British Library will now archive UK websites

According to this BBC Online story, “the British Library is now able to store web pages and e-mails in its archive after a legal change.

The library had pushed for electronic items to be included because of the rise in web-based publishing.

“This new legislation will now mean that a vital part of the nation’s published heritage will be safe,” said MP Chris Mole, who supported the move.

The archive will comprise selective “harvesting” from the 2.9 million sites that have “co.uk” suffixes.

The new law was given royal assent on Friday.

The library already has six legal deposit archives which hold a copy of everything published in the UK since 1911. The new formats – which also include CD-Roms – will join these archives, and be available for future study.”