Engelberg Center Live! A Conversation with Internet Archive Fonder Brewster Kahle
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Oct 6, 2022 
Brewster Kahle, the visionary founder of the Internet Archive, discusses the complexities of digital ownership and the crucial role of libraries in today's ecosystem. He explains how controlled digital lending mimics traditional models but faces legal challenges from publishers. Kahle also shares insights into the repercussions of a lawsuit that halted long-standing lending practices, the impact of digital media on author royalties, and the importance of libraries for research verification. The conversation highlights a potential future where access to literature is controlled by a few dominant platforms.
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Internet As Library Vision
- The Internet Archive treats the internet as the library by digitizing and preserving huge physical and born-digital collections.
- Brewster Kahle says technical and legal barriers, not storage, now block building the web as a true library.
Core Library Functions At Risk
- Libraries historically buy, preserve, and lend physical works, a model the Internet Archive seeks to extend digitally.
- Kahle argues publishers' legal challenges threaten that core library function in the digital era.
How Controlled Digital Lending Started
- The Internet Archive began controlled digital lending in 2011 with Boston Public Library and expanded to 80 libraries.
- The system emulates library lending digitally but uses clunky DRM and scans rather than clean EPUBs.
