Non-affiliated Users' Access in Tennessee Academic Libraries

Abstract

This survey was designed to ascertain how Tennessee public four-year academic libraries were addressing unaffiliated user access to services and resources and related security issues. At one point in time, resources and services were basically limited to the material on the shelf and the personnel employed by the library. Security issues were concerned with student pranks and vandalism and, depending upon location, the issue of vagrants and/or latchkey kids. Access to the building usually meant people had access to all of the material the library had on the shelf and the only question was whether an unaffiliated user could borrow materials