4.1 What's New or Important

4.1.A Principle of Free Public Access

As a designated Federal depository, your library SHALL make Federal Government information products available for the free use of the general public. This is a legal requirement.

4.1.B Principle of Comparable Treatment in Public Services

Access to and services in the use of depository information resources at your library should equal or exceed those applicable to other collections and services in your library. Reference service offered to members of the general public using the depository MUST be comparable to the reference service provided to the primary users of your library.

4.1.C General Concept of Access

The concept of access includes more than physical access to your facility and depository collection. It is also the provision of Federal Government information products to your library’s primary users and the general public, the provision of sufficient computer workstations to access electronic Federal Government information products, and a commitment to ensuring that your staff is trained and capable of providing services in the use of government information in all formats.

4.1.D Referrals

You should refer depository users to other libraries for access to unique depository collections and expertise, and also offer your own unique expertise, collections and resources to users referred by other depositories or organizations. You should use the tools provided to your library to assist users in locating information at a particular depository and to ensure the information needed is available at that depository before you refer them to there.

4.1.E Electronic Access and Filters

Your depository library should have written policies regarding public services for government information in electronic formats that includes provisions for no-fee access to electronic government information, in tangible format and on the Internet, for all users.

Filtering software used by your library might inhibit access to official Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP) information, for example in the health or biological sciences fields. Therefore your library MUST allow users the option to use workstations without filtering software or provide the capability of turning off the filter while users are searching FDLP information resources. Your library MUST ensure that your computer security or access policies, or those of your parent bodies, do not hinder public access to depository materials. At a minimum, if your library is unable to deactivate filtering in a rapid manner, you MUST provide mediated searching for depository users.

4.1.F Public Access Computer Workstations

Public access computer workstations may require user authentication for security reasons; however, signage (on computers, posted at tables, on desks) MUST indicate that users may inquire at the public service desk for assistance.

Libraries may provide guests the ability to log in at a workstation or staff may log them in at authenticated stations. At a minimum, if all workstations providing Internet access require authentication, users should be directed to public service desks for assistance through mediated searching.

Time limits and the use of sign-up sheets are acceptable but should be no more severe than such measures used for non-depository workstation access.

The language on public workstations, web pages, and signage should promote access to government information rather than dissuading or limiting access.

4.1.G Definition of Public Services

Public services are those activities and operations of your depository library that bring you or your staff into regular direct contact with users of government information resources.

The two major public service goals of the FDLP are to provide the public with access to government information resources and to provide assistance in the use of those resources so the public will benefit from that access.

Acceptable public access occurs when any member of the general public can use, at no cost, the Federal Government information products available in your depository collections and receive services in the use of those products regardless of format or housing arrangements.

Acceptable public access recognizes the public's right to have timely and efficient access to the information of, by, and about its government while balancing your local concerns for the security of your staff, facilities, and collections.