Library Book Rate

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Library Book Rate Library Book Shipping Tool

• Rod Hart Director Product Management
• Parcels Division

Canadian Library Association Annual
Conference June 16th 2006
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Opening Remarks

• Canada Post has supported Canadian libraries
  through special rates offered by the Library Book
  Rate Program since 1939.

• Change is required to substantiate the Program
  going forward.

• Canada Post is committed to working with the
  Library Community through the Canadian Library
  Association (CLA) and ASTED to make the necessary
  changes.

Louis OBrien President Parcels Division

• The Library Book Shipping Tool, developed in
  collaboration with the CLA and the Association
  pour lavancement des sciences et des techniques
  de la documentation (ASTED), is a critical
  component of changes introduced in 2006 to
  maintain the Library Book Rate Program.

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Agenda

• Library Book Rate Overview
• Challenges With Existing Program
• Library Book Shipping Tool
• Approach taken to develop
• What is it? How does it work?
• Issues raised by the Library Community
• Response to issues
• Changes to the Program
• Questions

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Library Book Rate Overview

• Library Book Rate Program allows eligible
  libraries to ship books to other libraries and
  users at special rates. Eligible libraries
  include
• public libraries, university/college libraries or
  libraries maintained by a non-profit organization
  or association for use by the public in Canada
• Special rates include the return cost for the
  original outgoing shipment (does not include
  multiple returns)
• Canada Post estimates through surveys that the
  Program supports the delivery of 3.0 million
  shipments annually
• In March of 2006, Canada Post announced the
  extension of Library Book Rates until January
  15th 2007
• Current Library Book Rates have not been changed
  since January 2005

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Library Book Rate Overview

• Rate Comparison

Library Book Rates are significantly below
commercial pricing and Canada Posts cost to
deliver the service.
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Challenges with Existing Program

• Current process for registering, shipment
  preparation, and depositing Library Book Rate
  items does not allow for accurate data collection
  and results in an inability to
• accurately report usage of the Program to key
  stakeholders ( of libraries, volume, revenue,
  cost)
• ensure Program sustainability
• discuss expansion of the Program to include
  non-book material

• Current Program is estimated to cost Canada Post
  10 million annually with 2 million in
  offsetting revenue
• Canada Posts Parcels Business operates in a
  highly competitive, commercial environment and is
  expected to generate a commercial return
• Canada Post does not receive a subsidy for its
  participation

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Library Book Shipping Tool

• Approach Taken to Develop

• Canada Post developing a simple online shipping
  tool for business customers
• Engaged in discussions with CLA and ASTED to
  determine opportunity to leverage with libraries
• CLA and ASTED invited libraries (urban/rural,
  small/large) to participate in Net Meetings and
  provide feedback
• Launched Shipping Tool in November 2005 to pilot
  with a limited number of libraries
• Feedback received has provided direction for
  enhancements to the Shipping Tool for
  introduction in May and June 2006

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Library Book Shipping Tool

• What is it?

• Simple online tool to print outgoing and return
  labels for Library Book Rates
• Accessed through the CLA website
• Rates calculated automatically
• Convenient payment methods
• Enables tracking of shipments

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Library Book Shipping Tool

• How Does it Work?

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Library Book Shipping Tool

• Feedback From Library Community

• Helpful to track packages
• Easy to use and saves time
• Great! Love it
• Very pleased with the Program

• Takes too much time / too many key-strokes
• Dont have credit-card / payment method issues
• Dont have a weigh scale
• Address label too big for use with existing
  reusable bags
• What do I do if I have an existing commercial
  contract / shipping system with Canada Post?

Source Survey of libraries using Shipping Tool
February 2006
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Library Book Shipping Tool

• Response to Issues Raised

• Impact will differ for each library
• Familiarity and increased usage will improve
  efficiency
• Tool has been designed with simplicity in mind
• Retains previously keyed fields (From address
  pre-populated)
• Introduction of Address Book functionality June
  26th
• Return label automatically generated
• Rating is automatic

Takes too much time / too many keystrokes
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Library Book Shipping Tool

• Response to Issues Raised

• All payment methods that exist today for
  libraries will exist with the Shipping Tool
• Payment by credit-card has been added for
  convenience

Dont have credit-card / payment method issues
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Library Book Shipping Tool

• Response to Issues Raised

• 8.5 x 5.5 label prints out on a standard plain
  paper printer
• Eliminates the need to buy an expensive thermal
  printer
• Libraries using reusable bags can continue to do
  so but may require a modification to accommodate
  the label

Address label too big for use with existing
reusable bags
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Library Book Shipping Tool

• Response to Issues Raised

• May 1st 2006 Canada Post added Library Book
  Rates to the Electronic Shipping Tools for
  commercial customers
• Processing and paying for Library Books now
  integrated with other Canada Post Parcel services

What do I do if I have an existing commercial
contract / shipping system with Canada Post?
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Changes to the Program

• On March 8th 2006 Canada Post sent a letter to
  Canadian Libraries advising of the following
  changes to the Library Book Rate Program

• Current rates established in January 2005 will
  continue until January 15th 2007
• All libraries must register by completing the
  online application found on the CLA website to be
  eligible for Library Book Rates
• All libraries must convert to the Library Book
  Shipping Tool by September 30th 2006 to access
  the Library Book Rates going forward

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