How Do You Build A National Courier Service?: How Do You Build A National Courier Service?
My Perspective: Colorado’s Courier: My Perspective: Colorado’s Courier COLORADO STATISTICS 2007 LRS* study found Colorado libraries using the state’s courier saved 250% over the least expensive alternative - the U.S. Mail
470 libraries ship about 5 million items www.lrs.org
Who Currently Manages Library Courier Systems?: Who Currently Manages Library Courier Systems? Large public library systems (Denver, Chicago)
Large university systems
Some multi-state college systems (CIC- Big 12)
Regional library systems (MO, MA)
Statewide systems (CO, WI)
Multiple state consortium systems (Orbis/Cascade - WA, OR, ID)
Links between separate courier systems (Mintex & WI)
Trucks, Vans, Llamas, and Camels: Trucks, Vans, Llamas, and Camels Self-run, home-grown systems
Own trucks and hire drivers, etc.
Contractual Services with Delivery Vendors
Velocity Express, American Courier, U.S. Cargo, Lanter, etc.
Hybrids
Wisconsin uses both its own trucks & drivers and uses a vendor service
What Would a National Courier Service Look Like?: What Would a National Courier Service Look Like?
Two Models: Two Models Monolithic Structure
New federally, funded government program
Federal legislation
Central administration
Own a fleet of trucks
OR
Contract with Fed Ex, UPS, etc. Regional Structure
Link existing regional couriers together
Help new couriers form
Forge links between existing couriers
Regional autonomy
Linked Regional Couriers: A Three Legged Stool: Linked Regional Couriers: A Three Legged Stool Ordering (ILL) system
Rethinking Resource Sharing
Physical delivery systems
Agreements
Coverage: A Map with Blanks: Coverage: A Map with Blanks Some states have NO service
Can existing couriers expand or link?
Example: Could Colorado link with TexShare? Many states have at least partial courier service
A Regional Approach: A Regional Approach Create regional courier systems
Geographically contiguous regions
Reduces moving time, cost & system complexity
Line Hauls and Sorting Hubs: Line Hauls and Sorting Hubs Tiered system
Labeling : Labeling No label consistency
Need META-LABELING System
National code system
Allow for easy sorting at hubs
Each package has 2 labels
A national & local label
Packaging: Packaging Standardized totes, large bags, or individual packages?
What type do you use?
Large totes for regional sorting hub
Smaller bins to redistribute materials within a region
Talk about
individual
packaging
costs later
Courier Management Systems (CMS): Courier Management Systems (CMS) New commercial product on market
Quipu Group www.quipugroup.com Others?
Provides a searchable interface for member libraries
Locations, codes, etc.
Management functions
Billing module, routing information, etc.
Could a CMS be used to help manage regional systems?
Coverage and Cost Questions: Coverage and Cost Questions Standardized pricing
Can we get reduced pricing through economy of scale?
Do we have geographic price neutrality?
Or do we charge per line haul and sort?
48 state or 50 states involvement
What about Alaska and Hawaii?
International
Canada, Mexico, and beyond?
What about FedEx or UPS?: What about FedEx or UPS? Advantages
Link to home delivery
Widespread availability
Lots of return drop-off points
Name recognition
Best when 1 or 2 day turn-around is required (GWLA) Disadvantages
May not be their market
Price increases based on:
Package weight
Delivery Time
Distance traveled (regions)
Individual packaging is labor & material expensive
Not suited for high volumes (millions of transactions)
Per Piece Pricing (3 day delivery): Per Piece Pricing (3 day delivery) Criteria Price Weight Low Volume
Examples High volume
example * Regional price variation
2003 LRS Study : 2003 LRS Study Typical packing costs for UPS, Fed Ex…
Materials include bubble wrap, envelopes or shipment boxes, tape and labels.
Prices vary but can add from $1.79 to $3.99 per bundle shipped
Individual Packing Labor Time
3 DVDs 3 minutes
4 books 5 minutes
5 large books or DVDs 6 minutes www.lrs.org
Awareness: Awareness How widely accepted is resource sharing?
Will librarians allow patron-placed holds, agree to link their ILL systems, open their collection to other libraries?
Are librarians aware that some existing courier systems move 5, 10, or 15 million items annually?
Imagine how many items regional systems could share?
Agreements: Agreements We have to:
Find funding
Link ILL systems
Create courier coverage in every state
Develop agreements on labeling, packing, etc
Develop a regional management structure
Work with BCR, AMIGOS, SOLINET, etc
OR create a new non-profit organizations
A Proposal: A Proposal Create 4, 5, or 6 overlapping national regions
Move 95% of items within regions
Whenever possible use existing regional couriers
Use a national service (UPS, FedEx, etc) when you need to cross regional lines
Keep as much autonomy per region as possible
A Proposal (cont.): A Proposal (cont.) Regional Management Structure
Non-profits like BCR or AMIGOS
Initial Funding IMLS Grant
Pilot program to create a successful regional system linking several existing couriers
We can explore this idea at ALA Midwinter
ASCLA ICAN Physical Delivery Discussion Group Who’s driving?
BOTTOM LINE: BOTTOM LINE FAST
Quick turnaround time (a few days max)
Very low cost
Around $2 - $3 per item
MUST be both faster and cheaper than the US Mail