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Southern Methodist University
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Access Policies
In accordance with 44 U.S.C. § 1911.
§1911. Free use of Government publications in depositories [...]
Depository libraries shall make Government publications available for the free use of the general public.
Visitors who violate University policies, however, may have their use of Library facilities and access to Library collections restricted. Such measures are provided for in the FDLP's Instructions to Depository Libraries, Chapter 7, "Public Service":
Depositories are not required to serve patrons who do not have a depository-related need to be in the library. Depository users must adhere to the same standards of behavior expected of other library patrons... Use of the depository collection cannot be used as a pretext to circumvent library policies or Title 44, USC, Chapter 19.
Legitimate security concerns of depository libraries may necessitate various methods for administrators to heighten security for their facilities and personnel. Permissible actions include asking for patrons for identification, asking users to sign a guest register, asking questions that screen users to make sure that the library has what they need, and even escorting users to the depository collection.
Such actions in no way violate the responsibility of depository libraries to provide free access to the depository collection to the general public under 44 USC section 1911. Under a strict interpretation of the statute, the public patron may be limited to using only the depository collection. Additionally, depository libraries have the right to bar or remove any individual who poses a threat to library staff, other patrons, or the security of their collections. (http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/fdlp/pubs/instructions/in_ch7.html)
A number of other depository libraries in the Dallas-Fort Worth area exist to serve citizens' information needs. A directory of Federal Depository Libraries may be found here.
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