Government Documents Access Policy

Trexler Library has been a congressionally-designated depository for U.S. Government documents since 1938. Public access to the government documents collection is guaranteed by law. (Title 44 United States Code)

“Depository libraries shall make Government publications available for the free use of the general public” U.S.C. 44, §1911. As a Federal Depository Library, the public has free access to any government publication in Trexler Library. Most government documents are listed in the Library’s online catalog. See our Guide to the Federal Depository collection for information.

Starting in 2023, the Federal Government has transitioned to producing almost exclusively electronic documents. Therefore, almost all current publications are findable and accessible via the internet.

• Historic hard-copy documents (print and microform) and those that are currently received are shelved in open stacks on Trexler Library’s A level, and are available during the Library’s normal service hours.
• Trexler continues to receive print copies of several of the core collections of FDLP Documents including the U.S. Code, U.S. Reports (of the Supreme Court), the Constitution Annotated, and the Statutes at Large (these documents are also available online).
• Some rare documents have been relocated to the Rare Book collection and are available on request at the Lending Services Desk on Level A or from our Special Collections Department, located 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 are shelved in the open stacks and are freely accessible to the public, but are limited to in-library use only.

Trexler Library has one photocopier available for use by the public. It is located in the Northeast corner of Level A and copies are $0.25 per page.

A scanning station is also available on Level A for scanning print documents which can be saved to your own USB flash drive for later viewing or printing.

A microfilm and microfiche reader is available for viewing microform as well as scanning and saving images from microform for later use. See our guide on using the microform reader for information on how to use the machine.

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 online catalog. All online government information may be printed, downloaded, or emailed.
• Students, faculty and staff may use the printers located in the library;

Most freely available online government documents can be saved to your own USB flash drive for later viewing or printing at home.

• Government publications on CD-ROM may be accessed on a specially marked PC in the Concourse on Level A. This computer is 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. For help or further instructions for using specific CD-ROMs, contact Lending Services, or the Government Documents Librarian.
• Information about free Internet access to government information and publications is available from the Library’s Government information guide.

Most print government publications may circulate to the public. The following policies apply:

• Government documents may be checked out to anyone with a library card.
• Faculty and staff may check them out for a semester.
• Students may check them out for a period of 28 days.
• All other patrons may check them out for 21 days.
• A renewal may be possible. n Library cards are free and available to the public.
• Pennsylvania (local or state) and federal political workers, upon filling out an application, will be issued “Unaffiliated” borrowers cards and may check out government documents for a period of 21 days, with one renewal. There is no registration fee, but the card must be renewed annually.
• Patrons who are not Muhlenberg affiliates, alumni or LVAIC borrowers wishing to check-out materials, including government documents, must register as Unaffiliated Borrowers. There is no registration fee, but the card must be renewed annually. 
• Requests for exceptions to the above policies are referred to the Public Services & Student Engagement Librarian and approved by the Library Director.

Please ask at the Lending Services desk if you need help with accessing and locating government documents.