Publishers are then responsible for sending copies of materials directly to the five individual libraries, or to the Agency, for redistribution.

Many publishers submit copies of works to the Agency in advance of receiving a request.

[1] Formerly, the Agency's British office for receipt of material was located in London and was supported by Cambridge University, but constraints on space led to a need for relocation, and on 2 March 2009 the Agency officially moved to the National Library of Scotland in Edinburgh.

Material originating in Ireland is forwarded via the Trinity College Library, Dublin, to Edinburgh.

The British Library maintains its own Legal Deposit Office[5] to handle receipt of materials submitted to them.