The Delivery of Books and Newspapers (Public Libraries) Act, 1954
# THE DELIVERY OF BOOKS AND NEWSPAPERS (PUBLIC LIBRARIES) ACT, 1954
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 ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
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# SECTIONS


1. Short title and extent.
2. Definitions.
3. Delivery of books of public libraries.
3A. Delivery of newspapers to public libraries.
4. Receipt for books delivered.
5. Penalty.
6. Cognizance of offences.
7. Application of Act to books and newspapers published by Government.
8. Power to make rules.


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# THE DELIVERY OF BOOKS AND NEWSPAPERS (PUBLIC LIBRARIES) ACT, 1954


# ACT NO. 27 OF 1954



[20th May, 1954.]


# An Act to provide for delivery of books to the National Library and other public libraries.


BE it enacted by Parliament in the Fifth Year of the Republic of India as follows:—


**1. Short title and extent.—(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*.


**2. Definitions.—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 a
newspaper published in conformity with the provisions of section 5 of the Press and Registration of
Books Act, 1867(XXV of 1867):

2[(aa) ‘newspaper’ means any printed periodical work containing public news or comments on

public news published in conformity with the provisions of section 5 of the Press and Registration of
Books Act, 1867 (25 of 1867).]

(b) “public libraries” means the National Library at Calcutta and any three other libraries which

may be specified by the Central Government in this behalf by notification in the Official Gazette.

**3. Delivery of books of public libraries.—(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 extends
after the commencement of this act, shall, notwithstanding any agreement to the contrary, deliver at his
own expense a copy of the book to the National Library at Calcutta and one such copy to each of the other
three 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 and

illustrations 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 is
printed.

(3) The copy delivered to any other public library shall be on the paper on which the largest number

of 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 in

which edition no additions or alterations either in the letter-press or in the maps, book prints or other
engravings belongings to the book have been made, and a copy of the first or some preceding edition of
which book has been delivered under this Act.

3[3A. Delivery of newspapers to public libraries. —Subject to any rules that may be made under

this 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 Act
extends, shall deliver at his own expense one copy of each issue of such newspaper as soon as it is
published to each such public library as may be notified in this behalf by the Central Government in the
Official Gazette.]

**4. Receipt for books delivered.—The person in charge of a public library (whether called a librarian**

or by any other name) or any other person authorised by him in this behalf to whom a copy of a book is
delivered under Section 3 shall give to the publisher a receipt in writing therefor.

1. Ins. by Act 99 of 1956, s. 3 (w.e.f. 29-12-1956).
2. Ins. by s. 4, ibid. (w.e.f. 29-12-1956).
3. Ins. by s. 5, ibid. (w.e.f. 29-12-1956).
*. Vide notification No. S.O. 3912(E), dated 30th October, 2019, this Act is made applicable to the Union territory of Jammu

and Kashmir and the Union territory of Ladakh.


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**5. Penalty.—Any publisher who contravenes any provision of this Act or of any rule made**

thereunder shall be punishable with fine which may extend to fifty rupees [1][and, if the contravention is in
respect of a book, shall also be punishable with fine which shall be equivalent to the value of the book],
and the court trying the offence may direct that the whole or any part of the fine realised from him shall
be paid, by way of compensation, to the public library to which the book [2][or newspaper, as the case may
be] ought to have been delivered.

**6. Cognizance of offences.—(1) No court shall take cognizance of any offence punishable under this**

Act save on complaint made by an officer empowered in this behalf by the Central Government by a
General or special order.

(2) No court inferior to that of a presidency magistrate or a magistrate of the first class shall try any

offence punishable under this Act.

3[7. Application of Act to books and newspapers published by Government.—This Act shall also

apply to books and newspapers published by or under the authority of the Government but shall not apply
to books meant for official use only.]

**8. Power to make rules.—[4][(1)] The Central Government may, by notification in the Official**

Gazette, makes rules to carry out the purposes of this Act.

5[(2) Every rule made by the Central Government under this Act shall be laid, as soon as may be after

it is made, before each House of Parliament, while it is in session, for a total period of thirty days which
may be comprised in one session or in two or more successive sessions, and if, before the expiry of the
session immediately following the session or the successive sessions aforesaid, both Houses agree in
making any modification in the rule or both Houses agree that the rule should not be made, the rule shall
thereafter have effect only in such modified form or be of no effect, as the case may be; so, however, that
any such modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done
under that rule.]

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1. Subs. by Act 99 of 1956, s. 6, for “and the value of the book” (w.e.f. 29-12-1956).
2. Ins. by s. 6, ibid. (w.e.f. 29-12-1956).
3. Subs. by s. 7, ibid., for section 7 (w.e.f. 29-12-1956).
4. Section 8 re-numbered as sub-section (1) thereof by Act 4 of 2005, s. 2 and the Schedule (w.e.f. 11-1-2005).
5. Added by s. 2 and the Schedule, ibid. (w.e.f. 11-1-2005).


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