Support the Internet Archive online petition
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"Why this petition matters
Dear Publishers,
We, the undersigned, are lifelong beneficiaries of libraries. We
are avid readers, educators, researchers, librarians, authors,
publishers and lifelong learners whose lives and communities have been
transformed by public access to knowledge. In light of the ongoing legal
battle in Hachette v. Internet Archive, we are writing to urge you to reconsider your stance and restore our access to the books that you have caused to be removed from the Internet Archive’s lending collection.
For more than twenty years, the Internet Archive has empowered
students, teachers, and readers around the world, providing access to a
vital library of books, many of which are otherwise inaccessible to
readers due to geographical, financial, or physical constraints.
Your decision to remove books from the Internet Archive is having a devastating impact on readers in the US and around the world, with far-reaching implications:
1. Educational Impact: Students, scholars, and
educators rely on the Internet Archive for access to research materials
and literature that support their learning and academic growth,
particularly in underserved communities where access is limited. Your
removal of these books impedes academic progress and innovation, as well
as imperiling the preservation of our cultural and historical
knowledge.
2. Equity and Accessibility: The Internet
Archive democratizes access to knowledge. By restricting access to these
books, you have made it harder for the most vulnerable people in our
society to read and learn. Not everyone has a local library, can afford
to travel to one, feels safe accessing the information they need in
public, or can ignore the potentially life-altering repercussions when
tech platforms collect data on their reading habits. Your removal of
more than 500,000 books from public access is a serious blow to
lower-income families, people with disabilities, rural communities, and
LGBTQ+ people, among many others.
3. Cultural Preservation: Libraries’ digital
preservation of books ensures that our cultural heritage is maintained
for future generations. In order to preserve digital books, libraries
must be allowed to own them, not just license them short-term. Your
attack on the rights of libraries is an attack on cultural
preservation.
We understand the importance of protecting authors' rights and ensuring fair compensation for their work. There
is a way to achieve these goals while still allowing libraries to do
what they have always done—help readers read. We urge you to explore
solutions with the Internet Archive that support both authors and the
public good, such as selling eBooks to libraries to own, lend, and
preserve.
In the spirit of fostering a more equitable, informed, and connected world, we respectfully ask you to restore access to the books you’ve taken down, and work with the Internet Archive to find a sustainable solution that empowers everyone in our society to read and learn."
What would happen if everything were 'made' to be 'unmade'? What impact could that have on the environment, recycling, design, employment?