Answers to Frequently Asked Questions about Document Delivery

Contents

1. What is Document Delivery?
2. How is Document Delivery better than traditional delivery systems?
3. Are there any disadvantages to the electronic system?
4. Why do I need a username and password to use Document Delivery?
5. What if I forget my password?
6. What Web browser should I use?
7. Is security a problem if I use a public workstation?
8. Why don't I see all my older requests when I look at my request history?
9. What is Electronic Delivery?
10. Who do I contact if I have problems with or questions about Document Delivery?
11. Why does my browser say that you're sending a cookie? What's in it?

What is Document Delivery?

Document Delivery is a fully automated system for ordering books or articles NOT held in the Cal Poly Pomona Library. You register just once by entering your personal information and choose a username and password. Once you've done that, your information will be stored for future requests.  At anytime, by logging onto Document Delivery, you can send requests for books, articles, conference papers, thesis or dissertations; check on the status of your requests; ask for renewals; and communicate with Document Delivery.

Back to Top

How is Document Delivery better than traditional delivery systems?

1. You will find it easier to submit your document delivery requests. With Document Delivery, you enter your name, address, and other personal information into the system only once, at the time of your first request.
2. Your request will be handled more rapidly and accurately as problems relating to misinterpretation of hand-written requests are eliminated.
3. You can get many of your photocopies more quickly through Electronic Delivery.
4. You can get information about the status of your request through the Web at any time from any location without having to call Document Delivery.
5. Document Delivery will be able to serve you better because all data about your request and its handling is stored in a searchable database. We are able to respond quickly to your inquiries about your request. We are also able to gather statistical information about the performance of the libraries that lend to us, enabling us to make better decisions when choosing a lender to supply an item.

Back to Top

Are there any disadvantages to the electronic system?

Some people might find it troublesome to have to log into Document Delivery using a username and password. We believe this is less trouble than traditional paper and electronic systems which require you to enter your personal information with each new request.

Back to Top

Why do I need a username and password to use Document Delivery?

Your username and password allows us to give you secure access to information about your Document Delivery requests. We can also enable you to edit your personal information such as your address or phone number.

Your username can be anything you like, but we recommend you use your campus email name. Your password also can be anything you like. We recommend that you follow good security practice and choose a password that is different from those you use to access other systems. However, no one but you will know your password, not even the library staff. The password you set is stored in an encrypted file.

Back to Top

What if I forget my password?

In the event that you forget your password, please contact Document Delivery at (909) 869-3111, M-F, 8-5. We can then reset your password allowing you access to Document Delivery. Please change your password once you logon to Document Delivery.

Back to Top

What Web browser should I use?

You need a Web browser that can handle forms, tables, and, preferably, one that can handle frames.  We recommend either Netscape Navigator version 3.0 or greater or Microsoft Internet Explorer version 3.0 or greater. Both browsers are available for the Windows 3.x, Windows 95 or NT, and Macintosh O/S operating systems. Netscape Navigator is available for UNIX.

Back to Top

Is security a problem if I use a public workstation?

Yes. Web browsers cache information and create a history file on the local workstation. This allows a subsequent user of the workstation to access the system under your name using the browser's Back button to recall a page from the cache, or by finding a page with your personal information in the browser's history file. If you are concerned about the security of your Document Delivery requests, you can take the following steps:

Back to Top

Why don't I see all my older requests when I look at my request history?

From time to time we purge older records from Document Delivery. Our policy is to keep requests online for several years order to comply with record keeping requirements of the copyright law.

Back to Top

What is electronic delivery? 

Many libraries ship photocopies of articles to us in electronic format. In the past we printed these articles before delivering them to you. Now, through Document Delivery, we are able to offer you the option of electronic delivery of these articles in PDF format (Adobe's Portable Document Format). You can read more about electronic delivery on the Electronic Delivery Information page.

Back to Top

Who do I contact if I have problems with or questions about Document Delivery?

For Document Delivery or system problems, call (909) 869-3111, M-F, 8-5, or e-mail us at libldrs@csupomona.edu. 

Back to Top

Why does my browser say that you're sending a cookie? What's in it?

The Active Server Pages technology that we use to provide live reporting for the web sends a Session ID to be stored on your machine. You can refuse this cookie and still be able to use the Document Delivery web pages and Document Delivery without any problems.

Back to Top