Federal Depository
The Arthur Neef Law Library of Wayne State University was designated with depository status in 1970 (Depository Library # 0289A). A list of items selected or not selected and its corresponding percentage can be viewed at Documents Data Miner. In addition to everything received since 1970, the collection has grown through selective housing of the historical collection of hearings and the early U.S. Serial Set (House and Senate reports and documents), formerly located in the Purdy/Kresge Library. The Law Library has implemented the Depository Library Public Service Guidelines For Government Information in Electronic Formats and the FDLP Internet Use Policy Guidelines.
Service/Access Mission
The Law Library is committed to providing free and unrestricted access to Federal Government information in print, microform, CD-ROM and on the Internet. There are cost recovery charges for print and photocopies. For a more effective service we are emphasizing electronic access to government documents via the law library home page and the web based library's catalog. The building is open 97 hours per week and reference assistance is provided over 75% of the time, including evening and weekend hours.
Location of Documents
All documents are shelved on the Lower Level on open shelves and in the microfiche cabinets. The CD-ROM collection is available by asking at the reference desk.
Classification System
Documents are classified and shelved in order by the Superintendent of Documents classification number.
The most heavily used titles in the documents collection are:
- Congressional Record (paper, complete microfiche collection from Law Library Microform Consortium and internet access through GPO Access: Congressional Record)
- Federal Register (paper, complete microfiche collection from Law Library Microform Consortium and internet access through GPO Access: Federal Register )
- Code of Federal Regulations (complete paper collection, including superseded editions, except for 1971 as well as internet access through GPO Access: Code of Federal Regulations)
- CIS microform set for Congressional documents
- historical hearings collection (paper and CIS microfiche)
- U.S. Serial Set (fairly complete paper editions, also available electronically through Lexis/Nexis Congressional).
Loan Period
Some documents can circulate for 28 days but the majority are considered Building Use Only so they will be available for research.
Formats
The information in the documents collection is contained on a variety of formats: paper, diskette, CD-ROM, microfiche as well as on the Internet. In addition to the sources received on the depository program the law library license cover all CIS online indexes (including the 1789-1969 period - accessible in the law library).
Electronic Access
The Wayne State University Library System has made a commitment to deliver U.S.Government information in electronic format whenever offered by the Federal Depository Library Program.
- Internet access to Federal Government information is provided from all the public workstations via the library's web page
- In addition the library's' web-based on-line catalog provides links to Federal Government information web sites in its records, as appropriate.