Collection Development Policy

Government Documents

1. Federal Publications

The Library is a selective depository for U.S. government publications. The Government Publications Librarian, in consultation with appropriate faculty members, is responsible for the selection of depository series from those available. Selection is made on the basis of the University's instructional and research needs, and the information needs of the citizens of the Seventh Congressional District of Wisconsin. Requests for more specialized publications are referred to the regional depository at the State Historical Society of Wisconsin in Madison.

Federal Documents are the property of the United States government and are maintained and weeded in accordance with Federal depository regulations.

Selective government information published electronically is available through Internet access provided on records in the Library's online catalog and through the Virtual Reference Desk on the Library's homepage.

2. State Documents

The Library is a regional depository for Wisconsin State documents. The Library follows the regulations of Wisconsin State Depository Program on the maintenance and retention of Wisconsin state documents.

3. Foreign and International Documents

The Library is not a depository for foreign or international government publications. Standing orders are set up to receive certain series of United Nations, UNESCO and all English language OECD publications. Others are purchased as monographs. General selection criteria apply.

The Government Publications Librarian is also responsible for the selection of commercially published materials, such as indexes and abstracts which facilitate the use of documents.