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Government Documents Access Policy
As a Federal Depository Library, the Trexler Library is obligated to make all government publications, regardless of format, available to the public. The public has free access to any government publication in the Library. Most government documents are listed in the Library’s on-line catalog. Most depository documents are shelved in open stacks and are available during the Library’s normal service hours. Some documents have been relocated to the Rare Book Room and are available from personnel at the Reference Desk or Special Collections, on Level B of the Library. Some print publications do not circulate, most specifically decennial Census materials and legislative titles, i.e. Federal Register, Congressional Record and others. These materials, however, are shelved in the open stacks, freely accessible to the public, but limited to in-house use only. Coin operated photocopy machines are available as are microfilm and microfiche reader-printers. Unmediated, electronic access to government publications and information is available by several means:
- Full text access to many documents is available from the Library’s on-line catalog at http://library.muhlenberg.edu/ All on-line government information may be printed, downloaded to disc, or e-mailed. Visitors to the Library wishing to print more than ten pages, are asked for a donation of $.10/page.
- Government publications on CD-ROM are accessible on two specially marked PCs in the Concourse. These computers are wholly dedicated to accessing government information available on CD-ROMs, on the Internet or through direct links from the Library’s on-line catalog. The CD-ROMs are stored in the two towers next to the PCs.
- Free Internet access to government information and publications is available locally or remotely from the Library’s documents webpage at http://www.muhlenberg.edu/library/guides/govdocs/index.html.
- Students, faculty, staff, alumni and certain affiliates registered in the Library’s database may check-out government documents for a period of seven days, with renewals.
- Pennsylvania (local or state) and federal political workers, upon filling out an application, will be issued Town Borrowers cards and may check out government documents for a period of seven days, with one renewal. The normal registration fee will be waived and the card must be renewed annually.
- Town patrons who are not Muhlenberg affiliates, alumni or LVAIC borrowers wishing to check-out materials, including government documents, must register as Town Borrowers and pay an annual registration fee of $25.00.
- Requests for exceptions to the above policies are referred to the Head of Public Services and approved by the Library Director.