I've never noticed the library I go to producing and distributing mass numbers of copies of... anything, really..., so they aren't the sort of archive
being discussed here. That would be something like Project Gutenberg.
Of course, everything they distribute is either public domain, or copyrighted works that they've been granted permission to distribute. I'm unaware of
any organization that acquires books and other media with the intent of holding them securely until they enter the public domain (which takes a while) so that
they can be converted to electronic media. A library isn't suitable for the task, as to fulfill their mandate, they actually lend books out, and those
books don't always come back, and sometimes the ones that do come back are never the same again. Not to mention that libraries regularly sell old books to
make room for new ones. They can't be relied upon for all-encompassing preservation effort.
-Morgan.
being discussed here. That would be something like Project Gutenberg.
Of course, everything they distribute is either public domain, or copyrighted works that they've been granted permission to distribute. I'm unaware of
any organization that acquires books and other media with the intent of holding them securely until they enter the public domain (which takes a while) so that
they can be converted to electronic media. A library isn't suitable for the task, as to fulfill their mandate, they actually lend books out, and those
books don't always come back, and sometimes the ones that do come back are never the same again. Not to mention that libraries regularly sell old books to
make room for new ones. They can't be relied upon for all-encompassing preservation effort.
-Morgan.