1. What is document delivery service?
2. Who can use LECOM's document delivery service?
5. How will I be notified that my materials have arrived and where do I pick them up?
8. What types of materials can be difficult to obtain?
9. What copyright information should I know?
10. Contacts and general information
Frequently Asked Questions
What is document delivery service?
Document delivery service provides the LECOM community access to journal articles and books not available in the LECOM LRC. The Learning Resource Center is a member of DOCLINE, the National Library of Medicine’s document delivery service which links the LECOM LRC to the journal holdings over 3000 U. S., Canadian and Mexican medical libraries.
Who is eligible to use LECOM's document delivery service?
The LECOM Library extends this service to all currently-enrolled students, faculty, and staff of LECOM, as well as, employees of Millcreek Hospital.
First make absolutely sure that LECOM does not own the item you are requesting. Be sure to check LECOM’s Electronic Journals using Ebsco A to Z and our online public catalog (OPAC) before submitting any request. Assistance in determining whether or not the item is owned at LECOM can be obtained at the Erie or Bradenton LRC Circulation Desk or by emailing the LRC at library@lecom.edu.
Materials can be requested by using the Document Delivery Request Form available through the eLibrary. Print forms are also available at the Erie or Bradenton LRC Circulation Desk.
To facilitate the efficient processing of requests, please provide the LRC staff with as much information as possible about the item. Also provide complete information about the source in which the item was cited. For example, if the citation is in a particular index or electronic database, make note of the specific source on the request form. If the citation source provides a unique identifier for the desired item (e.g. PMID#, UI#, ISBN#, ISSN#, ERIC record number), include this information on the request form as well. The more information provided, the greater the likelihood the LRC staff can successfully process the request.
Receipt of regular borrowing requests can be anywhere from 1 to 7 days. The LRC usually receives the majority of articles within three business days. The exact day of receipt cannot be predicted in advance nor guaranteed. Depending on a number of factors, materials may arrive very quickly or take more than a week. Copies of articles typically come in faster than loans of original material. If a requested item has not arrived in a week please call (814) 866-8451 or email library@lecom.edu and request a status check.
How will I be notified that my materials have arrived and where do I pick them up?
The LECOM LRC provides e-mail notification to people when their materials arrive. Print copies of articles and books can be picked up at the Erie or Bradenton LRC Circulation Desk by students; faculty and staff will have theirs delivered through inter-office mail. Electronic copies of journals will be emailed directly to requester. Articles will be scanned and sent via email or faxed to students on rotation whenever possible.
Through membership in statewide, regional and national resource sharing consortia, the LECOM LRC can supply most materials (90%) to its users without charge. All avenues for "free" loans and copies are pursued first. If the LRC cannot obtain the item free of charge, the student will be notified by email prior to ordering the item to ensure the student wishes to pay the fee. The minimum charge by most libraries is $11.00.
Document delivery fees can be
paid by cash or check. If paying by check make it payable to “LECOM”.
What types of materials are difficult to obtain
through document delivery services?
The following categories of materials may be difficult or impossible to
obtain. The LRC will attempt to do so, but these are often subject to more
restrictive lending policies at most libraries and may be unavailable.
1. Non-Circulating materials (i.e. reference books, rare books, special collections.)
2. Very new books (i.e. less than a year old).
3. Entire issues of periodicals.
4. Non-circulating theses and dissertations.
5. Standard textbooks.
General phone:
(814) 866-8451
General email address: library@lecom.edu
Order materials - Use the Document Delivery Request Form in the e-Library or fill out a print copy at the LRC circulation desks.
Pick up materials - Many articles may be emailed to you electronically; print format items may be picked up at the Erie or Bradenton Circulation Desk anytime the LRC is open.
Return materials (e.g. books) - Drop them off at the Erie or Bradenton LRC Circulation Desk.
Check on status of your request - Call the phone number above or email. Please provide your name and the material requested.