Requests are routed only to libraries which are included in the stored routing table of the borrower and which are identified as holders of the requested material. The system automatically balances the workload among potential lenders. Requesters also have the option to select one preferred lender for each request. If that lender does not fill the request, automatic routing then occurs. Each request can be edited quickly to add information, change default information or correct errors before releasing the request to the system for routing to a potential lending library.
Lenders receive and print their requests daily at their local workstations.
After a request is either filled or not filled, the lender updates the record so the borrower is informed of its status. The system provides warnings to lenders if requests are pending and no action has been taken. The health professional performs a PubMed search, reviews the citations retrieved, and identifies specific documents to be ordered. The NLM PubMed server manages all document-ordering activities. These reports are available online.