Legal Deposit

Legal Deposit is the means by which a comprehensive national collection is gathered together as a record of the nation's published heritage and development. Canadian publishers are required to send two copies of all the books, pamphlets, serial publications, microforms, maps, spoken word sound recordings, videorecordings, electronic publications issued in physical formats (CD-ROM, CD-I, computer diskette, etc.), and one copy of musical sound recordings, multi-media kits and on-line publications they publish, to Library and Archives Canada.

Further information is available by consulting Legal Deposit: preserving Canada's published heritage.

What’s new in legal deposit

On January 1, 2007 the legal deposit system will be extended to include maps and publications available over the Internet. This change was made necessary to reflect new trends in the publishing industry as well as the increasing role of the Internet in publishing and accessing a wide variety of multi-media content. The extension of legal deposit is the result of consultations with commercial publishers, and content producers.

Legal deposit forms available on line.

NOTE: Legal deposit of Canadian publications is not related to copyright. Questions about copyright should be directed to the Canadian Intellectual Property Office at Industry Canada.

For general questions, contact: