It's money. The difference is here the internet archive can lend worldwide with one hour loans. Your local library has a limited geographic reach (even when it

It's money. The difference is here the internet archive can lend worldwide with one hour loans. Your local library has a limited geographic reach (even when it partners with other libraries it's still limited to its own state boundaries) and has to loan out in one to two week blocks. To use their example of the Boston Public Library you can only register if you are a Massachusetts resident.