The Delivery of Books and Newspapers (Public Libraries) Act, 1954

(1) This Act may be called the Delivery of Books 1[and Newspapers](Public Libraries) Act, 1954. (2) It extends to the whole of India except the State of Jammu and Kashmir*.

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires:-- (a) "book" includes every volume, part or division of a volume and pamphlet, in any language,and every sheet of music, map, chart or plan separately printed or lithographed, but does not include anewspaper published in conformity with the provisions of section 5 of the Press and Registration ofBooks Act, 1867(XXV of 1867): 1[(aa) 'newspaper' means any printed periodical work containing public news or comments onpublic news published in conformity with the provisions of section 5 of the Press and Registration ofBooks Act, 1867 (25 of 1867).] (b) "public libraries" means the National Library at Calcutta and any three other libraries whichmay be specified by the Central Government in this behalf by notification in the Official Gazette.

(1) Subject to any rules that may be made under this Act,but without prejudice to the provisions contained in Section 9 of the Press and Registration of Books Act,1867 (XXV of 1867), the publisher of every book published is the territories to which this Act extendsafter the commencement of this act, shall, notwithstanding any agreement to the contrary, deliver at hisown expense a copy of the book to the National Library at Calcutta and one such copy to each of the otherthree public libraries within thirty days from the date of its publication. (2) The copy delivered to the National Library shall be a copy of the whole book with all maps andillustrations belonging thereto, finished and coloured in the same manner as the best copies of the same,and shall be bound, sewed or stitched together and on the best paper on which any copy of the book isprinted. (3) The copy delivered to any other public library shall be on the paper on which the largest numberof copies of the books is printed for sale, and shall be in the like condition as the book prepared for sale. (4) Nothing contained in sub-section (1) shall apply to any second or subsequent edition of a book inwhich edition no additions or alterations either in the letter-press or in the maps, book prints or otherengravings belongings to the book have been made, and a copy of the first or some preceding edition ofwhich book has been delivered under this Act.

1[3A. Delivery of newspapers to public libraries. --Subject to any rules that may be made underthis Act, but without prejudice to the provisions contained in the Press and Registration of Books Act,1867 (25 of 1867.), the publisher of every newspaper, published in the territories to which this Actextends, shall deliver at his own expense one copy of each issue of such newspaper as soon as it ispublished to each such public library as may be notified in this behalf by the Central Government in theOfficial Gazette.]

The person in charge of a public library (whether called a librarianor by any other name) or any other person authorised by him in this behalf to whom a copy of a book isdelivered under Section 3 shall give to the publisher a receipt in writing therefor.