a system for facilitating remote printing via a network . the system , in one embodiment , includes a first mechanism for receiving information with respect to the availability to print of one or more printers connected to the network , for selecting an available printer in response thereto , and for providing a printer - selected message to the selected printer indicating that the printer has been selected to print the document . the system also includes a second mechanism , responsive to the printer - selected message , for rechecking the availability to print of the selected printer and for pulling the document from the first mechanism in preparation for printing via the selected printer unless the rechecking determines that the selected printer has subsequently become unavailable to print .