Internet Archive is now an official US government document library

The US Senate has granted the Internet Archive federal depository status, making it part of a 1,100-library network that provides public access to government documents. This designation was made official in a letter from California Senator Alex Padilla to the Government Publishing Office. The Internet Archive's digital-first approach makes it a good fit for the modern federal depository library, expanding access to federal government publications. The Federal Depository Library Program was established by Congress in 1813 to help the public access government records. Each congressional member can designate up to two libraries, which include government information like budgets, codes, presidential documents, economic reports, and census data. With its new status, the Internet Archive will gain improved access to government materials, according to founder Brewster Kahle. The Archive could also help other libraries move toward digital preservation, given its experience in that area. This news is a positive development for the site, which has faced legal battles recently, including lawsuits from major publishers and music labels. The new designation likely won't aid its legal problems, but it does affirm the site's importance to the public. The Internet Archive will hit a milestone of 1 trillion pages in October, a testament to the sharing of information between people, governments, and libraries to create an educated populace.