Access Policy for Government Information

The University Libraries at the University of Akron (UA), as a participant in the Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP), is required by law to provide public access to government information products, regardless of format (see: This Cornell Webpage). University Libraries public services will facilitate the discovery of these resources through in-person, email, telephone, and IM reference services. Access to materials and resources is provided in Bierce Library and the Science & Technology Library.

The library’s Federal documents collection is located primarily on the first floor of Bierce Library, and is shelved by SuDoc number. Because a significant portion of the print collection is not in the library catalog, users are encouraged to ask for assistance in locating documents. Most Ohio documents are listed in the library catalog, and are shelved by Library of Congress call number within the main collection. Items other than those designated as non-circulating may be checked out to University of Akron students, staff, faculty, and community borrowers . These items also circulate through OhioLINK and Interlibrary Loan.

In order to provide a safe and welcoming environment for our library community, all users are subject to the University Libraries’ Acceptable Behavior Policy. Any library user who is subject to the High School Students Borrowing Privileges requirements may use library materials in the building without registration. Minors who do not meet the requirements for accessing the Internet from UA’s network will be provided, upon request, with mediated Internet searching assistance for government information from a library workstation. Community users who do not wish to sign up for a borrower’s card will also be provided, upon request, with mediated Internet searching assistance for government information.