Expecting libraries to maintain digital scans of every book they have had or anything to that effect is a little laughable. These organizations do more for communities with less money and you expect them do now navigate the legal and ethical quagmire of digital ownership because you can't handle knowledge and books becoming less valuable with time.

If you are a software dev, go volunteer at a library and offer up your time to do this. Do something for your community, do something for yourself.

> If you are a software dev, go volunteer at a library and offer up your time to do this.

You misunderstand the environment, "offering" doesn't work if the library haven't asked for help, in that case you're just ignored. You see, whatever you do for them would require participation and at least some effort on their side.

Some other organization could help here, but going to the library and begging them to let you help them is a non starter.