This illustrates one of the basic differences between the political systems of the two countries. In cultural matters, the Swiss political system grants relatively limited powers to the federal government. Despite the cantonal sovereignty, only three cantons, Geneva, Vaud and Fribourg, have legal deposit legislation, and their libraries obtain part of their collections because of this legislation. In contrast, the Swiss National Library and the Valais canton library, which followed the precedent of the Library, use voluntary deposit systems in the context of agreements signed with Swiss publishing associations. Under the terms of these agreements, publishers are encouraged to deposit voluntarily a copy of each document they produce.
Most publishers comply.
However, this procedure does restrict the Library in developing its collection. The Library does not have any means of compelling recalcitrant publishers to deposit their works. It must therefore make up for shortcomings by purchases. The acquisition budget is, however, insufficient for systematically obtaining second copies with a view to setting up a preservation collection. Moreover, some types of publications, primarily those in electronic format, elude the Library because the publishers do not belong to the publishing associations linked by the agreements.