What is legal deposit?

Governments in almost all countries have made provision for legal deposit. It means that publishers are required by law to give, free of charge, one or several copies of every publication that is issued or produced in the country to a specified library (or several libraries).

In Namibia, the Library and Information Service Act, (Act 4 of 2000) stipulates that each publication must be delivered in five copies to the National Library (for Government publications: 20 copies to the National Archives).

Legal deposit serves a number of functions, mainly to ensure the preservation of our national cultural heritage and also public availability.

Which material should be delivered on legal deposit?

Basically, all printed or otherwise duplicated material that is made accessible to the public or a section of the community through sale or free distribution should be delivered.

This includes print media (books, pamphlets, newspapers, journals, yearbooks and other periodicals, maps, posters) as well as films, DVDs and CDs, or published data processing material (programs, games, etc).

Only advertising leaflets, letterheads and other stationery items, business cards and the like do not fall under legal deposit.

Delivery of legal deposit material:

5 copies to the National Library

Government publications: 20 copies to the National Archives

Physical address:
1-7 Eugene Street
Windhoek
Namibia

Contact details:
Tel.: 061-2935305
       061-2935300