Interlending and document supply: a review of recent literature– XXVIII

Reviews the recent literature in electronic document delivery and“the electronic library”. Describes current trials of various retrieval systems of electronic journal and textbook projects,and examines some of the costs and benefits experienced by institutions around the world, focusing in particular on developments in Germany. Finds copyright on electronic delivery services to be a problem and briefly addresses patenting and trademarks. Also assesses the idea of charges for interlibrary transactions. Finally, reviews the state of the Universal Availability of Publications programme to date, reporting on resource sharing with Africa and the Caribbean.