Iceland has a law on compulsory returns to libraries ( No. 20/2002 ). The law stipulates that copies of all materials published in Iceland or intended for distribution on the Icelandic market, other than films and radio material, must be returned to the National Library of Iceland – University Library, which must be returned to the Icelandic Film Museum.  

This means that copies of all music, books, magazines, reports, advertising brochures and other published works must be returned to the museum, and the museum must provide access to the material and preserve it for the future. This applies to material in all publication formats, for example, if a book is published in print and as an e-book and/or audiobook, it must be returned in all those publication formats. Also, if it is first printed in hardcover and then in paperback format, both versions must be returned to the museum. 

Thus, all of Auður Harald's books, Stuðmann's music, Þorgrímur Þráinsson's books for young people, Morgunblaðið, the magazine Séð og heðurt, advertising brochures from Bónus and Hagkaup, along with many other diverse materials, are preserved at the museum as part of our cultural heritage as Icelanders. 

But this doesn't mean we only collect content by famous writers or prominent companies. 

Have you or someone you know published a book? Have you ever published a magazine or music? We may or may not have copies of the material, and in that case we would like to receive copies for safekeeping. 

Want to know more? You can read more about compulsory returns on the museum's website , or you can send an email to the compulsory returns staff – skylduskil@landsbokasafn.is .