Encyclopedia article
A national library is a library
LibraryA library is a collection of information, sources, resources, books, and services, and the structure in which it is housed: it is organized for use and maintained by a public body, an institution, or a private individual.... specifically established by the government
GovernmentGovernment is the body within any organization that has the authority to make and the power to enforce laws, regulations, or rules. Typically, the government refers to a civil government -- local, provincial, or national -- but commercial, academic, religious, or other formal organizations are also administered by governing bodies.... of a country to serve as the preeminent repository of information for that country. Unlike public libraries
Public libraryA public library is a library which is accessible by the public and is generally funded from public sources and may be operated by Civil services...., these rarely allow citizens to borrow books. Often, they include numerous rare, valuable, or significant works.There are wider definitions of a national library, putting less emphasis to the repository character.National libraries are usually notable for their size, compared to that of other libraries in the same country. Some states which are not independent, but who wish to preserve their particular culture, have established a national library with all the attributes of such institutions, such as legal deposit.In the United States
United StatesThe United States of America is a Federal government constitutional republic comprising U.S. state and a federal district. The country is situated mostly in central North America, where its Contiguous United States and Washington, D.C., the Capital districts and territories, lie between the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Oceans, Borders of the U... the Library of Congress
Library of CongressThe Library of Congress is the de facto national library of the United States and the research arm of the United States Congress. Located in three buildings in Washington, D.C., it is the largest library in the world by shelf space and holds the largest number of books.... performs many of the functions of a national library and is the de facto
De factoDe facto is a Latin expression that means "concerning the fact" or in practice but not necessarily ordained by law. It is commonly used in contrast to de jure when referring to matters of law, governance, or technique that are found in the common experience as created or developed without or contrary to a regulation.... national library. The National Library of Medicine and the National Agricultural Library are national libraries for the U.S. within their fields.Many national libraries cooperate within the National Libraries Section of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions
International Federation of Library Associations and InstitutionsThe International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions is the leading international association of library organisations. It is the global voice of the library and information profession, and its annual conference provides a venue for librarians to learn from one another.... (IFLA) to discuss their common tasks, define and promote common standards and carry out projects helping them to fulfil their duties. National libraries of Europe participate in The European Library. This is a service of The Conference of European National Librarians (CENL).The first national libraries had their origins in the royal collections of the sovereign or some other supreme body of the state.
Legal deposit and copyrightThe principle of legal deposit applies in some countries.In the United Kingdom
United KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom , the UK or Britain,is a sovereign state located off the northwestern coast of continental Europe.... the Legal Deposit Libraries Act 2003
Legal Deposit Libraries Act 2003The Legal Deposit Libraries Act 2003 is an Act of Parliament of the Parliament of the United Kingdom which regulates the legal deposit of publications in the United Kingdom.... restates the Copyright Act 1911
Copyright Act 1911Copyright Act 1911 is an Act of Parliament of the Parliament of the United Kingdom which received Royal Assent on December 16, 1911. It rewrote Copyright law of the United Kingdom, as recommended by a Royal Commission in 1878...., that one copy of every book published there must be sent to the national library (the British Library
British LibraryThe British Library is the national library of the United Kingdom. It is based in London and is one of the world's largest List of Research libraries, holding over 150 million items in all known languages and formats; books, journals, newspapers, magazines, Sound recording, patents, databases, maps, stamps, Printmaking, drawings and much mor...); five other libraries (the Bodleian Library
Bodleian LibraryThe Bodleian Library , the main research library of the University of Oxford, is one of the oldest library in Europe, and in England is second in size only to the British Library.... at Oxford University, the Cambridge University Library
Cambridge University LibraryThe Cambridge University Library is the centrally-administered library of the University of Cambridge in England. It comprises five separate libraries:..., the National Library of Scotland
National Library of ScotlandThe National Library of Scotland is the legal deposit library of Scotland. It is based in a collection of buildings in Edinburgh city centre. The headquarters is on George IV Bridge, between the Edinburgh#Old Town and the University of Edinburgh quarter...., the Trinity College Library, Dublin
Trinity College Library, DublinThe Trinity College Library, the centrally-administered library of Trinity College, Dublin, University of Dublin, is the largest library in Ireland...., and the National Library of Wales
National Library of WalesThe National Library of Wales is the national legal deposit library of Wales, located in Aberystwyth. It is one of the Assembly Government Sponsored Bodies....) are entitled to request a free copy within one year of publication. The international nature of the book publishing industry ensures that all significant English language publications from elsewhere in the world are also included.In the Republic of Ireland
