•  All literary works such as Books, Pamphlets, sheets of music, maps, charts,plans, tables and compilations.
•  Dramatic works.
•  Collective works such as Encyclopedias, Dictionaries, Year books,Newspapers, Magazines and Periodicals.
• All forms in which documentary or oral records are published". This means
• legal deposit is also for non- book materials like home videos, films,cassettes etc. and even electronic publications,
•  

The best copies of each publication should be deposited.

The number of copies of published materials to be deposited varies with the
categories of publishers.
Private publishers are to deposit three (3) copies each of their publications.
State government and its agencies are to deposit ten (10) copies each of their
publications.

•  Preservation of the nation's intellectual output for future generation.
•  Bibliographic control of the Nations publications.
• The legal deposit materials collected are processed and listed in the
• National Bibliography of Uganda which is circulated both locally and
• internationally.
• The AUTHOR's name will be entrenched in the annals of the Nation's
• publication history.

There are two categories of publishers specified in the Act
Category 1:
Category 2:

• Private Publishers
•  Federal Government: Ministries, Parastatals and Agencies. State
• Government: Ministries, Parastatals and Agencies.

(International Standard Book Number)

•  An ISBN is a 13 - digit number that identifies a book for purposes of commerce and supply.
• The ISBN is a unique international identifier for monographic (book) publications. It is a 13 - digit number e.g. 978-0-306-40615-0.

Global ordering and distribution of books is mainly executed by ISBN
Compilation and updating of book
trade directories and bibliographic databases, such as cataloguing of books-
in-print.
It is needed for the running of electronic point of sale systems in
bookshops.

Monograph (books) E-publications

The thirteen (13) digit ISBN number is divided into five parts separated clearly by
hyphens or spaces. e.g 978-9970-768-24-5. This number should be printed on

• Verso title page of each publication Base of the title page
• Base of the spine
• The back of the cover in nine-point or larger
• The back of the dust-jacket and on the back of any other protector

It is desirable that ALL books are identified by ISBNs.

Yes, different formats need different ISBNs.

without change of text or binding require a new ISBN?
No, not if there is no change of text, format , or building that would justify a new
ISBN.

An ISBN must be allocated to the whole set of volumes of a multi-volume work, as
well as individual volumes of the set.

A significant change of text requires a new ISBN. If revisions have been made it
should state on the verso of the title page that the book is a revised edition and
the new ISBN should be printed there.
Yes, a new title requires a new ISBN.

In the case of a joint publication, an ISBN is assigned by the publisher in charge of
distribution.

Yes, a Publisher is a group, organization, company or individual who is responsible
for originating the product of a publication and also bears the cost/ financial risk.

• Maintaining a register of ISBN that have been assigned to published and

forth coming books. This register should be kept in numerical sequence
showing ISBN, author, title, edition statements etc.

• Forwarding a list of publications assignment of ISBN.
• Delivering within one month of publication at his own expense to the National Library of Nigeria, three (3) copies of the book /with their used ISBN to the National Agency before asking for new

• A formal application for assignment of an ISBN made on the letter headed

paper of the National Library of Uganda.

• An indication whether the Author, Publisher or Institution is new in the

Publishing industry and their envisaged output in the next five years to
enable the agency determine the appropriate block of numbers to assign to
them.

• Visual proof of the existence of the publication i.e. The user requesting the

assignment must produce type-set copy of the manuscript or at least the
preliminary pages of the title to be published. This is mandatory for authors
and publishers.

• An evidence to show full utilization of ISBN earlier assigned. That is, each

Publisher, Author or Institution should forward a list of their publications
with the used ISBN to The National Agency before requesting for the
assignment of new ISBN. In addition, evidence of having deposited three (3)
copies of each publication to the National Library as required by Law,
should be shown.

ISBN is FREE

Administrative charges are made payable to National Library of Uganda by Cash,
Bank lodgment or Bank Draft at our Offices:

• Single ISBN = Shs.30.000
• 5 Block of ISBN’s= Shs. 100,000
• 10 Block of ISBN’s= Shs.150,000
• 100 Block of ISBN’s= Shs. 1,000,000

Restoration of Lost ISBN-Block of 5 Restoration-Block of 10Restoration of Lost
ISBN-Block of Hundred Restoration of Lost ISBN-Block of 100

Contact Information

The Principal Librarian
National Bibliographic Control Department National Library of Uganda
Plot 50, Buganda Road
P.O.Box 4262 Kampala
E-mail admin@nlu.go.ug
or
osinde2000@gmail.com/dosinde@nlu.go.ug