Legal deposit in the digital realm requires careful balancing: between preserving digital materials and respecting copyright and licensing agreements; between facilitating public access and managing technical and security infrastructure; and between existing legal and institutional frameworks and adapting to technological change.

Recognising the importance and urgency of these questions, CENL made digital legal deposit the central theme of its 2024 Annual General Meeting, hosted by the National Library of Poland in Warsaw.

The papers collected in the publication were presented during that meeting. They reflect the current state of electronic legal deposit across a number of European national libraries and offer valuable insights into the challenges and strategies shaping our collective efforts to safeguard digital cultural heritage.

We would like to thank all contributors to this conference for sharing their knowledge and experience so generously. Their input has helped to advance an essential dialogue for the future of national libraries.

Download the publication here: eLegalDepositEuropeanNationalLibraries