The policies below are for Government Documents only.
Access to the Physical Depository Collections
Prescott Memorial Library is a depository for both federal and Louisiana state government publications. Per depository regulations, the Library is required by law to provide free public access to materials in the depository collections. Title 44, section 1911 of the United States Code requires Federal Depository Libraries to make documents “available for the free use of the general public.”
Federal Depository materials are housed on the first and second floors of the library, while state documents are housed on the second floor. Any member of the public may access the materials during the hours that the Library is open. In accordance with Library policy, all children under fourteen years of age must be accompanied by an adult at all times. Please note: Any unaccompanied child under fourteen years old who wants to use Federal Depository Library collections and services, should contact the Government Documents Office at 318.257.4989.
Some materials are designated as circulating and may be checked out by faculty, staff, and students with a valid Louisiana Tech University ID, or by any person with a Courtesy Card.
Internet Access
Computers throughout the building offer free public access to the Internet. Due to a printing control system, Louisiana Tech University students are required to log in with their webmail username and password.
Designated “guest” computers on the 2nd floor offer free public access to the Internet. Any member of the public may search the Internet on these computers during the hours that the Library is open to access to the Library Catalog and the many government publications that are now available only online.
Copying/Printing – Viewing/Listening
Photocopiers are available for print materials and machines are available for viewing and copying microfiche documents. There is no fee for using documents, but there is a fee for copying. Photocopiers are available on most floors to make copies from print materials. Machines are available for viewing and copying microfiche and microfilm on the third floor. Scanners are also available for use in the Reference Area Computer Lab.
Updated May 2015
As a designated Federal Depository library, Prescott Memorial Library is required by law to provide free public access to materials in the depository collections. However, federal government documents can be circulated to faculty, staff, students, and Courtesy Card holders.
Any barcoded book, video, Congressional Hearing, or pamphlet can circulate for 21 days. With the exceptions listed below.
If the item does not have a bar code, give the item to the Bibliographic Management department with the name of the patron. The patron will be able to check the item out on the following day excluding weekends.
The following documents CAN NOT be checked out:
- Documents from the Reference Collection
- Soil Surveys (A 57.38/)
- Serials Set ( Y 1.1)
- Census
- Maps
- Mircofiche
- Forms (example IRS)
- Books/Serials published before 1910
Reference Librarians may circulate these materials from the Reference Desk at their discretion to Tech Faculty, except for the Serials Set.
Bound and unbound serials will be checked out to Tech Faculty and graduate students following Prescott Library’s Periodical Circulation policy.
- Bound periodicals may be checked out for three (3) days by faculty and graduate students through regular checkout procedures at the Circulation Desk.
- Unbound periodicals may be checked out by faculty according to the following specifications:
- A maximum of five (5) loose periodicals may be checked out for up to two (2) hours.
- Initial checkout is performed at the 3rd floor Information Desk, Monday-Friday from 7:30 am to 3:00 pm.
- Final checkout is required at Circulation Desk on the main floor before leaving Library.
Circulating documents may also be sent out to Interlibrary loan.
Updated January 2015