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Wisconsin Libraries Delivery Network Shipping and Use Guidelines

•Wisconsin Libraries' Delivery Service Network Use Policy
•Routing Label Guidelines
•Preparing items for shipment
•Other types of items
•Red Basket Pick-up

Wisconsin Libraries' Delivery Service Network Use Policy

The network is made up of Wisconsin public libraries, UW System libraries, private university and college libraries, Wisconsin Technical College libraries, public and private K-12 school libraries, government and institutional libraries, corporate and other special libraries. In addition, via a connection with MINITEX, the Wisconsin network connects with libraries in Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. Material routing information and a current full listing of network members is available online.

Any member of the Wisconsin Libraries' Delivery Service Network can send and receive the following items to any other member of the same network using the statewide backbone delivery service operated by the South Central Library System (SCLS).

  • Resource-sharing materials
  • Return materials - Note: Library materials owned by one participating delivery network library, but returned at another participating delivery network library, may not always be able to be checked in at the library where the item was returned. When this is the case, the item(s) remains checked out to the borrower until the owning library receives it and checks it in. When these items are placed into the delivery network for return to the owning library, the responsibility for the replacement cost of these items, should they become lost while in transit, remains with the borrower. The handling library is not responsible for the replacement cost of these items if lost.
  • Gift materials - If only a few items, attach a routing label and place in the red delivery basket. If you are sending a larger quantity please place items in a sturdy cardboard box, no larger than a red basket, and place routing label on outside of box. If sending more than 2 boxes please contact SCLS delivery in case other arrangements are needed to handle the extra volume in the delivery vehicle.
  • Wisconsin Libraries Distribution Service materials (aka: All-library mailings), library equipment and bulky items require prior approval and coordination of both the statewide delivery service (SCLS) and the respective public library system delivering materials to and from its member's libraries. Special requests to transport items beyond the scope of the routine red basket exchange can be made with the SCLS Special Request Coordinator. SCLS will make deliveries outside of scheduled routes to or/and from non-network members on a cost recovery, time and mileage basis.
  • SCLS Delivery maintains a list of items lost or found in delivery.  Please refer to the "Lost and Found in Delivery" page for information on these items and instructions for adding/removing items from the list.

Routing Label Guidelines

SCLS Delivery ILL "pink" labels

  1. Check the Delivery Network List to see if the receiving library is a member of the Wisconsin Libraries' Delivery Network. If not, then another means of shipment, i.e. US Postal Service or commercial parcel/courier services, will be required to send the item.
  2. All items sent via the Wisconsin Libraries' Delivery Network must be labelled with the following routing information legibly and prominently displayed:
    • Route To: (system delivery hub) - 2nd table column
    • For: (delivery network member) - 1st table column
    • Date: (date put into delivery)
    • From: (library putting item into delivery)
    • Notes

A printable version of the SCLS Delivery ILL ("pink") label (PDF) is available for use by ILL staff. The file is in PDF format and contains form fields to allow routing information to be entered electronically and then printed using Adobe Acrobat Reader.  The file can also be downloaded and saved for later use, although changes will not be saved.

UW-System "salmon" labels

  1. Clearly circle UW library that is to receive material (do NOT reuse labels)
  2. Fill in both ‘From’ and ‘Date’ the material is sent
  3. It is preferred that you tape the routing label to rubber bands on the item or use only non-stick tape.

A printable version (PDF) of the salmon label is available online.  Pre-printed bundles of the salmon labels are available from SCLS Delivery upon request.

More Labels

Routing Error Forms (PDF) - for returning mis-routed items.  Please fill out all available contact information and attach the form to the item being returned to sender. 

For information on other types of statewide delivery routing labels, including WISCAT ILL labels, WiLS request labels, and Universal Borrowing labels, please refer to the Delivery Service Best Practices for Library Staff (PDF) created by the Delivery Services Advisory Committee (2008). 

Preparing items for shipment

Use removable scotch tape when affixing routing labels directly to library materials and rubber bands. When attaching routing labels directly to library materials, tape down the routing label at both ends. Also, please wrap a rubber band around the item and tape the routing label to the rubber band. This will more securely affix the routing label to the item and prevent routing labels from coming loose during shipping.

**Notes on bundling items together with rubber bands

  1. All materials in a bundle must be for the same destination library
  2. All materials in a bundle must be of the same or roughly the same size
  3. Maximum height of a bundle should be no more than 4 inches. 
  4. Avoid creating "pyramid" bundles of items of various sizes.  Such bundles are difficult to stack in baskets, wasting space.

Other types of items

Cardboard Boxes
Attach a routing label with regular scotch tape. Cross out any other routing information elsewhere on the box.

Inter-departmental Envelopes
Please attach a routing label to the outside of the envelope with the system hub ("To:") and destination library ("For:") clearly marked.

Art Objects and Prints
These materials require special handling and a dedicated delivery transfer to facilitate their shipment. Contact us for the cost of this special service.

Large Numbers of Cartons, Bulky Items, Furniture, Etc
These materials require special handling and a dedicated delivery transfer to facilitate their shipment Contact us for the cost of this special service.

Red and Blue Basket Guidelines

Red Baskets
Place all materials for pick up into our red delivery baskets. These items will be brought back and sorted at our delivery site. Be sure to flip the basket label to read "South Central Library System" to indicate to the driver that it is to be picked up. If you have extra baskets or an oversupply of basket labels please send those back to delivery. If you are in need of either of these items please contact us.

Blue Baskets
Use for en route priority materials. Place items going to those libraries after yours on the delivery route for the driver to sort and deliver en route in order to provide same day delivery. An en routing sorting list is provided of those libraries that follow yours on the route.

Oversize Items
Place items that are too large to fit in the closed red basket next to or on top of the baskets in your delivery pick up area for our driver.