Republic of IrelandIreland is an Island country in north-western Europe. The modern Sovereignty state occupies about five-sixths of the island of Ireland, which was partitioned by the British on 3 May 1921...., the Copyright and Related Rights Act 2000 specifies that one copy of every book published is to be delivered to the National Library of Ireland
National Library of IrelandThe National Library of Ireland is a national library located in Dublin, Republic of Ireland, in a building designed by Thomas Newenham Deane. The Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism is the member of the Irish Government responsible for the library...., the Trinity College Library, Dublin, the library of the University of Limerick
University of LimerickThe University of Limerick was established in 1972 as the National Institute for Higher Education, Limerick and became a university by Act of the Oireachtas in 1989 in accordance with the ...., the library of Dublin City University
Dublin City UniversityDublin City University is a university situated between Glasnevin, Ballymun and Whitehall, Dublin on the Northside of Dublin in Republic of Ireland...., and the British Library
British LibraryThe British Library is the national library of the United Kingdom. It is based in London and is one of the world's largest List of Research libraries, holding over 150 million items in all known languages and formats; books, journals, newspapers, magazines, Sound recording, patents, databases, maps, stamps, Printmaking, drawings and much mor.... Four copies are to be delivered to the National University of Ireland
National University of IrelandThe National University of Ireland , , is a Federation university system of constituent universities, previously called university college, and recognised colleges set up under the , and significantly amended by the .... for distribution to its constituent universities. Further, on demand in writing within twelve months of publication a copy is to be delivered to the Bodleian Library, Cambridge University Library, the National Library of Scotland, and the National Library of Wales.In Australia
AustraliaAustralia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the southern hemisphere comprising the Australia of the world's smallest continent, the major island of Tasmania, and numerous list of islands of Australia in the Indian Ocean and Pacific Oceans...., the Copyright Act 1968
Australian copyright lawAustralian copyright law emerged from British and colonial models of the early 20th Century. It reflects international standards found in the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works, other multilateral treaties, and more recently, the U.S.-Australia Free Trade Agreement.... and other state Acts requires that a copy of every book published in Australia be deposited with the National Library of Australia
National Library of AustraliaThe National Library of Australia is the country's largest reference library, responsible under the terms of the National Library Act for "maintaining and developing a national collection of library material, including a comprehensive collection of library material relating to Australia and the Australian people."..., the relevant State Library for the state in which the book was published, and some states other libraries such as Parliamentary and university libraries.In Singapore
SingaporeSingapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is an island country microstate located at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula. It lies 137 kilometres north of the equator, south of the Malaysian state of Johor and north of Indonesia's Riau Islands...., the National Library Board Act requires all publishers in Singapore to deposit two copies of every publication to the National Library Board
National Library BoardFile:National Library, Singapore.JPGFile:Je-library.JPGThe National Library Board is a Statutory boards of the Singapore Government of the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts, Singapore.... at their own expense within four weeks from the publication date.All works published in France
FranceFrance , officially the French Republic , is a country whose Metropolitan France is located in Western Europe and that also comprises various Overseas departments and territories of France.... must be deposited with the Bibliothèque nationale de France
Bibliothèque nationale de FranceThe Biblioth?que nationale de France is the National library of France, located in Paris. It is intended to be the repository of all that is published in France..... Since 1997 it has also received deposits of digital works.A similar system also exists in Canada
CanadaCanada is a country occupying most of northern North America, extending from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west and northward into the Arctic Ocean.... with respect to its national library, known as Library and Archives Canada
Library and Archives CanadaLibrary and Archives Canada is a Government of Canada department responsible for the collection and preservation of the documentary heritage of Canada through writings, pictures and other documents relevant to the history of Canada, culture of Canada and the politics of Canada...., and in Quebec
QuebecQuebec , in French language, Qu?bec , is a Provinces and territories of Canada in the Central Canada and Eastern Canada regions of Canada...., the Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec
Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du QuébecBiblioth?que et Archives nationales du Qu?bec is the Crown corporation acting as the provincial library of Quebec. Its mission, defined by law B-2.2, An Act respecting the Biblioth?que nationale du Qu?bec, is "to assemble, preserve permanently and disseminate Quebec's published documentary heritage together with any related documen... which has been entitled to two copies (for publications retailing at less than $250), or one copy (for publications retailing at $250 or above) of books published in Quebec since 1968.Since 1661, the Swedish Royal Library
Swedish Royal LibraryThe National Library of Sweden is the national library of Sweden. As such it collects, describes, preserves and makes available all domestic printing materials in Swedish language, as well as publications with Swedish association published abroad.... has been entitled to a copy of all works published in Sweden.Other countries, like the United States
