What are my legal deposit obligations?

Legal deposit to the National Library of Australia

The National Library collects under legal deposit publications from all Australian jurisdictions, print and electronic, in accordance with the Copyright Act 1968. If both formats are available, electronic is preferred. The National Library does not collect audio-visual material.

Legal deposit also covers everything published by an Australian person, group or organisation, even if it is published outside Australia.

Australian Government departments and agencies are required to deposit copies of their publications with the National Library of Australia in accordance with the Copyright Act 1968. If both formats are available, electronic is preferred.

Once you have deposited an electronic publication to NED, your obligations for national legal deposit have been fulfilled. If your state or territory legislation still requires a print copy, however, you will need to deposit this with your state or territory library. Information about state and territory requirements is below.

I am a publisher in

Legal deposit in the Australian Capital Territory

Legal deposit of publications, including government publications, with the ACT Heritage Library is not required, but is welcomed and encouraged.

Australian Capital Territory publishers are advised to contact the ACT Heritage Library for guidance on your specific circumstances.

Legal deposit in New South Wales

Legal deposit to the State Library of New South Wales is required for print and electronic publications, in accordance with the Library Act 1939.

Deposit of NSW Government print and electronic publications to the State Library of New South Wales is required in accordance with C2022-02 Deposit of New South Wales Government Publications and the New South Wales Government Treasury Policy and Guideline TPG23-10 Annual Reporting Requirements.

In New South Wales, publishers are required as well to deposit publications to the Parliamentary Library of New South Wales, the Library of the University of Sydney (except NSW Government publications) and the Western Sydney University Library (for NSW Government publications only). Depositing material through the NED deposit processes does not remove a publisher’s obligation to deposit publications with these libraries.

New South Wales publishers are advised to review the legal deposit information on the State Library of New South Wales website, including contact details if you require further guidance on your specific circumstances.

Legal deposit in the Northern Territory

Legal deposit with the Library & Archives NT is required for print, electronic and audio-visual publications, including government publications, in accordance with the Publications (Legal Deposit) Act 2004. Deposit of culturally sensitive materials is not required, but voluntary deposit is welcomed.

Copies of files deposited in NED by Northern Territory publishers will be securely transferred to the Library & Archives NT, in accordance with the Publications (Legal Deposit) Act 2004.

Copies of files deposited with Library & Archives NT by Northern Territory publishers will be securely transferred to the National Library of Australia, in accordance with the Copyright Act 1968.

Publishers are only required to deposit at either NED or Library & Archives NT.

Northern Territory publishers are advised to contact Library & Archives NT for guidance on your specific circumstances.

Legal deposit in Queensland

Legal deposit with the State Library of Queensland is required for print, electronic and audio-visual publications, including government publications, in accordance with part 8 of the Libraries Act 1988. If both print and electronic formats are available, electronic is preferred.

In Queensland, publishers are required as well to deposit publications to the Queensland Parliamentary Library. Depositing material through the NED deposit processes does not remove a publisher’s obligation to separately lodge a copy of the material with the Parliamentary Librarian.

Queensland publishers are advised to review the legal deposit information on the State Library of Queensland website, including contact details if you require further guidance on your specific circumstances.

Legal deposit in South Australia

Legal deposit with the State Library of South Australia is required for print, electronic and audio-visual publications, including government publications and material of both South Australian origin and of particular relevance to the state, in accordance with the Libraries Act 1982. If both print and electronic formats are available, electronic is preferred.

Copies of files deposited in NED by South Australian publishers may be securely transferred to the State Library of South Australia, in accordance with the Libraries Act 1982 and the NED Terms and Conditions of Use.

In South Australia, publishers are also required to lodge copies of relevant material with the Parliamentary Librarian, in accordance with the Libraries Act 1982. Depositing material through the NED deposit processes does not remove a publisher’s obligation to separately lodge a copy of the material with the Parliamentary Librarian.

South Australian publishers are advised to review the legal deposit information on the State Library of South Australia website, including contact details if you require further guidance on your specific circumstances.

Legal deposit in Tasmania

Legal deposit with Libraries Tasmania is required for print, electronic and audio-visual publications, including government publications, in accordance with the Libraries Act 1984. If both print and electronic formats are available, deposit of the electronic format will generally fulfill your obligations for legal deposit with Libraries Tasmania. If there is a substantial difference between the electronic and print versions of your publication, please deposit both formats.

Tasmanian publishers are advised to review the legal deposit information on the Libraries Tasmania website, including contact details if you require further guidance on your specific circumstances.

Legal deposit in Victoria

Legal deposit with State Library Victoria is required for print, electronic and audio-visual publications, in accordance with the Libraries Act 1988. If both print and electronic formats are available, electronic is preferred.

Deposit of Victorian Government electronic publications with State Library Victoria is required in accordance with Premier’s Circular No. 2005/2 Collecting of Government Online Publications by the State Library of Victoria.

Copies of files deposited in NED by Victorian publishers will be securely transferred to State Library Victoria, in accordance with the Libraries Act 1988 and the NED Terms and Conditions of Use.

Victorian publishers are advised to review the legal deposit information on the State Library of Victoria website, including contact details if you require further guidance on your specific circumstances.

Legal deposit in Western Australia

Legal deposit with the State Library of Western Australia is required for print and audio-visual publications, in accordance with the Legal Deposit Act 2012. This will be extended to include electronic materials in the near future.

Deposit of government publications, including print, electronic and audio-visual publications with the State Library of Western Australia is required in accordance with the Premier’s Circular 2021/14 – Requirements for Western Australian Government Publications and Library Collections.

Deposit in NED does not automatically exempt you from your state print deposit obligations.

Western Australian publishers are advised to review the legal deposit information on the State Library of Western Australia website, including contact details if you require further guidance on your specific circumstances.