This module features questions on various aspects of public services, which covers access and services. Within the section specific to access, there are questions about policies, identification requirements, collection locations, and potential or actual access barriers. Within the section on services, there are questions specifically on reference, electronic collections, and outreach and promotion.

How your library chooses to address the questions within this module continues to be a local determination, so there may be several different, but perfectly acceptable, answers to the same question. Guidance for evaluating your own responses is highlighted within various sections and also summarized at the end of the module. The questions address situations at many libraries; however, there may be additional or unique public access or services situations at your library that you are encouraged to consider in your overall review of the topics covered in the module.

This is a list of a few of the basic, but high-level questions about public services that this module will cover:

• Who may use the depository information resources in your library and selective housing sites, if any?

• Are there any fees that a library user must pay to gain access to depository resources?

• Are all depository resources in all formats accessible, without impediments and within a reasonable amount of time?

• Do the arrangements for housing tangible resources and for public access computer workstations support access?

• Do you know what depository resources your library is responsible for (since they remain Federal property) and where they are housed so that you may provide access to and services for them?

• What services are provided to users to help them gain access to and help them understand the collection?

Self-Study Module 6: Public Services

Working with the Module Part in PDF

For technical information on how to work with the PDF portion of the module, please consult the information found in the Introduction to the Self-Study.