United StatesThe United States of America is a Federal government constitutional republic comprising U.S. state and a federal district. The country is situated mostly in central North America, where its Contiguous United States and Washington, D.C., the Capital districts and territories, lie between the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Oceans, Borders of the U..., do not follow this requirement. The United States does, however, require that any publisher submit two copies of a copyrightable work to United States Copyright Office
United States Copyright OfficeThe United States Copyright Office, a part of the Library of Congress, is the official U.S. government body that maintains records of copyright registration in the United States.... at the Library of Congress
Library of CongressThe Library of Congress is the de facto national library of the United States and the research arm of the United States Congress. Located in three buildings in Washington, D.C., it is the largest library in the world by shelf space and holds the largest number of books.... - this is known as mandatory deposit
DisplayLink("http://www.copyright.gov/help/faq/mandatory_deposit.html", "(*)")
(*) - but the Library is selective about which works it retains. The international nature of the book publishing industry ensures that all significant English language publications from elsewhere in the world are also included. It also has the Federal depository libraries
Federal depository libraryA federal depository library is a library in the United States that is part of the Federal Depository Library Program , which requires participating libraries to hold Federal government of the United States publications from the U.S...., which must receive a copy of all of the publications of the Government Printing Office.In addition to having a law requiring publishers to deposit books, those countries with legal deposits usually have many other incentives for a proper and speedy deposit, such as a tie-in with laws affecting copyright
CopyrightCopyright is a form of intellectual property which gives the creator of an original work exclusive rights for a certain time period in relation to that work, including its publication, distribution and adaptation; after which time the work is said to enter the public domain.... of the same documents, and/or a cataloguing- in- publication service.About three million new English-language books are retained by the British Library
British LibraryThe British Library is the national library of the United Kingdom. It is based in London and is one of the world's largest List of Research libraries, holding over 150 million items in all known languages and formats; books, journals, newspapers, magazines, Sound recording, patents, databases, maps, stamps, Printmaking, drawings and much mor... and Library of Congress
Library of CongressThe Library of Congress is the de facto national library of the United States and the research arm of the United States Congress. Located in three buildings in Washington, D.C., it is the largest library in the world by shelf space and holds the largest number of books.... each year.
National bibliographic controlOne of the main goals of a national library is fulfilling their nation's part of the common international goal of universal bibliographic control, by ensuring the bibliographic control of all the books or book-like documents published in that particular country or talking about that particular country, in any way.The first part of the goal is usually achieved through the means of legal deposit laws or (as is the case of the United States) by a host of different programs such as a cataloguing in publication service. By this service, the Library of Congress gives a complete catalogue
Library catalogA library catalog is a register of all bibliography items found in a library or group of libraries, such as a network of libraries at several locations.... entry of a book to any publisher who sends a final draft or some form of galley proof of a book currently in production. Other national libraries offer similar services or enforce mandatory practices similar to this.The second part of the goal is achieved by thorough acquisition programs and collection development policies which target book markets in other nations, and which foster international agreements with other countries with national libraries who have national bibliographic control as one of their goals. Exchange and access protocols are defined permitting these countries to read each other's catalogues, and to standardize catalogue entries, thus making it easier for each national library to become aware of every possible published document which might concern their country.
International bibliographic controlAnother one of the main goals of many a national library is the "export aspect" and the collaborative sides of the universal bibliographic control of all the books in the world. This is done by the exchanges and accords mentioned in the previous section, and also by fostering the creation of standard conceptual tools such as library classification
Library classificationLibrary classification forms part of the field of library and information science. It is a form of bibliographic classification . It goes hand in hand with library cataloging under the rubric of cataloging and classification, sometimes grouped together as technical services.... systems and cataloguing rules. The most commonly used of these tools is the International Standard Bibliographic Description
International Standard Bibliographic DescriptionThe International Standard Bibliographic Description or ISBD is a set of rules produced by the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions to describe a wide range of library materials within the context of a Library catalog.... or ISBD, which has served as a basis for national and international cataloguing codes, such as AACR2
AACR2AACR2 stands for the Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules, Second Edition. It is published jointly by the American Library Association, the Canadian Library Association, and the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals .....