Literature searching and document delivery: organisational issues.

An overview of financial, staffing and administrative issues regarding online literature searching and document supply is given in this article. Online literature searching and the requesting of documents have been problematic in the past due to costs and lack of information technology. Electronic document delivery requires better Internet access but MIME compatible e-mail can be used. Institutional issues regarding requests include the question 'who should order?'--the end user or intermediary ordering by the institution, and the need for trained information professionals within medical institutions. Payment mechanisms can be by credit card, institutional subscription, institutional account with the supplying library or by voucher system. Organisational Document Supply Networks (LoansomeDoc) now exist that have set charges for certain services between members or different costs for different member types and with agreed payment mechanisms. An area of increasing importance for document delivery (due to international treaties) is copyright. If such legislation is not to adversely affect information access, professionals must be involved in the creation and amendment of such legislation. Finally, a list of references are given many of which include internet addresses.