Publishers may face jail if libraries fail to get free copy

Failure in providing public libraries with a free copy of newspapers and periodicals, including the electronic format, published in India within a specified period may attract imposition of a heavy penalty on the publisher and even a two-year jail term.

With the Centre proposing to amend the Delivery of Books and Newspapers (Public Libraries) Act, 1954, publishers of books, including e-books, would also attract imposition of heavy penalty which may extend to 500 times the cost of the book and two-year jail term in extreme serious cases if they fail to submit a copy of the books with the National Library, Kolkata, and the State Public Library, each within a the period specified.

The Culture Ministry has formulated a draft bill proposing amendments to the original law with an aim to make the legislation “effective” and also bring electronic publications under its ambit “to keep pace with the changes in technology.” The draft amendment bill, proposing to rechristen the title of the original law as the Deposit of Books, Newspapers and Electronic Publications in Libraries Bill, 2016, has already been sent to Law Ministry.