[Libs-Or] NISO Recommended Practice on Physical Delivery of Library Resources Available for Public Comment

[Ann Reed]

FYI in case anyone wishes to comment to www.niso.org/workrooms/physdel/

-----Original Message-----
From: Cynthia Hodgson [mailto:chodgson at niso.org] 
Sent: Friday, July 08, 2011 7:22 AM
To: Cynthia Hodgson
Subject: [ascla-l] NISO Recommended Practice on Physical Delivery of Library Resources Available for Public Comment

NISO Recommended Practice on Physical Delivery of Library Resources
Available for Public Comment
Identifies Methods for Reducing Resource Sharing Delivery Time and Costs

The National Information Standards Organization (NISO) announces the
availability of Physical Delivery of Library Resources (NISO RP-12-201x) for
a public comment period ending on August 21, 2011. The physical delivery of
library materials is an integral component of the library resource sharing
process. Despite the ever-increasing availability of electronic journals,
e-books, and other digital resources, the movement of physical items remains
a major concern and a major cost for many libraries. In one state, borrowing
of returnable items increased by 107.4% in six years. A recent study showed
that the average academic library spends more than $6,800/year for delivery
services, with some libraries paying as high as $60,000.

Physical Delivery of Library Resources provides recommendations for
improving performance and reducing the cost of moving materials between by a
library that owns an item and another library whose patron wants to use the
item. Ranging from labeling and containers to automation and contracting
with courier services, this Recommended Practice addresses both the lending
and the borrowing library's activities related to delivering and returning a
physical item.
"While the Working Group focused on external delivery of items between
separately administered libraries," explains Valerie Horton, Executive
Director, Colorado Library Consortium (CLiC) and co-chair of the Physical
Delivery of Library Resources Working Group, "many of the recommendations
also apply to delivery between branches of a single library system and
consortial delivery within a shared system."

"There are many innovative resource sharing and delivery practices in use
today in libraries of all types," states Diana Sachs-Silveira, President
Tampa Bay Library Consortium and co-chair of the Working Group. "This
Recommended Practice pulls together in one place the best of these practices
while emphasizing various alternative methods that a library may choose to
use depending on their specific requirements and constraints."

"Libraries today are looking to resource sharing as one way to meet their
reduced budgets," states Todd Carpenter, NISO Managing Director. "These
recommendations will further help libraries to participate in resource
sharing using the most cost-effective methods for delivering the shared
materials."

The draft Recommended Practice and an online comment form are available at:
www.niso.org/workrooms/physdel/. All libraries involved in resource sharing,
as well as delivery, sorting, courier and transportation service providers,
are encouraged to review and comment on the document.

Cynthia Hodgson
NISO Technical Editor Consultant
National Information Standards Organization
Email: hodgsonca at verizon.net
Phone: 301-654-2512




Ann Reed, Federal Programs Coordinator
Library Development Services
Oregon State Library
250 Winter St. NE
Salem, OR 97301
(503) 378-5027
fax (503) 378-6439
ann.reed at state.or.us