Legal Deposit for authors and publishers
Legal deposit is a statutory provision requiring publishers to deposit copies of their publications in a nominated collecting institute. The legal deposit system ensures that the works of authors and publishers will be preserved for present and future generations.
Legal Deposit in Western Australia
The State Library of Western Australia is the legal deposit library for Western Australian publications. This system was established under the Copyright Act of 1895, but the Act was repealed in 1994. Replacement legislation is pending, and a copy of the Bill can be found here. In the meantime we hope publishers will continue to follow the spirit of legal deposit, to enable the State's documentary heritage to be preserved.
A publication is any work that has been made available to the public. A publication can be in any format: a book, newspaper, journal, pamphlet, map, printed music, film, CD, DVD, computer disc or other device. New legislation will also encompass online and electronic publications.
The comprehensive collections formed in this way provide a valuable resource for research into all aspects of Western Australian life: its history and culture including artistic, commercial, technical and scientific endeavour.
Legal Deposit material should be sent to:
Collection LiaisonLiaison, Acquisition and DescriptionState Library of Western AustraliaPerth Cultural Centre25 Francis StPerth WA 6000Email: collection.development@slwa.wa.gov.au
Telephone: (08) 9427 3348
Legal Deposit at the National Library of Australia
Legal deposit of Western Australian publications is also required with the National Library of Australia. Further information about National and State Legal Deposit requirements can be found in the brochure Legal Deposit in Australia (August 2010).
Legal Deposit material should be sent to:
Legal DepositNational Library of Australia
Parkes Place
Canberra ACT 2600
Page last updated: Thursday 10 May 2012
