Document Delivery Services around the World

Given the importance of information access versus collection, the present study identified and investigated ten most important document delivery websites which had the highest frequency of citations in online directories and printed sources. The evaluation was based on the indicators and policies of Iranian Scientific Information and Documentation Center (IRANDOC). These included document diversity, document request mechanisms, document delivery options, response time, payment options, costs, and copy right clearance. The findings were then processed statistically using SPSS. It was found that based on document diversity BLDSC, LHL and DocDeliver are the frontrunners. On the account of subject comprehensiveness, Doc Deliver, BLDSC, Infotrieve, Ingenta, ISI and UMI are at the same level. All ten sites studied covered basic sciences. BL is strong with respect to diversity of document delivery options, payment options and response time. ISI is most suitable when diversity in request options is required. Ingenta is suitable when diversity in payment options are required. NTIS is in the lead when special documents such as technical reports are required, while UMI is most suitable for Dissertations and rare books