(1) Subject to any rules that may be under this Act, but without prejudice to the provisions contained in [the Press and Registration of Books Act, 1867 (25 of 1867)], the publisher of every book published in the State after the commencement of this Act, shall, notwithstanding any agreement to the contrary, deliver at his own expense a copy of the book to each of the public libraries within thirty days from the date of its publication.
(2) The copy so delivered to each of the public libraries shall be a copy of the whole book with all the maps and illustrations belonging thereto, finished and coloured in the same manner as the best copies of the same and shall be bound, sewed or stitched together and on the best paper on which any of the book is printed.
(3) Nothing contained in sub-section (1) shall apply to any second or subsequent edition of a book in which edition no additions or alterations either in the letter press or in the maps, book prints or other engravings belonging to the book have been made, and a copy of the first on some proceedings edition of which book has been delivered under this Act.