Book description
Picking, packing, delivering, and returning library materials can be
very time consuming and expensive; yet, it is one of the most important
and least understood functions within a library. Until now, little time
has been spent studying, exploring, or writing about the physical
delivery of library materials. Moving Materials is the guide to
contemporary logistics management for libraries. Eleven experts in the
field explore every aspect of this multi-million dollar function, so
readers will learn The impact of pricing on delivery services Managing
in-house delivery systems The value of outsourcing physical delivery to
a carrier service Details about routing and materials management systems
New technologies and the impact of library 2. 0 on physical delivery The
how-to's of home delivery Moving Materials is a practical, useful
handbook for library managers who want to save money and offer quality
materials to their patrons. "A rich source of practical
information replete with citations to further resources, brief
bibliographies at the end of each chapter, an annotated bibliography by
top names in the field, a glossary of terms, task inventories, and
contributors' profiles. This is sure to become a well-worn reference on
the library manager's bookshelf." Virginia A. Walter holds a BA
in world literature, an MLIS from the University of California,
Berkeley, and a PhD in public administration from the University of
Southern California. Before joining the faculty in what is now the
Information Studies Department at UCLA in 1990, she had worked for more
than twenty years in public libraries, most recently as children's
services coordinator at Los Angeles Public Library. She retired in June
2008 with the rank of professor emerita. She is the author of two books
for young people, nine monographs, and more than thirty-five articles in
scholarly and professional journals. Bruce Smith is the Delivery
Services Coordinator for the South Central Library System (SCLS). Bruce
has been employed by SCLS Delivery Services for 14 years, serving as the
Operations Manager and Coordinator since 1996. SCLS is a regional public
library system serving 52 member libraries in 7 counties with
headquarters in Madison, WI. SCLS Delivery handles approximately 6
million shipped items sent by its member libraries. SCLS also serves as
the primary statewide library delivery service for the Wisconsin
Libraries' Delivery Network. SCLS provides transport for more than
750,000 ILL items sent by the more than 700 libraries connected to the
statewide network. SCLS operates it own delivery service at a
centralized sorting facility using a fleet of 24 vehicles that make more
than 50,000 annual stops and travel more than 750,000 yearly miles.
Bruce has six previous years of experience in the transportation
business in the areas of building supply, grocery and expedited package
delivery.
