The Internet Archive: Escaping the Memory Hole

It’s later in the evening for those of us in the Eastern Time Zone who might attend virtually, but the Internet Archive is hosting an interesting event in October. In-person attendance at the Archive’s Main Library in San Francisco is also possible, and the Library is well-worth seeing.

Let's gather together on October 22nd & 23rd to celebrate the vital role of libraries in preserving our shared digital culture.

• October 22: Tour the Physical Archive
  Join us on Tuesday, October 22, as we take a peek behind the doors of the Physical Archive in Richmond, California.

• October 23: Join our annual celebration—in-person & online!
  Join us on Wednesday, October 23, for “Escaping the Memory Hole.” In a world where major entertainment websites vanish overnight and streaming media disappears from platforms without warning, our digital culture is at risk of being erased. What safeguards are in place to preserve our collective memory?

• This year’s gathering, “Escaping the Memory Hole,” explores the vital role that libraries play in protecting our digital heritage. As corporate decision-makers increasingly control what stays online, libraries like the Internet Archive stand as guardians of our shared digital culture, ensuring that it remains preserved and accessible for future generations.

Links to sign up for in-person or virtual are here.

As RF has frequently noted, and as indeed is axiomatic by now, streaming media, which libraries often can never capture unless the content eventually goes into physical digital formats, is a serious challenge to our mission to preserve. All efforts to solve this problem are welcome. RF sends thanks and well-wishes to the Internet Archive for their many efforts to preserve content that might otherwise be “writ in water.”