Open Source advocates are concerned that a recent donation to the U.S. Library of Congress by Microsoft might result in a technology lock-in.

According to Boing Boing, Microsoft has donated $3 million worth of "technology, services and funding" to the Library of Congress. This basically means that Microsoft's Silverlight will help power the Library's new Web site, www.myloc.gov

In return, Microsoft will put Vista into kiosks in the Library. The fear expressed on several blogs is that Microsoft will be locking a lot of the nation's data behind its own technology.

The Library of Congress is underfunded and desperate for cash, while at the same time under pressure for improving access.