Legal deposit

Legal deposit is a rule that says people or groups must give copies of their publications to a special place, usually a national library. The number of copies needed depends on the country. Sometimes, even governments have to give copies of their important papers to libraries so everyone can see them. This helps keep a country’s history of books and information safe for the future.

Rules about legal deposit are different in each country. Some are part of the rules about copying things, while others have their own special laws. For a long time, only printed books and movies were included. But now, most countries also include digital, or computer-based, documents. In 2000, UNESCO helped countries update their rules to include these new kinds of materials.

The number of books given to national libraries grew from 2.4 million in 2018 to 2.7 million in 2019, mostly because more digital books were being shared.

By country

Albania

In Albania, a law requires publishers of printed books, brochures, posters, postal cards, maps, geographic atlases, and musical and choreographical scores to submit five copies to the National Library of Albania, the Library of the Albanian Parliament, and the local public library where the publisher operates. Each new printing must follow the same rules.

Australia

In Australia, a law requires that a copy of all materials published in Australia be sent to the National Library of Australia. State laws require books and other materials published in each state to be sent to the state library. Some states also require books to be sent to the library of the state parliament or the University of Sydney library.

Brazil

In Brazil, laws require that one copy of every book, music, or periodical published in the country be sent to the National Library of Brazil in Rio de Janeiro.

Brunei

In Brunei, three copies of every book, report, pamphlet, periodical, newspaper, sheet of letterpress, sheet of music, map, plan, chart, or table published must be sent to the Director of Museums within one month after publication.

Canada

In Canada, a law specifies that up to two copies of any published material must be sent to Library and Archives Canada. The province of Quebec also requires two copies of any document to be sent to Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec within seven days of publication.

China

In China, a regulation states that three copies of each printed publication should be sent to the National Library of China, one copy to the Archives Library of Chinese Publications, and one copy to the administrative department for publication under the State Council.

Colombia

In Colombia, laws require creators of printed works, as well as audiovisual, audio, and video productions, to supply the National Library of Colombia with a certain number of copies of the works, whether produced within Colombia or imported.

Costa Rica

The National Library of Costa Rica is required by law to hold three copies of every publication in the country.

Croatia

In Croatia, a law requires publishers to supply nine copies of publications. Two copies go to the National and University Library in Zagreb, while university and scientific libraries in several cities each receive one copy.

Denmark

In Denmark, a law requires two copies of most written works, newspapers, audio, and video to be sent to the Royal Danish Library and the State and University Library.

Faroe Islands

A law requires four copies of every publication to be sent to the National Library of the Faroe Islands.

Finland

In Finland, a law requires copies of all works published in the country to be sent to several libraries, including the National Library of Finland and the National Audiovisual Institute. This includes works in digital format.

France

In France, a law from 1537 requires a copy of any published book to be sent to the king's library for conservation. The main depository is the Bibliothèque nationale de France. Legal deposit includes printed material, multimedia archives, and some web pages.

Germany

In Germany, laws require publishing houses to send copies of print and some non-print publications to the German National Library in Frankfurt am Main or Leipzig. Each federal state also requires copies to be sent to the respective state repository.

Hong Kong

In Hong Kong, a law requires publishers to send five copies of a new book to the Secretary for Broadcasting, Culture and Sport within one month after publication. One copy is sent to the City Hall Library.

Hungary

Iceland

In Iceland, four copies of any published printed material must be sent to the National and University Library of Iceland in Reykjavik. If fewer than 50 copies are made, only two are required.

India

A law enacted by the Indian parliament requires the deposit of books published in India to the National Library of India and three other libraries. The law was amended to include periodicals and newspapers.

Ireland

In Ireland, one copy of each book and periodical published must be sent to the National Library of Ireland, the British Library, and several university libraries. Additional British libraries can request a copy within a year.

Israel

In Israel, a law requires two copies of each publication to be sent to the National Library of Israel. The library of the Knesset and the Israel State Archive can each receive one copy upon request.

Italy

In Italy, a law requires a copy of each publication to be sent to the National Central Library of Florence and the National Central Library of Rome. Additional copies go to regional and provincial libraries.

Japan

In Japan, laws specify the requirements for submitting copies of various materials to the National Diet Library, depending on whether the publisher is governmental or nongovernmental and whether the work is physical or online.

