This information is taken from the National Library of Australia about Legal deposit – the requirement to provide Australia’s National Library with a copy of all published works. The good news is that you don’t need to provide a printed copy, you can send an electronic copy at no expense, and the Library actually prefers it.
Legal deposit has been a law in Australia for over 100 years. It ensures that the nation’s published heritage is collected and preserved for future generations.
One copy of everything that is published in Australia is to be given to the National Library under the legal deposit provisions of the Copyright Act (1968). In 2016 the laws were expanded to include electronic publications. Since then, legal deposit applies to all Australian publications, including:
- books
- graphic novels, comic books, zines
- newspapers, magazines, journals, newsletters
- maps, sheet music
- standalone or annual reports
- government publications
- websites
You don’t have to be a publishing professional to be considered a publisher – you might for example be an individual or a community organisation. Legal deposit applies to any Australian person, group or organisation that distributes their work to the public for sale or for free.
Published works that are not required or are only selectively collected include: blank forms and labels; calendars and diaries; activity-based materials such as colouring books, puzzle books and games that do not have significant text; training and procedure manuals; minutes of meetings; teaching and course notes, course workbooks and theses; press releases and trade advertising.
You can also see a video about the process here.
A pdf factsheet is here.