Knowledge and scientific information should be free and unrestricted

Conceptually, this is widely accepted and generally uncontroversial.

Yet if public libraries did not exist and someone came up with the idea today, they would likely be accused of being a communist

Absolutely agree. The democratization of knowledge through public libraries has been a cornerstone for education and empowerment. Making scientific information freely accessible fosters innovation and informed citizenship. In today's context, ensuring open access to knowledge is more crucial than ever for societal progress.