176.3 U.S. Government Documents Depository

176.3 U.S. Government Documents Depository

A. Background

In 1964 the library at Furman University was designated as a selective U.S. Government Documents Depository. A cooperative agreement between Furman and the Greenville Hospital System provides that the hospital system library houses most health-related depository documents. Other depositories in the Fourth Congressional District of South Carolina include Greenville County Library and Spartanburg County Library. Clemson University serves as a regional depository in South Carolina and as such receives most government documents available to depository libraries.

B. Policy

Furman University libraries maintains a selective U. S. Government Documents Depository in compliance with Title 44   U. S. Code to serve the citizens of the Fourth Congressional District and Furman University. The depository receives approximately 20 percent of the documents available to depository libraries.

C. Guidelines

1. The U. S. Government Documents Depository Collection is arranged by Superintendent of Documents classification. Documents received through the U. S. Government Documents Depository system are:

       a. Supplied and shipped free of charge to Furman University libraries; however,

            they remain the property of the federal government.

       b. Selected, processed, and made available in compliance with Title 44 U. S. Code.

       c. Listed in the online Library catalog, ALCUIN.

       d. Housed on shelves, maps cases, and microform cabinets with complementary equipment available to provide equal access to the Furman community and to the general public. Links are maintained for electronic documents through the online library catalog, ALCUIN and through the Furman Libraries’ Government Document Web site.

   2. Access does not extend to circulation privileges. According to Title 44 U. S. Code, a depository library cannot give preferential access to government documents to any patron group (i.e., students and faculty). Therefore, government publications are for in-house use only.

   3. Furman provides necessary space, staffing, and equipment to maintain the collection in compliance with the law.

   4. Government publications not available at Furman can be acquired through Interlibrary Loan (See File 174.1, "Interlibrary Loans") or at the regional depository at Clemson University.

   5. As part of the Documents Collection, the Furman University library also maintains a small South Carolina state documents collection but is not an official state depository. The Greenville County Library is a State Documents Depository and in that capacity receives most publications of state agencies.

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