docMD: Document Mediated Delivery : Bringing Electronic Document Delivery to Small Hospital Libraries

Many small and rural hospital libraries lack the resources required to create services which allow the delivery of documents to their customers in electronic format. Such hospitals share common barriers from small staffs to network firewalls to computer support personnel which prevent the implementation of Internet Document Delivery (IDD) systems required for such services. The docMD project explores creating electronic document delivery services for 12 small and rural hospitals using a centralized service center model. Documents requested through DOCLINE, and which are filled through IDD software, are sent to the central site. Documents are converted into PDF format and placed on a web server. An email alert is sent to the customer indicating a documentâ s availability for download. Project libraries are not required to purchase, install, or maintain any computer hardware. No additional hospital library staff is needed. Documents are sent using the web and are passed through network firewalls. This paper provides a project overview, describes the model, and discusses outcomes. The docMD project is funded through the National Network of Libraries of Medicine, Greater Midwest Regio