LAWS OF THE REPUBLIC OF VANUATU 
CONSOLIDATED EDITION 2006

Commencement: 9 May 1975

CHAPTER 88
DEPOSIT OF BOOKS

JR 36 of 1974

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

1.	Interpretation
2.	Delivery of copies of books printed or published in Vanuatu
3.	Reference to books by public
4.	Powers of Minister
5.	Offences

DEPOSIT OF BOOKS

To provide for the deposit and preservation of copies of books printed or published in Vanuatu and for matters incidental thereto.

1.	Interpretation

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires –

"book" includes every part or division of a book, pamphlet, periodical, newspaper, magazine, review, gazette, sheet of letterpress, sheet of music, map, plan, plate, chart or table separately printed, or any dustjacket, cover or wrapper pertaining thereto, but does not include any re-issue or new impression or any second or subsequent edition of a book unless such edition contains any addition or alterations either in the letterpress or in the maps, prints, plans or other illustrative materials belonging thereto, or any books which are not intended to be available to or open to inspection by the public at large;

"Minister" means the Minister responsible for culture;

"printed" as applied to books means produced by printing, lithography or any other like processes, or by stencil duplication or any other like process, and "printer" shall be construed accordingly.

2.	Delivery of copies of books printed or published in Vanuatu

(1)	The printer of every book printed in Vanuatu and the publisher of every book published in Vanuatu but printed on behalf of the publisher outside Vanuatu shall deliver 1 copy of the book, free of charge, to such person and at such place as the Minister may from time to time direct by order.

(2)	In the case of a book printed in Vanuatu the copy to be delivered to the person designated by the Minister shall be delivered not later than 30 days after the day on which the first copy intended for publication is delivered out of the press, and in the case of a book printed outside Vanuatu, the copy shall be delivered to the person designated by the Minister not later than 1 month after the day on which any copies thereof first become available to the public in Vanuatu.

(3)	The Minister may extend the time for delivery of any book to the person designated by them.

(4)	Every book delivered under the provisions of this section shall be a complete copy of the book, with all maps, illustrations and plates belonging thereto finished and coloured in the same manner as the best copies of the same are produced, and shall be bound, sewed or stitched together, and on the best paper on which the book is printed.

(5)	The person designated by the Minister to receive copies of books shall give or cause to be given to the printer or publisher delivering any copy of a book to him a receipt in writing for the same.

3.	Reference to books by public

Books delivered to the person designated by the Minister shall be available for consultation by members of the public, but the public shall not be entitled to remove such books from the library or other depository in which they are normally stored.

4.	Powers of Minister

(1)	The Minister may by Order exempt from the provisions of section 3 any book or class or description of books either absolutely or subject to such conditions as he may specify.

(2)	The Minister may by Order make such regulations as he may deem necessary for the safe storage of books deposited in accordance with this Act and for all matters necessary for the better carrying out of the provisions and purpose of this Act.

5.	Offences

Any person who fails to comply with any of the provisions of section 2, other than subsection (5) thereof, shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine of VT 10,000, and the court convicting such person of any offence may in addition order him to comply with the provision of section 2 hereof.