I was just wondering, after reading some stuff on the internet, would we be able to draw parallels between the fire at the Library of Congress and the Library of Alexandria some ages before. I'm not a librarian or even a real historian, so dumb down your answers for me, because I'm trying to make this simple enough for everyone to understand as well. No offence, just has to be readable by everyone, which is why I ask you humbly.
The Americans had a library with stuff that we don't know today, likely lost after the British burned it. Alexandria had stuff we know was lost, and possibly stuff we never recovered. I know we never recovered someones hand-written graffiti on the bathroom stall (dicks lol), but I mean important stuff. Stuff that would shine new lights on the history we know today. It's close enough that it's possible that it's important today, but the war and fire were long enough ago that those who might tell us about it are dead now. So, we have important lost important historical information, like the Wikileaks server being DDoSed in the War of 1812, but as a parallel, in the future.
I'm bad at explaining, but if you see what I'm suggesting please comment on how important the lost information was in terms of how it would affect today. Wild conjectures are often amazingly awesome, so please, don't be afraid.
And if you don't understand what I'm saying tell me, and we can work it out together.