Prospector Releases New Article Delivery Feature
November 9, 2005
The Colorado Alliance of Research Libraries in conjunction with Colorado State University has released a new article delivery feature within the Prospector union catalog. Historically, the Prospector system has allowed patrons to request books, DVDs, CDs, and videos for delivery to your local library. These were items that must be returned and have been cataloged by its participating libraries. However, if a patron wanted a copy of a journal article they would need to go back to your home library and use interlibrary loan. The new “Request Article” button located near the top right of the Prospector screen provides the ability for patrons to request articles for online delivery.
Initially, only selected libraries have opted to activate this featurewithin Prospector, but in each case once a patron has selected a homeinstitution the best options will be provided.
The system works as follows:
Select the “Request Article” button on the top right of the Prospector screen.
Choose your home library
If your library is participating in this new project you will be takento a screen for identifying their online journals or an articlerequesting form
Fill out the article request form with you known citation for a journal article
In many cases the system will first check to see if your article isavailable online. If so follow the link and you are done. If not,select the “Interlibrary Loan” option at the bottom of the searchresults screen and your request will be transferred into a systemcalled RAPID developed by Colorado State University
Your request will go to one of the participating libraries and theywill scan the article and email you in about a day giving you the URLto view your article online
There are some variations in how this works at various sites dependingon certain pieces of software they locally have available at thatlibrary.
If a library is not using the RAPID software from CSU, the patron maybe taken to a local library Web page where they can look for journalsor databases that may be available from that library. However, if youdo not find the journal you want you must contact your home library formore information.
Libraries participating in the first release of the new advanced Prospector/RAPID article delivery project include:
Auraria Library
Colorado College
Colorado School of Mines*
Colorado State University
Regis University
University of Colorado at Boulder
University of Denver (Penrose Library)
University of Northern Colorado
University of Wyoming*
*These libraries will activate the RAPID delivery feature in the near future
For more information contact your local library.
Additional information about Prospector is available from:
George Machovec
Associate Director
Colorado Alliance of Research Libraries
3801 E. Florida, Suite 515
Denver, CO 80210
help@coalliance.org
http://www.coalliance.org (Alliance URL)
http://prospector.coalliance.org (Prospector URL)
Additional information for librarians about the RAPID article delivery system is available at http://rapidill.org