Mail it?  It's in the Bag! Books and more netflix style

About the Project

Our goal: To provide quantum leaps in convenient service for library customers through an incubator home delivery project.

Our objectives:

• To demonstrate that home delivery is an affordable and cost effective choice for libraries.

• To assist libraries in making the policy, cultural, budgetary and physical changes necessary to effectively manage, organize and deliver books by mail.

• To demonstrate use and customer satisfaction with a home delivery option.

Our demonstration libraries, Burlington County Library System and Gloucester County Library System:

• Provide a mailing option to their customers for any items in their collection which may be reserved online, in person or by phone.

• Allow online and phone placement of reserves/mailing for items currently in the library.

• Provide delivery to the home at no cost to their customers.

• Provide return mailers. Customers are responsible for return postage or they may return materials directly to book drops, branches, or bookmobiles.

• Mail items that are on the shelf within 24 hours of received request.

• Publicize the service to their user population.

Our timeline: The libraries were selected in December, 2007 and began providing mail service in June, 2008. Service will continue in 2009/2010.

Our budget: $50,000 per library through June 30, 2009.

Our results thus far: It's doable, it fits easily into the workflow, and customers love it!

South Jersey Regional Library Cooperative (SJRLC) Paint Works Corporate Center - 10 Foster Avenue - Suite F-3 Gibbsboro, NJ 08026 Phone: 856-346-1222 --- Fax: 856-346-2839 --- cdl# 3818 --- Directions to SJRLC   Karen Hyman, Executive Director: hyman@sjrlc.org Peter Bromberg, Assistant Director & Webweaver: bromberg@sjrlc.org The South Jersey Regional Library Cooperative (SJRLC) is a multi-type library cooperative serving over 600 member libraries in Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem counties. SJRLC is part of the New Jersey Library Network linking over 2500 libraries statewide.  SJRLC and its services are funded by the New Jersey State Library which is responsible for the coordination, promotion and funding of the New Jersey Library Network.