[ILL-L] mailing large heavy books in an envelope

Wed Apr 9 12:57:19 EDT 2008

 As a library whose packaging apparently irritates some libraries, let 
me try to address some of these issues:

A.  We borrow an average of 25,000 items on OCLC a year.  Thus, we 
cannot keep your packaging around to return it in the same envelope or 
box. 
B.  Often it is the patron and not the library that removed your book 
strap.  There is no way to get this back so we print out a copy of the 
OCLC request and send back with the book.
C.  We send items out in the fluff envelopes because we have no choice 
as to what envelopes the city purchases for us.
D.  We staple and tape to ensure that your items do not fall out and 
become forever lost at the post office as has happened on far too many 
occasions despite using new self-sealing bags.
E.  We do make mistakes.  While we send and return all A/V and microfilm 
in boxes, sometimes older or damaged books will be sent back in packages 
rather than boxes.  I would hope that if we were consistently making 
this mistake, the lending library would make us aware so that the 
problem could be addressed.

Emma Beaven
Resource Sharing Supervisor
MILO
Enoch Pratt Free Library
400 Cathedral St.
Baltimore, MD 21201
(410)396-5498
(410)396-5837 (fax)

Inter Library Loan wrote:
> I, too, am very frustrated when libraries completely ignore my nice little notes to please, please return in a box.  Whenever I send out a book from 1930 or before, I always include a note to A) please tell the patron to be gentle and respect the age of the book, and B) to send it back in a box.  I can't understand why this is so hard...if a book arrives boxed, I always send it back in the same box, well-packaged with bubble wrap, air cushions, etc.  It's even more annoying than libraries ignoring the DO NOT REMOVE printed on the bookstrap.  Just yesterday I received back a book from 1929 packaged poorly in a huge envelope despite being a small volume, and of course the postal ride had ripped the cover almost completely off.  The same day I got a book from 1919 that was packaged in a tiny envelope in which it didn't even fit!  Luckily, somehow, the book was undamaged, but it makes me loose my confidence in librarians the world over when they refuse to repect the age of a fragile book.
>  
> Thanks for letting me rant-- this is one of my pet peeves.  Along with, of course, those awful Jiffy-paper bags.  And not folding over large bags to fit small objects.  Oh, and libraries that send books back in a sealed envelope, with 1,000 staples AND packing tape-- why are you buying brand new bags if you're just going to slather then with tape and staple the hell out of them?  Although I'd take an over-packaged, takes-ten-minutes-to-open, like-breaking-into-Fort-Knox items over enevlopes that arrive empty anyday!
>  
> Ms. Laura Perleberg
> Fogelson Library
> College of Santa Fe
> Support Specialist ~ Interlibrary Loan
> lperleberg at csf.edu
> (505) 473-6572
>
> ________________________________
>
> From: ill-l-bounces at webjunction.org on behalf of Mannigel,Lois
> Sent: Tue 4/8/2008 10:54 AM
> To: Interlibrary Loan Listserv
> Subject: RE: [ILL-L] mailing large heavy books in an envelope
>
>
>
> I ask borrowers to return items in a box at times, and am amazed how many times my request is ignored.  I get frustrated with that.  Usually, I return items in the same container it was received (I keep them in a special place under an unused desk - and I have few enough borrows to be able to do this) or else I upgrade to a better envelope or to a box.  We take good care of our materials and wish all other libraries would do the same.  I am also sometimes surprised at the condition some of the received materials are in.
>
>  
>
> Lois/Link Library
>
> ________________________________
>
> From: ill-l-bounces at webjunction.org [mailto:ill-l-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Connie Hocking
> Sent: Tuesday, April 08, 2008 11:37 AM
> To: Interlibrary Loan Listserv; Interlibrary Loan Listserv
> Subject: RE: [ILL-L] mailing large heavy books in an envelope
>
>  
>
> I agree.  I appreciate getting those large volumes
>
> in a box and always return it the same way.   My
>
> feeling is that anything sent in a box - should be
>
> returned in a box!
>
>  
>
> All of our AV items are sent in cardboard boxes or
>
> mailers and I get frustrated when they are returned 
>
> in envelopes.  The item may be okay, but often the
>
> cases are damaged.
>
>  
>
> On a completely unrelated note   --   ROCK CHALK, JAYHAWK!!
>
> What a great game!!!
>
>  
>
> Connie Hocking
>
> Interlibrary Loan
>
>  
>
> Salina Public Library
>
> 301 W. Elm
>
> Salina, KS  67401
>
>  
>
> 785.825.4624 x232
>
> email - chocking at salpublib.org
>
>  
>
> ________________________________
>
> From: ill-l-bounces at webjunction.org on behalf of Marie Hansen
> Sent: Tue 4/8/2008 10:57 AM
> To: Interlibrary Loan Listserv
> Subject: Re: [ILL-L] mailing large heavy books in an envelope
>
> Ditto all the way down the line.
> Marie
>
> Sue Gagnon wrote:
>   
>> I do not complain too often on this list, but I cannot help myself on
>> this one. We received a package this morning that completely fell
>> apart in the mail. The book is very large (10.25 x 13.25 x 2.5) and
>> very heavy. The lending library placed this book in one of those fluff
>> envelopes to mail when this is an item that clearly should have been
>> boxed.
>>
>> *Large and heavy books, or sending multiple books in one package,
>> should be boxed*.
>>
>> Code indicates that the borrowing library is responsible from the time
>> the item leaves the lending library to the time it is received back at
>> the lending library. Packaging large heavy books or multiply heavy
>> volumes in an envelope just isn't right. I feel that if the books get
>> lost or damaged in the mail we should not have to pay for them because
>> of poor packaging by lenders.
>>
>> I would love to know how others feel about this topic.
>>
>> Sincerely,
>>
>> Sue
>>
>> Susan E. Gagnon
>>
>> Interlibrary Loan Specialist
>>
>> Geisel Library - ILL
>>
>> Saint Anselm College
>>
>> 100 Saint Anselm Drive
>>
>> Manchester, NH 03102
>>
>> sgagnon at anselm.edu <mailto:sgagnon at anselm.edu>
>>
>> Tel: 603-641-7303
>>
>> Fax: 603-641-7345
>>
>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> ILL-L mailing list
>> ILL-L at webjunction.org
>> http://lists.webjunction.org/mailman/listinfo/ill-l
>>  
>>     
>
> --
>
> Marie M. Hansen, Borrowing Coordinator
> Interlibrary Loan, Woodruff Library
> Emory University, Atlanta, GA  30322
>
> Phone: 404-727-0910
> Email: marie.hansen at emory.edu
>        genill at libcat1.cc.emory.edu
>                                                      
>
>
>
>
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> Scanned MGW2

-- 
Emma Beaven
Resource Sharing Supervisor
MILO
Enoch Pratt Free Library
400 Cathedral St.
Baltimore, MD 21201
(410)396-5498
(410)396-5837 (fax)