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The Legal Deposit Libraries Act 2003 introduced a framework to enable the future deposit of non-print (electronic) publications. In 2007 a voluntary deposit scheme was initiated by the British Library, the other legal deposit libraries and representatives from publishing trade associations. Its aim was to develop technical and practical processes to support the deposit of e-journals and to provide access to the journals within specified constraints.

As a result of this work, the Library is able to offer limited access to online materials deposited under the scheme. Access to this material is limited to 2 dedicated public access machines located in the Reading Room within the Library. On these machines:

  • you can read online electronic publications deposited under the voluntary scheme
  • you cannot access other Library resources or external resources
  • you cannot copy or download any material


IMPORTANT: once an article or e-book has been opened and closed down it cannot be re-opened for 3 hours

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