How Big Tech and Big Content Captured

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Vanishing Culture: A Report on Our Fragile Cultural Record

By Luca Messarra, Chris Freeland and Juliya Ziskina
In today’s digital landscape, corporate interests, shifting distribution models, and malicious cyber attacks are threatening public access to our shared cultural history. Vanishing Culture: A Report on Our Fragile Cultural Record aims to raise awareness of these growing issues. The report details recent instances of cultural loss, highlights the underlying causes, and emphasizes the critical role that public-serving libraries and archives must play in preserving these materials for future generations. By empowering libraries and archives legally, culturally, and financially, we can safeguard the public’s ability to maintain access to our cultural history and our digital future.

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Chokepoint Capitalism: Creative Labor Markets and How We’ll Win Them Back

By Cory Doctorow & Rebecca Giblin
This book examines how monopolistic corporations have phone number database markets—especially in digital media—to extract wealth while limiting access and competition. It also explores ways creators and the public can push back against these restrictive systems.

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Posted in Books Archive, Lending Books, News| Tagged digital ownership | 2 Replies
Blending Art and Technology Opens New Doors for Internet Archive’s Recent Artist in Residence
Posted on February 27, 2025 by Caralee Adams
As an Artist in Residence, Swilk said the Internet Archive provided them with the time, space, and support to create a meaningful piece of art that has opened up new possibilities.


“When you’re looking for something, it’s important to know who was in love” by Swilk.
Unveiled in November 2024, their immersive art exhibit combined weaving and technology to highlight the critical role of the internet during the HIV/AIDS crisis. Swilk, a 30-year-old artist based in Oakland, California, spent six months on the project with their colleague, Patty Pacheco — researching, designing and producing it for a show at the Internet Archive’s headquarters in San Francisco.

“I felt like the Archive placed a lot of trust in me,” said Swilk of the sprawling installation in the Great Room. “They let me experiment in a space that was very important to them. I was grateful to be among people who would let me really dream.”