Based partly on an online policy manual developed at the University of Houston, this policy statement for the Online Database Retrieval Service (ODRS) at Murray State University, Kentucky, provides guidelines for the librarian administering the service and for librarians conducting online searches. Eleven sections cover: (1) a statement of purpose for ODRS; (2) hours of operation; (3) patrons served; (4) user fees; (5) the responsibilities of searchers; (6) presearch interview procedures; (7) instructions to discourage patron presence during searches and to choose search times which minimize costs, as well as guidelines for retaining search printouts, computing search costs, compiling search logs, obtaining payment for searches, delivering search results to patrons, and instructing patrons in how to use search results; (8) the responsibilities of the online services librarian, including compilation of service and financial statistics, liaison and contact with vendors, equipment maintenance and repair, requests for funds to supplement user charges, publicity for online services, supervision of paper flow and daily operations, maintenance of search quality, and implementation of any necessary changes; (9) methods for dealing with complaints; (10) library accounting policy; and (11) methods of policy approval and change. A brief description of the development of this policy statement is also provided. (ESR)