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Examines the document supply issues connected with distance learning, particularly in the South African context. Considers distance learning itself, the role of the library, and new approaches to text delivery: electronic software, print delivery and software, and electronic storage of text in databases. Concludes that the document/text delivery system should enable both students and lecturers to achieve their aims at acceptable cost, without denying access to any student.

This review is concerned mainly with papers on new technological developments in document supply. It begins with a paper that looks at the likely effects of new technology on libraries and publishing. The Hermes and Apollo projects, and a broad systems view on new technology and the supply of ‘separates’ are discussed. Three discussion papers from the Library of Congress Network Advisory Committee on present position and long‐term future of document delivery in the USA are considered. Finally, two specific developments — the Chemical Abstracts Service Document Delivery Service and the OCLC/IAC electronic document delivery system — are reported.

Document supply in Canada presents many challenges because of the relatively small population spread over vast distances but with the majority concentrated along the United States border, There are large distances between many population centres making the timely delivery of library materials to users in these areas problematic. In an attempt to address these issues the National Library of Canada has undertaken a number of studies and initiatives. Describes some of these studies and provides a brief description of potential solutions.

The authors consider a group of commercial vendors who may be potential agents or players in electronic document supply. The group examines five potential providers of products/services: Dow Jones, Geac, OCLC, Faxon, RLG using Malone's 1989 comments on electronic markets as a framework, and using Porter's analytics to describe competition, and the role of technology in conferring advantage. The authors suggest that electronic document supply has produced an observable shift in exchange relationships between suppliers and buyers: the former are regrouping into partnerships which offer a confusing range of options to clients.

Reviews the literature related to electronic document delivery. Discusses the general trends, ILL management systems, CD‐ROM, electronic journals and end‐user access.

Materials for teaching, learning and research are moving into the digital sphere. This move is affecting scholarly communication, teaching and learning in the academic community in important ways. These are significant changes, operating at technical, service, organisational and cultural levels. In this paper we wish to examine some of these changes. However, our aims are modest: we will focus on technical developments and on some of the emerging services that these are making possible.

This article will consider seven commercial document suppliers and evaluate them according to criteria established early in the Documents Direct project. It will explain the criteria in terms of each supplier and assess their suitability regarding the project specifically. The Documents Direct project is a 12‐month project at the University of Leeds. Its aim is to assess the costs and benefits of on‐demand single article supply as an alternative to the Library’s established model of full journal acquisitions. The project offers unmediated document ordering and delivery to academics and research staff within the University. The project is funded internally and involves the Schools of Biology, Chemistry, Civil Engineering and Electrical and Electronic Engineering.

E‐commerce is big business providing exciting opportunities for library and information professionals. This paper examines the range of options available for libraries and researchers to obtain or access documents electronically. It lists suppliers and discusses selection criteria, both informed by the results of the eLib sponsored FIDDO (Focused Investigation of Document Delivery Options) Project completed in 1999.

Document delivery is a fast‐changing practice, being highly subject to economic and technological developments. The FIDDO project, supported by the UK Electronic Libraries Programme, has as a major objective to supply relevant and up‐to‐date information to library managers in this dynamic field. This review of Websites concerned with document delivery aims to contribute to that objective. The review identifies a selection of the more important Websites that might be used by a library manager, and supplies a review of each from both practitioner and academic perspectives.The Websites reviewed include indexes of document suppliers, reports of research projects, system developments and national initiatives, and professional sites. The scope of the review is worldwide, although a specific effort has been made to include sites based outside the USA.