Every issue of a printed magazine requires sending two copies to Colombia's National Library

A magazine's work does not end at the print shop. For every issue published in Colombia, the publisher must send two copies to the National Library: this is legal deposit, the delivery of copies so the country preserves what is published, and the institution requires it under Decree 0149 of 2024. That is why those two copies are worth counting in the print run from the first issue.

The ISSN identifies the magazine across all its issues. It is the international number for serial publications, those released in numbered installments, such as magazines and newsletters. The National Library of Colombia, which assigns it in the country, says the process is free, takes three business days, and can be requested before the first issue, no more than three months in advance; the number only becomes active once legal deposit is completed.

Magazines are also part of Medellín's local media landscape. The City of Medellín brought together alternative, independent, community, and citizen media at 2026 Communication Week; its city directory includes publications such as Revista Arcades in San Antonio de Prado.

What should be defined before magazine printing in Medellín?

The magazine needs its editorial details before it enters production. The National Library asks a serial publication to have a cover, a legal page, and a table of contents, with minimum details such as title, issue number, month and year, city, frequency, and publisher's name. For print editions, it recommends placing the ISSN prominently, preferably in the upper-right corner of the cover.

Editorial design works better when its essential details are already defined. Paper, page count, and finishes change the result of a magazine; paper weight, measured in grams per square metre, affects its body and feel. Editorial magazine printing in Medellín is organized by turning those choices into production specifications.

Designer reviewing a magazine cover and paper samples in prepress. Illustrative image generated with artificial intelligence.

What determines the price of a magazine?

There is no per-copy price that can be compared across all printing companies. Cost changes with the number of copies, pages, paper, size, inks, and finishes, as well as file preparation. A useful quotation lists those variables so two proposals can be compared on the same basis.

The print run changes the cost and logistics of every issue. A print run, meaning the number of copies in one edition, does not settle the budget on its own: a special cover, heavier paper, or staged distribution can change it. It also has to include the two legal deposit copies. The timeline depends on those choices and is best stated in the quotation.

Does the digital edition use the same ISSN as the print one?

No: each format gets its own ISSN. The National Library states that if the same title is published on paper and online, a number is assigned to each version. The digital edition must display it on its page as "ISSN: 0000-0000 (En línea)" and also complete digital legal deposit.

Changing the title, even slightly, requires a new ISSN. The number is tied to the title, so any variation, however small, requires a new one. If the publisher, city, or frequency changes, it is enough to request an update to the record, which takes five to fifteen business days and requires legal deposit to be up to date.

Two people organizing printed magazines for distribution. Illustrative image generated with artificial intelligence.

How are legal deposit copies delivered?

They are sent with every issue, with the ISSN printed and a cover letter. The two copies of the same issue go to Calle 24 No. 5-60 in Bogotá, addressed to the Collections Development Group, with a letter whose subject line reads "Cumplimiento depósito legal". Without that deposit, the record cannot be updated and an ISSN certificate cannot be requested.

The obligation also covers magazines that do not yet have an ISSN. The institution clarifies that, under Decree 0149 of 2024, publishers established in Colombia must deliver serial publications circulating in the country even if no number has been assigned.

A magazine is planned as a series rather than a standalone item. Defining the registration, cover details, and deposit copies from the first issue avoids discovering something missing once the print run is already done.