New library service provides express delivery of journal articles and more

Princeton NJ -- Faculty members can now get electronic delivery of journal articles, conference papers and book chapters usually within 48 hours of a request through a new service offered by the University library.

"ArticleExpress" provides electronic delivery of all types of articles, whether held at Princeton or at other institutions. The service, which is free and available to teaching faculty, is intended to provide access primarily to articles in the Princeton collection usually only available in print or articles not available at the University.

Jane Bryan, associate University librarian for public services and collection development, said the ArticleExpress staff will try to get any article from any journal. She estimates that the library can obtain articles in electronic format from about 20,000 journals published worldwide through its commercial suppliers, composite databases and other sources.

"About 43 percent of the requested articles have not been available at Princeton at all, so we've purchased electronic versions from commercial vendors," Bryan said. "Another 42 percent have been available in print format at Princeton, and we've scanned and delivered electronic versions."

Since the service began in November, the library staff has fulfilled 35 percent of the requests in less than 12 hours and most of the rest within 48 hours. The documents are delivered as PDF files, and faculty can request and retrieve them from any workstation connected to the Internet.

"I think the service is fabulous," said Sheri Berman, assistant professor of politics. "It is incredibly convenient and saves me a huge amount of time. The staff is immensely efficient and helpful."

Heading the ArticleExpress pilot team is Marion Wells. She is assisted by Joel Burlingham.

Bryan is hoping that even more faculty from departments and programs across campus take advantage of the service during the remainder of the pilot phase, which runs through the end of the academic year, so that their comments and suggestions help staff in planning for the post-pilot phase.

More information about ArticleExpress is available at this Web address: < http://libapdl380.princeton.edu/illiad/AELogon_main.html>.