Agency for the Legal Deposit Libraries
Encyclopedia
The Agency for the Legal Deposit Libraries (formerly known as the Copyright Libraries Agency) acts as on behalf of five of the legal deposit
libraries defined in United Kingdom
and Republic of Ireland
law to obtain copies of material published and distributed in those countries.
The current Agency came into existence on 2 March 2009 and is based at the Causewayside Building at the National Library of Scotland
in Edinburgh
. It replaced a previous agency of the same name which was based at 100 Euston Street, London
.
The Agency acts on behalf of the Bodleian Library
, the Cambridge University Library
, the Library of Trinity College, Dublin
, the National Library of Wales
and the National Library of Scotland. These five libraries, designated as legal deposit
libraries under the Legal Deposit Libraries Act 2003
and Copyright and Related Rights Act 2000, are entitled to request a free copy of any material published in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland within twelve months of its publication.
The Agency submits requests to publishers on behalf of the libraries. Publishers are then responsible for sending copies of materials directly to the five individual libraries, or to the Agency, for redistribution. Many publishers submit copies of works to the Agency in advance of receiving a request. Libraries may also submit requests directly to publishers. Formerly, the Agency's British office for receipt of material was located in London and was supported by Cambridge University, but constraints on space led to a need for relocation, and on 2 March 2009 the Agency officially moved to the National Library of Scotland in Edinburgh
. Material originating in Ireland is forwarded via the Trinity College Library, Dublin, to Edinburgh.
The Agency does not act on behalf of the British Library
, which has a special status under the Legal Deposit Libraries Act 2003
and Copyright and Related Rights Act 2000, meaning it is entitled to receive copies of published materials automatically, without needing to request them. The British Library
maintains its own Legal Deposit Office to handle receipt of materials submitted to them. For similar reasons the Agency does not act for the National Library of Ireland
, the library of the University of Limerick
, the library of Dublin City University
or the libraries of the National University of Ireland
; however, these libraries are only automatically entitled to material published in Ireland.
Legal deposit
Legal deposit is a legal requirement that a person or group submit copies of their publications to a repository, usually a library. The requirement is mostly limited to books and periodicals. The number of copies varies and can range from one to 19 . Typically, the national library is one of the...
libraries defined in United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
law to obtain copies of material published and distributed in those countries.
The current Agency came into existence on 2 March 2009 and is based at the Causewayside Building at the National Library of Scotland
National Library of Scotland
The National Library of Scotland is the legal deposit library of Scotland and is one of the country's National Collections. It is based in a collection of buildings in Edinburgh city centre. The headquarters is on George IV Bridge, between the Old Town and the university quarter...
in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
. It replaced a previous agency of the same name which was based at 100 Euston Street, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
The Agency acts on behalf of the Bodleian Library
Bodleian Library
The Bodleian Library , the main research library of the University of Oxford, is one of the oldest libraries in Europe, and in Britain is second in size only to the British Library...
, the Cambridge University Library
Cambridge University Library
The Cambridge University Library is the centrally-administered library of Cambridge University in England. It comprises five separate libraries:* the University Library main building * the Medical Library...
, the Library of Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College Library, Dublin
Trinity College Library Dublin, the centrally-administered library of Trinity College, Dublin, is the largest library in Ireland. As a "copyright library", it has legal deposit rights for material published in the Republic of Ireland; it is also the only Irish library to hold such rights for the...
, the National Library of Wales
National Library of Wales
The National Library of Wales , Aberystwyth, is the national legal deposit library of Wales; one of the Welsh Government sponsored bodies.Welsh is its main medium of communication...
and the National Library of Scotland. These five libraries, designated as legal deposit
Legal deposit
Legal deposit is a legal requirement that a person or group submit copies of their publications to a repository, usually a library. The requirement is mostly limited to books and periodicals. The number of copies varies and can range from one to 19 . Typically, the national library is one of the...
libraries under the Legal Deposit Libraries Act 2003
Legal Deposit Libraries Act 2003
The Legal Deposit Libraries Act 2003 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom which regulates the legal deposit of publications in the United Kingdom. It was a private member's bill which was passed to update the legislation on legal deposit to reflect the digital age.The previous...
and Copyright and Related Rights Act 2000, are entitled to request a free copy of any material published in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland within twelve months of its publication.
The Agency submits requests to publishers on behalf of the libraries. Publishers are then responsible for sending copies of materials directly to the five individual libraries, or to the Agency, for redistribution. Many publishers submit copies of works to the Agency in advance of receiving a request. Libraries may also submit requests directly to publishers. Formerly, the Agency's British office for receipt of material was located in London and was supported by Cambridge University, but constraints on space led to a need for relocation, and on 2 March 2009 the Agency officially moved to the National Library of Scotland in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
. Material originating in Ireland is forwarded via the Trinity College Library, Dublin, to Edinburgh.
The Agency does not act on behalf of the British Library
British Library
The British Library is the national library of the United Kingdom, and is the world's largest library in terms of total number of items. The library is a major research library, holding over 150 million items from every country in the world, in virtually all known languages and in many formats,...
, which has a special status under the Legal Deposit Libraries Act 2003
Legal Deposit Libraries Act 2003
The Legal Deposit Libraries Act 2003 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom which regulates the legal deposit of publications in the United Kingdom. It was a private member's bill which was passed to update the legislation on legal deposit to reflect the digital age.The previous...
and Copyright and Related Rights Act 2000, meaning it is entitled to receive copies of published materials automatically, without needing to request them. The British Library
British Library
The British Library is the national library of the United Kingdom, and is the world's largest library in terms of total number of items. The library is a major research library, holding over 150 million items from every country in the world, in virtually all known languages and in many formats,...
maintains its own Legal Deposit Office to handle receipt of materials submitted to them. For similar reasons the Agency does not act for the National Library of Ireland
National Library of Ireland
The National Library of Ireland is Ireland's national library located in Dublin, in a building designed by Thomas Newenham Deane. The Minister for Arts, Sport & Tourism is the member of the Irish Government responsible for the library....
, the library of the University of Limerick
University of Limerick
The University of Limerick is a university in Ireland near the city of Limerick on the island's west coast. It was established in 1972 as the National Institute for Higher Education, Limerick and became a university by statute in 1989 in accordance with the University of Limerick Act 1989...
, the library of Dublin City University
Dublin City University
Dublin City University is a university situated between Glasnevin, Santry, Ballymun and Whitehall on the Northside of Dublin in Ireland...
or the libraries of the National University of Ireland
National University of Ireland
The National University of Ireland , , is a federal university system of constituent universities, previously called constituent colleges, and recognised colleges set up under the Irish Universities Act, 1908, and significantly amended by the Universities Act, 1997.The constituent universities are...
; however, these libraries are only automatically entitled to material published in Ireland.