Preservation of digital material - profile of each of the comparator libraries
A profile of each library that took part in the research, together with links to their websites.
National Library of Wales
UK legal deposit library. 4 million printed volumes plus manuscripts and archives, pictures and photographs, ephemera, films, videotapes and sound recordings, to reflect Wales and the Welsh people throughout the world.
National Library of Scotland
UK legal deposit library. There is a particular emphasis on collecting material relating to Scotland . Information on NLS collection policies, including the development of the 'hybrid' library can be seen in pdf format on the National Library of Scotland policies page.
Oxford University Library Services
The largest library is the Bodleian Library with a stock of over 6.5 million items. Legal deposit library with extensive research collections and mainly reference-only. Governed by statute of the University, requiring that its Curators shall maintain it 'not only as a university library but also as an institution of national and international importance'. Mission is to maintain and develop collections and services in support of the present and future teaching and research needs of the University of Oxford , and of the national and international scholarly community. Following recent reforms, the Bodleian now includes several autonomous units, some of which do have lending facilities, and administers science and philosophy libraries which are primarily lending libraries for undergraduates. More information on the Brief Survey of Oxford University Libraries page.
Cambridge University Library
UK legal deposit library. Purchases are concentrated on academic material. The Library acquires original academic works on appropriate subjects and in appropriate languages but does not acquire, except in special circumstances, books at a 'sub-academic' level. Books aimed at college students or undergraduates, including basic textbooks, are not purchased unless the legal deposit collections have failed to satisfy a perceived need. In addition to the general collection and material acquired through legal deposit, the Library holds a number of specialist collections. The CUL's collection development policy can be read as a pdf document in the right-hand column.
Bibliothèque nationale de France (BnF)
Legal deposit library, occupying several sites. Collections include: manuscripts, maps, charts and plans, music, prints and photographs, coins, medals and antiquities, performing arts, as well as printed books and serials, and digital material. The BnF incorporates the National Institute of Art History and extensive departments of Performing Arts and of Music. Compiler of the French national bibliography.
Die Deutsche Bibliothek
National library and national bibliographic information centre for the Federal Republic of Germany. It is responsible for the collection, processing and bibliographic indexing of all German and German-language publications issued since 1913. Die Deutsche Bibliothek has a leadership role in the development and application of common rules and standards for Germany . Collection activities pertain to the following publications (1913 to the present):
- all publications published in Germany
- all German-language publications issued abroad
- all German-language publications translated into other languages and issued abroad
- all foreign-language publications about Germany (Germanica)
- printed works authored or published by German-speaking emigrants from 1933 to 1945
Royal Library of the Netherlands (KB)
National and deposit library. The KB is a research library with emphasis on the humanities, especially Dutch history, language and culture. It houses a number of special collections that were acquired over the years through gifts, bequests and purchase. The library provides access to online databases, cd-rom's and websites and has also digitized parts of the paper collection. The KB is currently developing the Deposit of Dutch Electronic Publications by collecting electronic publications of Dutch publishers, such as cd-roms, online databases and electronic journals. Elsevier Science bv and Kluwer Academic Press are the first publishers to deposit electronic journals at the KB. Most journals are about informatics, psychology, biology and (bio-)chemistry.
Royal Library of Denmark
National library and book museum. National cultural heritage in the form of published works (books, periodicals, newspapers, ephemera), manuscripts, archival materials, maps, pictures, photographs and printed music in conventional or digital forms. University library and a national subject library, making available the most relevant and comprehensive scholarly literature for research and higher education at the University of Copenhagen, and for the whole of Denmark within the disciplines of the humanities, theology, the social sciences and law. Research institution.
The Royal Library in Stockholm
National library of Sweden, also a research library, primarily in the humanities. Collects, describes, preserves, and provides effective access to all materials published in Sweden , publications pertaining to Sweden issued abroad, and a representative collection of foreign literature. Current work includes the preservation and enlargement of the library's collections of old and rare books and ephemeral publications, manuscripts, maps and pictures.
National Library of Norway
One of the central cultural institutions in Norway with the ambition to be the best source of documentation on Norway : the country, people and Norwegian society. Legal deposit library. The library aims to collect all types of information produced from different types of media. Produces the national bibliography. Provides information, reference facilities and loan services for individual and institutional users. Material with restrictions on use, and archival material of Norwegian origin from the national and special collections is available in the Reading Rooms. Exhibitions, publication activities, cultural programmes, inter-library loans, and exchange activities.
Library of Congress
Houses nearly 128 million items on approximately 530 miles [850 linear kilometres] of bookshelves. The collections include more than 29 million books and other printed materials, 2.7 million recordings, 12 million photographs, 4.8 million maps, and 57 million manuscripts. The Library's mission is to sustain, preserve and make accessible a universal collection of knowledge and creativity, including a comprehensive record of American history, for the US Congress, government in the broader sense and the public. Its priority is to serve the US Congress and government and it holds legislative information in a similar role to the UK parliamentary libraries. The Library's research services also analyse and synthesise information to support Congress and government. It fulfils this function as the working library of government alongside that of the national library of the US, providing a research resource for the public, setting bibliographic standards, providing subsidised cataloguing and storing US copyright records and artefacts.
National Library of Canada
A federal cultural institution established by Parliament in 1953, whose main role is to acquire, preserve and promote Canadiana. The Library serves as one of the nation's foremost centres for research in Canadian Studies and as a showcase for Canadian literature and music. A wide variety of services offered to those in the library and information community so that they can better serve their users. Reference service to handle a wide range of enquiries. A location service assists other libraries trying to locate items not in their own holdings. With a few exceptions such as rare books, manuscripts, reference materials and most sound recordings, the National Library will arrange to lend material to any library in the country or in the world.
Harvard University Library
No legal deposit responsibility. Comprises some 90 separate libraries and serves as the coordinating body. HUL develops and implements library services and programs that are best provided centrally. The constituent libraries are given at
Yale University Library
No legal deposit responsibility. Comprises some 40 separate libraries, across all disciplines. Reference and lending. Extent and further information about the departments and collections can be found on the A-Z of Yale University Librarys and Collections.
National Library of Australia
Responsible for maintaining and developing a national collection of library material, including a comprehensive collection relating to Australia and the Australian people. The Library has particular collection strengths in the performing arts, including dance. Considerable collections of general overseas and rare book materials, as well as world-class Asian and Pacific collections which augment the Australiana collections. The print collections are augmented by extensive microform holdings. The Library maintains the National Reserve Braille Collection and owns the National Film & Video Lending Collection which is managed for the Library by the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI). In total, over 5 million items are held. Collection statistics can be found on the National Library of Australia website collection statistics page.
