Introduction: Legal Deposit and National Heritage
In the realm of library and information science, certain laws are fundamental to ensuring that the nation's published heritage is collected, preserved, and made accessible for future generations. These laws, often referred to as legal deposit laws, mandate that publishers deposit copies of their publications with designated libraries, typically the national library and other major public libraries. This process is crucial for building a comprehensive national collection and creating the national bibliography. The two most significant acts in India concerning this principle are the Press and Registration of Books Act, 1867, and the Delivery of Books and Newspapers (Public Libraries) Act.
1. The Press and Registration of Books Act, 1867
This Act is a foundational piece of legislation concerning the regulation of printing-presses and newspapers and the preservation of copies of books printed in India. While its scope is broader than just libraries, it has direct and significant implications for them through its legal deposit provisions, which have been incorporated or amended by state-level public library legislation.
Key Features and Functions in the Library Context:
- Foundation for State-Level Deposit: The Act provides a central legal basis that state library acts can reference or amend to establish their own local depository systems. The principle of "Registration of Books" under legal deposit rules is considered an essential component of a modern Public Library Act.
- Role in Building State Central Library Collections: State library legislation uses this Act to ensure that copies of all publications within the state are deposited in the State Central Library, thereby building a comprehensive repository of the state's intellectual output.
- Implementation through State Library Acts: The provided sources give specific examples of how state library laws have integrated this Act:
- The Madras (Tamil Nadu) Public Libraries Act, 1948: This was the first public library act in independent India. It explicitly amended Section 9 of the Press and Registration of Books Act, 1867, to suit its needs. The amendment stipulated that every publisher must deliver five copies of each book to the State Government, out of which four copies are to be deposited in the State Central Library, Madras (now the Connemara Public Library, Chennai).
- The Bihar State Public Libraries and Information Centers Act, 2008: This Act makes the Press and Registration of Books Act, 1867 applicable within the state. It mandates that every publisher must deposit a copy of their publication in two specific libraries in Patna: the Smt. Radhika Sinha Institute and Sachidanand Library. The Act also requires that a register of all such received books be maintained.
2. The Delivery of Books and Newspapers (Public Libraries) Act
This Act is specifically designed to build the collections of India's most important national and public libraries by making them legal depositories for the country's publications. The sources refer to this Act with two slightly different years of enactment, 1954 and 1956, reflecting its history and amendments.
Key Features and Functions:
- Core Purpose: The primary function of this Act is to serve as a mechanism for building the collection of the National Library of India and other designated public libraries. It ensures that these libraries receive copies of books and newspapers published throughout the country.
- Designated Depository Libraries: The Act names four specific libraries as legal depositories for publications in India. These are:
- National Library, Kolkata
- Connemara Public Library, Chennai
- Central Library, Mumbai (This refers to the Asiatic Society of Mumbai's library)
- Delhi Public Library
- A Foundation of the National Library's Collection: The sources explicitly state that the collection of the National Library of India is built, in part, through books received under the Delivery of Books and Newspapers Act, 1956. This highlights the Act's critical role in maintaining the nation's primary literary repository.
- Significance in Library Legislation Planning: The importance of this Act is further demonstrated by its inclusion in model library legislation. Dr. S.R. Ranganathan, in his drafted "Model Union Library Act," included a provision for the amendment of the Delivery of Books and Newspapers Act, 1954, signifying its central role in any comprehensive national library development plan.