Legal Deposit

Did you know that the National Library of Australia is currently running two projects to ensure that the works Australian comics creators have had published will be collected by the National Library of Australia?

The projects are called Collecting Australian fringe publishing at the National Library of Australia and, the Comics claiming project. They are about the collection and treatment of comics, graphic novels, manga and zines at the National Library. The projects focus on:

•       what is being published by Australian creators and publishers, whether published in Australia or not;
•       whether we are getting them into the collection;
•       if not, how to improve the intake of these material.

How is this relevant to Australian comics and graphic novels creators?

This is relevant to graphic novel and comics creators because the library needs your help to ensure that your work is represented in the national collection. For creators this will mean that a copy of your published work is preserved in a controlled environment and is made accessible to library patrons now and in the future. Information about your works will also be made available, in the form of a catalogue record, to anyone anywhere with access to the internet.

Creators can help the Library simply by telling us about their own (or other peoples if you have the details) published works. Australian (Australian companies and international companies with branches in Australia) publishers are responsible for depositing published works with the library. We call it legal deposit. But many smaller or independent publishers are unaware of their legal deposit obligations or that the library would be interested in the type of material they publish. However if the graphic novel and comics creators tell the library about their published (or soon to be published) works the library can then take steps to acquire this material from the publishers.

The library would also like to hear from creators who are published by non-Australian publishers such as IDW and First Second Books as we also wish to collect works by Australians even when published outside of Australia.

What we would like Australian comics creators to do

To talk to us about your published work just send the relevant information (title, name or names of creators, publisher’s name, date of publication and ISBN if you know it) to us via post or email or call. The contact details are provided below. 

The library would also like to hear from you (just use the same contact details) if you wish to discuss any issues or ask any questions in relation to these projects. 

Contact Details

For graphic novels and manga creators.

Legal Deposit Unit
National Library of Australia
Canberra ACT 2600

T: (02) 6262 1312
F: (02) 6273 4492

For comic and zines creators.

Australian Serials 
National Library of Australia 
Canberra ACT 2600 

T: (02) 6262 1312
F: (02) 6273 4492

Or just post a comment on the “Fringe Librarian” blogger spot: http://fringelib.blogspot.com

More information

For more information about legal deposit or the National Library of Australia go to the Hayase entries for:

Legal deposit at the National Library of Australia

National Library of Australia