The Internet Archive Has a New Tool to Save Research Papers From Vanishing

[rcjordan]

https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/g5p7pj/the-internet-archive-has-a-new-tool-to-save-research-papers-from-vanishing

[ergophobe]

This is a big problem for fields where information doesn't go out of date quickly.

A librarian friend pointed out that the problem highlighted here is one aspect, but the other aspect is that in the past libraries were building an asset. If they quit paying for a journal, they still had the back issues, maybe fifty years worth, maybe more. Now, they day they quit paying their subscription, they lose the entire back catalog too. So they're being held hostage by Elsevier and the like now and in lean years that means they literally have zero budget for books

[littleman]

Imo archive.org is an unsung hero of the Internet; on par with Wikipedia in value to humanity, but with much less recognition.

[BoL]

The archive almost seems like one of the last pillars standing of the young web. Great that they haven't over-engineered the experience for the user and continue to do what they do best. They do have a donation button which I haven't used, but maybe should.

[ergophobe]

Actually, I donate small amounts to both. It's a question of asking myself which websites I would miss. The answer is: very few.

But archive.org has also archived thousand (millions?) of books that are very useful for historians. Many other things.