ILDS Best Practices: zip ties, requesting bags, choosing the destination

With the beginning of a new academic year, we thought it might be useful to review a few of the ILDS best practices that have evolved over time. Please share your own good ideas and procedures with your colleagues through the email list ILDS-ig@carli.illinois.edu.

Tip #1: Remember the zip ties!

Use zip ties to keep the delivery bags securely closed. We continue to have reports of bags without zip ties showing up open, and a few have even shown up open and empty. Please do not pull the zip tie too tight when securing it to the bag or the person opening the bag will have difficulty removing it.

Tip #2 Do you need delivery bags?

The fastest way to do so is to send an email to the listserv to request bags. And remember, when you see a request you can fill, share and share alike! You must subscribe to the list before posting a message to it.

Tip #3 Check for the right destination

When preparing materials for shipment, please remember to check the list of ILDS participants. When training new staff, please emphasize the need for care in selecting the proper destination. Many direct stops have similar names, including all those that begin with “Illinois.” As a recent example, a number of items intended for the Harold Washington Library Center of the Chicago Public Library (CPL) have been mislabeled and sent to Harold Washington College (HWC). Appropriate reference to the participant list will also reduce the number of items that are sent to library system locations, rather than being sent directly to an ILDS participant. Taking a little time to verify locations and properly label bags will ensure quicker and more accurate delivery for everyone.