The Story of Depositing My Zine at the National Diet Library
I learned that it is possible to deposit Zines (self-published booklets) at the National Diet Library.
The National Diet Library!!
The name alone brings to mind manga and novels.
The Ohara arc in One Piece.
Library Wars.
Protecting books. Preserving history. Even if it's the voice of an ordinary person.
Deposited publications are preserved for a long time as a cultural asset shared by the public for current and future readers, and are passed on to future generations as a record of the intellectual activities of the Japanese people.
National Diet Library - From 'About Legal Deposit'
“Alright, I'll deposit it.”
After deciding on my own to deposit it, I looked into the legal deposit system. (I did things in the wrong order.)
▲ For details, please visit the National Diet Library website.
Various points I was curious about (such as whether an individual can deposit, or if there are limits on the number of copies published) were explained clearly on the site.
・Domestic publications issued in a substantial number of copies (usually 100 or more) for the purpose of distribution.
・It is stipulated that they must be deposited within 30 days of the date of publication. However, even if 30 days have passed, submission is still possible, so please submit them as soon as you realize they have not been deposited.
By the way, it is also possible to deposit e-books, but the procedure is different in that case. In my case, since I sell the same content as both an e-book and a Zine, and the cumulative sales have exceeded 100 copies, I decided to deposit the Zine version.
(3) Materials excluded from the deposit obligation
The following items are excluded from the deposit obligation:
・Confidential materials
・Forms, templates, and other simple materials (various guides, blogs, short-text posting sites, product catalogs, etc.)
・Materials with no additions, deletions, or changes in content
・Materials intended for administrative purposes such as applications or acceptances (e-commerce, etc.)
・Materials for which a declaration has been made that they are identical in layout to paper books or magazines already collected, and which have been confirmed by the library ←
In any case, I figured I would understand once I went there. I worked on mental preparation by reading notes from people who had experience with legal deposit.
▲ This person's article was easy to understand
“Alright! Let's go deposit it.”
With a ZINE that had already been published for nearly two years in hand, I headed to Nagatacho.
🚃🚃🚃
Exit 2
the legal deposit reception is at the west service entrance
When I told the security guard at the entrance, "I'm here to make a deposit," they asked, "Is this your first time?" and when I nodded, they guided me kindly.
The procedure itself was really simple; I just had to write the title and my name on a form. They didn't even ask for the number of copies printed, so I just had them stamp it and handed it over, saying, "Please take care of this." It was surprisingly quick.
It took less than five minutes.
It was over in an instant.
However, this book will continue to exist even after I am gone from this world. Realizing that, I stared at the library from the outside for a while, lost in thought. I think this is a moment that happens maybe once in a lifetime.
Someday, the term 'dyscalculia' might not be used anymore. I was able to leave behind a book from the perspective of someone who has the trait of 'finding it difficult to understand only numbers' for the future. I'm glad. I feel a sense of satisfaction, as if I've fulfilled a duty.
A few days later, when I searched the National Diet Library's website, my ZINE had been deposited as 'The World Seen by People with Dyscalculia: Paperback Edition'.
For two years, I've been trying out things that interested me, like Kindle, note, and ZINEs. I was curious about depositing, so I tried that too. A procedure that took only five minutes (though it actually took time to travel back and forth) has become a footprint that will last far into the future.
It's a future I never imagined.
But, I'm glad.
I'm glad I did it all.
I'm recording such a day.
Since I was there, I moved to the east side, registered as a user, and did some research, but I'll save that story for another day.
▽ Click here for the story about my research
By the way, when I went to deposit my book, there was someone ahead of me—an elderly gentleman who was gently stroking a book he had apparently self-published before handing it over and saying, 'Please take care of this.'
I imagine it was carried to the archives along with mine.
──── P R ────
In my note membership, I mumble and shout about things that are hard to say in public
いいなと思ったら応援しよう！
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