A good definition of Public Domain software would be any computer program which is not subject to copyright restrictions and which is offered by the author to anyone and everyone with no limit on the number of copies which can be made and freely distributed.

Many people have accumulated large libraries of this software and will supply it to others for a small fee. As far as I know there are no specific Electron PD libraries but there are some for the BBC Micro. 5.25" disk owners (of which I am not one) seem to have the most going for them when it comes to PD with five libraries offering software on this format!

I found all of the suppliers listed below prompt and polite when replying to my enquiries about Electron compatibility. It should be remembered that almost all of the software they supply is intended for use on a BBC Micro so don't expect the suppliers to know about any problems that may pop up when it's run on an Electron.

8 Bit Software, 7 Ashdale, Thringstone, Leicestershire LE6 4WL
BBC PD, 18 Carlton Close, Blackrod, Bolton BL6 5DL (Defunct)
Different Ideas PD, Eyton House, Eyton, Leominster, Herefordshire HR6 0AG (Defunct)
GLM PD, 2 Pierrefondes Avenue, Farnborough, Hampshire GU14 8NF (Defunct)
Red Shift PD, Onslow House, Veston Road, Bath, Avon BA1 2XX (Defunct)

BBC PD is a very good library run by Alan Blundell and should not be confused with another outfit called BBC-B-PD who were not at all prompt, polite or helpful! Alan can supply much of the software in his catalogue on both 5.25" and 3.5" disks (DFS or ADFS).

Unfortunately it's not very practical for PD libraries to supply software on tape so this looks like a project for EUG to get its teeth into!

Finally a reminder that if you do write to a PD library for more information, remember to enclose an sae!

Will Watts, EUG #0