Library Technical Services

John M. Olin Federal Depository Library

 Public Service Guidelines for Providing Government Information in Electronic Formats

1. The John M. Olin Library, Federal Depository Library 388, provides no-fee access to computer workstations for CD-ROMs, diskettes and the Internet for use of Government information in electronic formats.

2. The public services provided for access to Government information in electronic formats are equal to the services provided for the rest of the Library's collections.

3. Any person may visit Olin Library and use Government electronic information disseminated through the Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP) on-site and free of charge. Hardware available conforms with the FDLP "Recommended Specifications for Public Access Work Stations in Federal Depository Libraries."

4. Tangible electronic products such as CD-ROMs and floppy diskettes which are received through the FDLP are made available to library patrons in a timely manner. Selected CD-ROMs are loaded on designated computer workstations in the Olin Library Reference Department, in the Electronic Text Center (ETC); additional Reference CD-ROMS are supported on one or more department computer workstations. If a CD-ROM in the Reference Collection is not currently loaded on a computer workstation, we try to load it on demand. If installation of special software is required we request the assistance of our designated CD-ROM support specialist who may or may not be immediately available. If specialized subject knowledge or language skill is required to identify or utilize the disk, beyond the capabilities of our regular desk staff, we request the assistance of our statistical resource specialist, our government document specialist, or other “expert” staff, who may or may not be immediately available. Our goal is to provide service as quickly as possible.

CD-ROMs for mapping use are housed in the Olin Library Map Collection and are supported on the Map Collection's cartographic workstation. CD-ROMs for patents and trademarks are housed in the Engineering Library and supported on the Engineering Library's patent workstation.

Additional CD-ROMs and floppy diskettes which are part of the Library's circulating collection are available to patrons for library use. We will load CD-ROMS and diskettes from the circulating collection on Olin Library Reference computers, in the Electronic Text Center. If installation of special software is required we request the assistance of our designated CD-ROM support specialist who may or may not be immediately available. If specialized subject knowledge or language skill is required to utilize the disk, beyond the capabilities of our regular desk staff, we request the assistance of our statistical resource specialist, our government document specialist, or other “expert” staff, who may or may not be immediately available. Our goal is to provide service as quickly as possible.

If the library is unable to provide adequate access to and technical support for any tangible electronic products, circulation of those products is available to qualified borrowers. Electronic products are also made available for borrowing through other institutions on interlibrary loan.

5. Internet access to Government information is available at no cost to all library patrons at workstations in Olin Library. Free printing of catalog citations is available at some Olin Library workstations. Printing of Internet information is available through networked laser printers. There is a charge for printing, using a vendacard of .10 per page, which is the same for all information, including government information. Patrons may also e-mail search results to their own computers for printing. Telnet and FTP capabilities from workstations in the library are supported. Downloading is available at the public workstations.

6. The Cornell University Library Gateway provides subject
access to networked electronic resources, including Government resources, such as the Monthly Catalog, STAT-USA, and the DOE Information Bridge. The Olin Library Reference Services Division homepage includes "Internet Reference Sources" with subject sections such as "U.S. [Federal]Government Sources" and "Statistics Sources, mainly U.S".

7. The Cornell University Library Gateway, which provides access to the library catalog and networked electronic resources including Government electronic resources, is available for both dial-in and Internet access to support distance users of government information. Distance users with requests for fax and e-mail delivery of government information are asked to place requests through interlibrary lending channels.

8. Olin Library patrons who use tangible electronic Government information products in the library are able to download or print information at workstations in the Electronic Text Center. Patrons generally are asked to bring their own diskettes for downloading. If the tangible electronic product allows, a networked printed is available and there is no charge.

9. At this time Olin Reference, including the ETC, does not provide disk space on publicly available computers for temporary storage of electronic government information for patron use. The Map Collection provides the capability for large files to be stored temporarily on their public machines.

10. Olin Library, primarily through its Reference Department and its Map Collection, provides appropriate reference service for both tangible electronic products, including desktop mapping, and the Internet to all users of Olin Library, including persons from the general public. An important group of electronic resources selected by the Olin Library depository are those from the Patent and Trademark Office. Both retrospective and current CD-ROMs are selected and housed in the Engineering Library. A dedicated workstation with an HP Laserjet 5M color printer (donated to the library by a grateful patron from the general public) and an informed and helpful reference staff ensure availability of these electronic resources to both Cornell patrons and the general public.

11. Members of the general public are welcome to attend training sessions offered by the Olin Library Reference Department, including the Map Collection. Training sessions include introductions to Internet use. Were there not enough space in sessions we would have to offer space first to Cornell users; however, this has not been an issue.