Government Documents

Federal Depository Status

The DePaul University Rinn Law Library was designated a Federal depository in 1979. Previously, it received depository documents via the DePaul University Lincoln Park Campus Library in the Fifth Congressional District which was a designated depository from 1975 to 1980. As a selective federal depository library (currently selecting 10% of available items) the Rinn Law Library supports the general collection activities of the Law School and the University Libraries (Lincoln Park Campus, Loop Campus, and suburban locations), as well as the needs of residents of the Seventh Congressional District. Selections for the DePaul General Libraries are conducted under a formal Selective Housing Agreement with the Law Library.

The law library has housed mostly law-related titles covering all three branches of government. The General Libraries have housed Census Bureau publications and other titles providing demographic and business-related information. With the exception of some out-of-scope titles and the bulk of the congressional hearings, most depository materials are cataloged and integrated into the collections.

Public Access

The general public is entitled to use the federal depository publications housed in the DePaul University Libraries. Providing free access to the general public to the resources of the documents collection, including electronic resources, is a basic program obligation. However, private depositories are not required to serve patrons who do not have a depository-related need to be in the library. In light of current and continuing security concerns, the Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP) has determined that "it is appropriate for depository library administrators to determine operating hours, access and security procedures", including requiring users to present identification. At the Law Library, after being buzzed in at the front door, public users should go to the Circulation desk where they will be asked to sign in and a photo ID will be requested.

Online Access

The Law library provides several computer workstations near the reference desk that can be used by members of the public to retrieve government information via the Internet. The main FDLP service GPO Access can provide direct access to specific databases, as well as locator functions to help identify other government information sources. To safeguard the public workstations, there is blocking software installed and some functionality has been disabled. However, access to all .gov and .mil sites and some designated .edu sites should not be impeded. If there is a problem accessing a legitimate government information web site, please see a reference librarian. There is also a workstation next to the reference desk that is available for accessing the remaining CD-ROM depository products.