Director of the National Library Service, Annette Smith, is reminding citizens that every time a document is published or distributed, a copy must be deposited with the library.

Stating this was required under the Publications (Legal Deposit) Act, she said the Library is the primary agency for preserving and recording documentary heritage.

In an interview with the Barbados Government Information Service, Ms. Smith explained: ???Legal deposit is defined as the requirement, enforceable by law, to deposit with one or more specified agencies, copies of publications of all kinds reproduced in any medium or with any process for public distribution, lease or sale.???

She further pointed out: ??????Published does not necessarily mean you go to an established publisher to produce a document or a book; it could be done on the internet or it could just be distributed to a section of the community, and by that very distribution, it would be considered published.???

Ms. Smith noted that the public could help in the preservation effort by depositing material, published or unpublished, as well as by helping to identify and locate material about the country, such as speeches, private memorabilia and even journals.

???We want to encourage children to keep journals [and to] develop folders, whether digital or print, to keep information that could become important later,??? she said.

The Library Director added that legal deposit was relevant because it provides the basis for the preservation and collection of the country???s published information.

???It is important to preserve heritage so that the future and present generations are able to build their identity, to understand what traditions have shaped their nations and maybe shaped them. So, our role [at the National Library Service] is to ensure information is collected so persons who want to do research in the present and the future, can find information???,??? she elaborated.

shamkoe.pile@barbados.gov.bb

Author: Shamkoe Pil??

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