Definition
Longtermist Libraries refer to the physical and digital repositories of human knowledge that serve as “civilizational backups.” From a longtermist perspective, these institutions are critical for ensuring that if a global catastrophe occurs, the survivors have the information necessary to prevent a permanent civilizational collapse and eventually re-industrialize.
Why It Matters
Longtermist libraries are the ‘seed banks’ of human knowledge; without a deliberate strategy to preserve our intellectual heritage across deep time, a single civilizational collapse could erase thousands of years of progress.
Core Concepts
- Knowledge Preservation: There are approx. 2.6 million libraries globally. These are decentralized storage units that are robust to localized disasters.
- Head Start for Re-industrialization: Post-collapse survivors would not start from scratch. Libraries provide blueprints for technology, agriculture, medicine, and governance.
- Vulnerability to Time: While buildings might last centuries, paper and digital media degrade. Longtermism emphasizes the need for extremely durable storage (e.g., the “Svalbard Global Seed Vault” model for information).
- The “Great Power” Buffer: Many libraries exist in countries that are not primary targets in a nuclear exchange, increasing the probability of their survival.