Copying, printing and copyright in libraries
Nearly all libraries have a photocopier for visitors to use. Computers in some libraries have scanners so you can make electronic copies.
There are charges for using photocopiers, scanning and printing.
What am I allowed to copy?
There are limits on what you can copy under copyright law. This includes photocopying and scanning items, and downloading and printing documents from the Internet.
Copying may only be carried out if it is:
- fair dealing (ie not substantial)
- for private study or research for a non-commercial purpose
- a single copy.
Where you quote from work you have copied, or use copies of illustrations, you should always make all efforts to acknowledge the author or source.
Check copyright notices on publications and websites to see if explicit permission has been given to make more copies than listed below.
Special restrictions
There are also restrictions on how much you can copy.
See our page about copyright restrictions on maps.
- Books:
one complete chapter to a maximum of 5% of the work
- Short books:
up to 10% or 20 pages, whichever is the lesser
- Periodicals:
one article from an issue or if a very small item, one A4 or the contents page
- Poems:
only when in a collection or anthology to a maximum of 10 pages
- Music:
short excerpts for study only, not for performance
- Illustrations:
only if they illustrate or form part of an article or extract
- Photographs:
only for private or domestic use
- Slides:
not permitted
- Yellow pages:
one page or one classified section
- Electoral registers:
Full register after December 2001 must not be photocopied
Full register up to and including February 2001 has no restrictions
Edited register may be copied with no restrictions
- Government publications:
The following publications can be copied without restriction unless for personal or commercial gain – Hansard, bills, acts, statutory instruments, statutory rules and orders, command papers, reports of Select Committees and press releases