Kenya

In Kenya, a law covers the deposit of books and newspapers. Publishers must deposit two copies with the Director of the Kenya National Library Service and up to three copies to the Registrar of Books and Newspapers. Penalties apply for non-compliance.

Liechtenstein

The Liechtenstein State Library, established by law in 1961, collects print materials, pictures, and music created by citizens of Liechtenstein and items related to Liechtenstein. It also serves as a patent library.

Macau

A decree requires copies of works published in Macau to be sent to the Macao Central Library.

Malaysia

In Malaysia, a law requires five copies of printed library materials and two copies of non-printed library materials to be sent to the National Library of Malaysia.

Mexico

In Mexico, a law states that two copies of each physical book, publication, magazine, newspaper, map, brochure, poster, music sheet, record, movie, or photograph published must be sent to several libraries, or one copy if in electronic or digital format.

Monaco

In Monaco, four copies of locally produced books, computer software, and media must be sent to the Bibliothèque Louis Notari. If fewer than 100 copies were produced, only two copies are required.

New Zealand

In New Zealand, a law requires copies of all printed documents and offline electronic documents to be sent to the National Library of New Zealand within 20 working days of publication. The National Librarian can also make copies of Internet documents.

Norway

In Norway, a law requires publications, regardless of format, to be sent to the National Library of Norway.

Poland

In Poland, laws require copies of publications to be sent to several libraries, including the National Library of Poland and the Jagiellonian Library. The number of copies depends on the print run and type of publication.

Portugal

In Portugal, publishers must deposit 11 copies of all publications with various libraries, including the National Library of Portugal. Exceptions include Masters and PhD dissertations, limited prints, stamps, plans, and posters, for which only one copy is required.

Romania

In Romania, publishers must deposit copies of publications at the National Library of Romania. The number of copies required varies by type of publication.

Russia

In Russia, several libraries, including the Russian State Library and the National Library of Russia, are entitled to receive a copy of every book published.

Singapore

In Singapore, a law requires all publishers to deposit two copies of every publication with the National Library Board within four weeks from the publication date.

Slovenia

The National and University Library of Slovenia, originally the Lyceum Library of Ljubljana, has collected legal deposit copies since 1807. It now also serves the needs of the University of Ljubljana and collects deposits from the entire Kingdom of Yugoslavia.

South Africa

In South Africa, a law requires publishers to provide five copies of every book published if the print run consists of 100 or more copies. These copies are sent to several libraries. If the print run is less than 100 copies, only one copy is required.

South Korea

A law requires one or two copies of any tangible material published or produced in the country to be sent to the National Library of Korea within 30 days for preservation. Copies of online materials must be submitted on demand.

Spain

In Spain, laws require the deposit of copies of printed materials to the National Library of Spain and other libraries. This includes books, magazines, sound recordings, maps, movies, and postcards. The number of copies varies by type of material.

Sri Lanka

In Sri Lanka, a law requires a copy of every document printed in the country to be deposited in legal deposit libraries, including the National Archives of Sri Lanka and the National Library of Sri Lanka.

Sweden

In Sweden, a law requires copies of printed material, sound, and moving images to be sent to The National Library of Sweden and Lund University Library. A 2012 law also requires digitally published content to be sent to the National Library starting in 2015.

Switzerland

In Switzerland, there is no federal law for legal deposit, but some cantons have laws requiring books published within their jurisdictions to be deposited. The Swiss National Library also receives copies through voluntary agreements with publishers' associations.

Taiwan

In Taiwan, a law requires a copy of a work to be deposited with the National Central Library and the Parliamentary Library of the Legislative Yuan. Two university libraries are also selected as legal deposit destinations.

United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom, six legal deposit libraries include the British Library, the National Library of Scotland, the National Library of Wales, the Bodleian Library at Oxford University, Cambridge University Library, and Trinity College Dublin Library. A law requires one copy of every book published to be sent to the British Library. Other libraries can request a free copy within one year of publication. The law also covers non-print works published online or offline.

United States

In the United States, a law requires any copyrighted and published work to be submitted in two copies to the United States Copyright Office at the Library of Congress. The Library of Congress does not retain all works. Another type of depository library in the United States are federal depository libraries, which receive free copies of all materials published by the Government Publishing Office.