Adoption of Internet for resource sharing by the Gulf academic libraries

Library services have been tremendously influenced by rapid technological innovations over the years. The Internet has virtually provided a new dimension to every area of library services and operations. Document delivery remained no exception to these changes. Besides looking at various Internet applications, the paper also examines available electronic document delivery (EDD) transmission systems using the Internet, such as the ARIEL system of Research Libraries Information Network (RLIN), the North Carolina State University Digitized Document Transmission Project (DDTP), and the Ohio State University Network Fax Project. The paper also presents the results of a survey conducted to determine the availability of required hardware and software in the Gulf academic libraries to use the Internet for EDD. The survey confirmed the availability of required equipment in the Gulf academic libraries and their willingness to participate in the EDD. Their adoption of the Internet for EDD for resource sharing is essential if user self-sufficiency is to be achieved.