided and often slanted—at best!—sites or even outright mis/disinformation? What if printed government publications had a place to be accessed without having to visit a physical location where they are so often buried without hope of easy discovery? What if government information was stored in such a way that an incoming administration, interested more in politics than in facts, could not “disappear” inconvenient truths? And what if libraries could freely access government funded research, as good governments intend, rather than watch publishers contain access and hide it behind paywalls?

One answer to all these questions is Democracy’s Library, “a free, open, online compendium of government research and publications from around the world.” Beginning with the USA and Canada and eventually expanding to democracies all over the world, Democracy’s Library will be an invaluable archive of quality information. That “freedom isn’t free” has become a cliched statement; nevertheless, if government information isn’t free, easily available, and preserved accurately, we all lose a valuable weapon in the fight for democracy in a time when it, and truth and accuracy, are increasingly challenged by those who tout freedom in a quest to impose undemocratic values on pluralistic and secular countries.

Watch a recording of the unveiling here.

Start exploring the collection here.

The Internet Archive’s Brewster Kahle has said "Democracies need an educated citizenry to thrive. In the 21st century, that means easy access to reliable information online for all." RF thanks Mr. Kahle and the Internet Archive, a library that is expanding information access for people and extending the reach of libraries world wide.