So, a technical post today, all about legal deposit. I’ve always known that the British Library is supposed to have a copy of every book ever printed, but a question from a friend made me investigate further, as I wasn’t entirely sure what the situation was for e-books and Print on Demand (POD) paperbacks (such as those available through the Amazon KDP platform). The full details are on the link above for you to investigate yourself, but basically the answer is yes, the e-books and POD should be provided by the publisher to the British Library (and up to five otherlibraries also entitled to copies). There seems to be a slightly muddy area over who coults as the publisher in this respect for some Print od Demands, amd I’m certain that Amazon, for example, don’t print and send copies of everything produced on their platform.
I therefore realsie I need to oder and send copies myself, not only because its actually a law, but so copies are always kept for posterity. I’m currently due to re-brand a cover and have a new one launching, so when they’re ready I think I shall send all three together, and feel a warm glow that they will live forever (probably in a dusty crate in a massive warehouse like in Indiana Jones, but still…)
Stay safe,
Kit