Internet Use Policy: Federal Depository Library Materials Government Documents Collection
December 2000
Revised June, 2009
Part 1: University policy and guidelines
All computer users at the University of Nebraska at Kearney are governed by the Policy for Responsible Use of University Computers and Information Systems, Executive Memorandum No. 16, as signed by President L. Dennis Smith, President, University of Nebraska, on 27 October 1999 (revised August 28, 2001).
Users must also follow Guidelines for the Use of Information Technology Resources at the University of Nebraska at Kearney (2009). For more information see UNK Information Technology Services "Policies" page.
"Public Service Policy: Electronic Federal Depository Library Materials, Government Documents Collection, Calvin T. Ryan Library, December, 2000" should be consulted for general library computer policies and those covering tangible federal depository library electronic formats.
Part 2: Internet Use Policy for Online Federal Government Information
A. Access
Calvin T. Ryan Library will provide access to electronic federal government information made available through the Federal Depository Library Program.
Access to tangible and Internet accessible electronic-only depository titles will be free to any library user with no fees, age restrictions, or residency requirements.
There are no time restrictions for using Library public computers nor are sign-up sheets used. Although rarely invoked, the Library does reserve the right to ask a user to cease using a computer if others are waiting and it is determined he/she is not doing library research. Accessing federal government depository information on the Internet would fall under the definition of "library research".
B. Hardware and software
Calvin T. Ryan Library provides a sufficient number of workstations to efficiently and effectively serve depository users.
Three public computers with open Internet access are located in the Government Documents Department public service area. Additional Internet-accessible computers are located on all three floors of the Library and are open to use by anyone.
Filtering software is not used on any library computer. Passwords are not needed.
Security software prohibiting temporary storage on the hard drive is in use. Users may copy information to a portable device if desired.
All library computers are hooked into a networked library printing system. Students have free printing encoded on their student identification cards and must buy more copies when these have been used. Library patrons from the general public must buy print cards.
The library does not sell storage devices.
C. Library catalog and databases
The Library's online catalog is available to anyone with Internet access.
The Library subscribes to a number of electronic resources. Anyone may use these proprietary databases/indexes in the Library. Vendor contract terms limit off-campus access to these resources to the University of Nebraska at Kearney community only.
D. Government Documents Department home page
The Government Documents Dept. home page is accessible to anyone via the Internet.
It contains the following sections:
- "About Documents": general information, guides and bibliographies for the document collections
- "Nebraska Government Documents": information from Nebraska state agencies
- "Buffalo County and Kearney": information about Kearney and Buffalo County
- "United States Government Documents": federal government agency sites, publications, statistics
- "International Resources: Countries and International Organizations": information from international non-governmental agencies, foreign countries, statistics
- (Above pages revised June, 2009)
Written by:
Diana J. Keith, Associate Professor
Head, Government Documents Department
Calvin T. Ryan Library, University of Nebraska at Kearney
December, 2000
Updated March, 2003
Revised June, 2009
Approved by:
Michael R. Herbison
Director of Libraries
Calvin T. Ryan Library, University of Nebraska at Kearney
January, 2001
This file added to Documents Dept. page March, 2003; linked titles that have been revised since policy's approval are noted.