Archivists Are Trying to Make Sure LibGen Never Goes Down (vice.com)

Article summary

Archivists are working to ensure the long-term availability of Library Genesis (LibGen), a large online repository of scientific papers and books. LibGen, often referred to as the 'Pirate Bay of Science', has faced legal and logistical challenges that have taken it offline for periods of time. To address this, a project has been launched to better seed and host LibGen's files, with support from seedbox companies and another archiving project called The-Eye. This effort aims to make LibGen's collection more stable and accessible.

Main themes

• scientific knowledge access
• copyright infringement
• digital archiving
• metadata curation
• legal risks
• DIY scanning and digitization

What commenters say

• Some commenters believe that the effort to preserve LibGen is crucial for providing access to scientific knowledge, particularly for those in developing countries.
• Others argue that the lack of curation in LibGen's collection is a significant problem, leading to duplicate uploads and erroneous metadata.
• There are differing opinions on the best approach to scanning and digitizing physical books, with some suggesting DIY methods and others recommending professional services.
• A few commenters express concern about the potential legal risks of hosting or contributing to LibGen, given the copyright infringement implications.
• Some argue that the publishing industry's financial interests are a significant threat to efforts like LibGen, and that support for the project should be vocal but anonymous.
• Others propose potential solutions, such as integrating LibGen with existing metadata curation projects or developing a turn-key solution for hosting partial mirrors of the archive.