ABSTRACT
Switzerland has no legal deposit laws at the federal level. However, there is an agreement between the national library and the two booksellers and publishers organizations, which provides for the legal deposit of most publications. The types of publications to be deposited include: books (including annuals), engravings in portfolios, geographical maps, musical scores, and other sound recordings. If a book appears in several editions or bindings with identical contents, then the commonest edition is deposited, i.e. the paperback rather than the cloth. The publisher is obliged to deposit at the library one copy of every book, pamphlet, periodical, print, journal, review, sound recording, film, and other audio-visual material produced or published. Business printings and the like are excluded from deposit. The material to be deposited consists of all printed works destined for the public, with certain exceptions. Specific reference is made to books, pamphlets and periodicals.
