Shadow libraries

Some research I was doing recently led me to the concept of “shadow libraries”.
While I have known about the function of these libraries being carried out by very
open sites (such as the Internet Archive, Freenetproject.org, some dark web sites)
I have only now learned of the coordinated nature of these things.

I submit that more needs to be done in this arena. Especially now with DOGE
actually “disappearing” some official files.
Among other things, there is a vast store of records in government agencies that
should not be lost.
In the early history of films New York kept a record of “banned films”, a list that
has never been released.
Trump has recently ordered the removal of all DEI materials from… well, almost
everywhere.
Who knows when porn that is now legal will be banned.

https://kmr.annas-archive.org/

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https://archive.org/

https://www.hyphanet.org/

If you want more information about Anna’s Archive (I highly recommend this), see
https://annas-archive.org/faq

Among other things, in the short list of favorite books, Cryptonomicon has a place.

This is one reason why shadow libraries are soooo important.

"Added Massachusetts Sen. Ed Markey, a Democrat: “Donald Trump just fired my dear friend Dr. Carla Hayden — the Librarian of Congress — via email. This is disgraceful. The Library of Congress represents some of the best America has to offer. Equal access to learning for all.”

https://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2025-05-09/white-house-confirms-trump-fired-librarian-of-congress

Trump’s Takeover of Library of Congress Gets Push Back.

etc. etc.

Book banning… some great books now banned in schools.
It should not be for our schools to propagandize about societal norms. Government should stay out of telling the people what/how they should be thinking.
I’ve read almost all these books, and some (all?) have been made into wonderful movies.
Censorship by a government through propaganda through government institutions (which most schools are in one way or another) is vile.

The ultimate “shadow library”…
In the initial post on this topic, I wrote that
“I submit that more needs to be done in this arena. Especially now with DOGE actually “disappearing” some official files.
Among other things, there is a vast store of records in government agencies that should not be lost.”

Why are data nerds racing to save US government statistics?