It also preserves web pages and materials from the dark ages of the Internet – you know, from a few years ago. Actually, they use Alexa Internet's Wayback Machine, which has been crawling the web since 1996, to offer access to pages that are no longer live.
The philosophy behind the Internet Archive is stated on their website:
The Internet Archive is working to prevent the Internet - a new medium with major historical significance - and other "born-digital" materials from disappearing into the past. Collaborating with institutions including the Library of Congress and the Smithsonian, we are working to preserve a record for generations to come. Open and free access to literature and other writings has long been considered essential to education and to the maintenance of an open society.
They don't mention the value of giving me access to Billy Bragg's version of "California Stars," but I'm sure that's just an oversight.








Article comments
1 - El Bicho
For music fans, this is quote possibly the best site ever. Brewster will be here soon to back me up on this.