Skip to main content

Latest news

Capturing the Digital Universe

As the Legal Deposit Libraries prepare for the launch of the new legislation regulating the legal deposit of non-print works on April 6, curators from the six libraries have drawn up a list of the 100 websites they believe will be essential for the researchers of the future. Amongst the websites chosen are those of the National Eisteddfod, the Young Farmers Clubs and the People's Collection Wales. What websites would you choose? You can join the conversation on Twitter using the #digitaluniverse hashtag.

Non-Print Legal Deposit regulations laid before parliament

On 28 January, the Legal Deposit Libraries (Non-Print Works) Regulations 2013 were laid before parliament.

The regulations seek to ensure that the Legal Deposit Libraries (LDLs) can provide a national archive of the UK’s non-print published material, such as websites, blogs, e-journals and e-books in a way that does not prejudice publishers’ commercial interests and that respects copyright ownership.

In doing so, they address the important challenge of preserving the nation’s digital heritage for future generations. Researchers of the future will be able to study and analyse a comprehensive source of material within LDLs which accurately reflects UK society today.

Libraries and publishers have worked collaboratively, through the Joint Committee on Legal Deposit*, to establish the principle and content of the regulations. They will be implemented in April this year, at which point the archiving of our digital heritage by LDLs can begin in earnest.

*Association of Learned and Professional Society Publishers; Bodleian Library; British Library; Cambridge University Library; International Association of Scientific, Technical & Medical Publishers; National Library of Scotland; National Library of Wales; Newspaper Publishers Association; Newspaper Society; Professional Publishers Association; Publishers Association; Publishers Content Forum; Trinity College Dublin