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Democracy is under a global threat.

From the violentJanuary 6 insurrectionin the U.S. todemocratic backslidingin Europe, participatory governments are at a critical historical point.

As developed by the ancient Greeks, democracy requires participation from an informed citizenry to function properly.

The Internet Archive Has Created Democracy’s Library, a Repository of Government

Photo: BIZOON/Depositphotos

TheInternet Archivehas been preserving billions of web pages since 1996 through its Wayback Machine.

The site functions as anaccessible, free repository of thousands of years of knowledge and culture.

Its latest offeringDemocracy’s Libraryis a collection of 500,000 documents and reports.

The Internet Archive Has Created Democracy’s Library, a Repository of Government

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They come from U.S. agencies such as the Bureau of Land Management and the Foreign Broadcast Information Service.

Public Accounts of Canadian provinces are also available, as well as vast reservoirs of data.

you’re free to browse historic U.S. Congressional Hearings or Global Public Safety Codes.

The library has been created for a simplereason: Because democracies need an educated citizenry to thrive.

In the age of internetdisinformation, unreliable sources are a direct threat to this solid basis of government.

Knowledge is powerand knowing what your government is doing and saying offers opportunities for democratic participation at the ballot.

For resources on identifying and avoiding fake news and misinformation, check out thishandy infographicor thisguide.