ILDS Update, March 27

Delivery Bags
The new larger delivery bags have arrived. The new bag is made out of the same material and color as the purple bag you are used to seeing. The bag dimensions are 16” X 22”, with a 6” expandable bottom and a carrying handle.

We encourage you to use the new larger bags, or the older ILDS canvas bags to send larger shipments to a particular site. You can request these bags in the same way you request purple bags using the ILDS-IG@carli.illinois.edu. Please specify that you need the larger/canvas bags. If you also need the luggage tags to hold labels and loops to secure the tags to the canvas bags, send a request to support@carli.illinois.edu.

CARLI has ordered an additional 5,000 small purple bags, and 1,000 of the new larger bag. The delivery date for the additional bags is still undetermined.

Direct ILDS Stops
Library systems continue to report receiving materials for libraries that are now direct ILDS stops, in addition, we've received one report of ILL items being shipped via US Mail. If there is any question as to whether or not a library is a direct stop, please refer to the list of ILDS stops on the Participants tab on the ILDS website at: http://www.illinoisdelivers.net/memlist.html.

Best Practices
We have several reports of the zippers on purple bags being damaged due to overfilling. While we all want to make the most efficient use of the bags, and also minimize the work of creating labels and manifests, there is the risk of losing materials if a bag's zipper rips or separates in transit. If you have trouble closing the zipper, the bag is probably over full. If you are sending multiple bags to a location, balance the load among the bags, whenever possible.

We also want to reiterate that you are strongly encouraged to secure each purple bag (through the grommet and the hole in the zipper pull) and canvas bag (through the hole in the metal clasp) with a plastic zip/cable tie. Remember; do not pull the tie completely tight. Secure the bag with the tie, but make it convenient for the recipient to remove it. When the zip tie is pulled too tight it is difficult for the person receiving the bag to remove it and is resulting in some damage to the bags.

Please return all damaged purple and canvas bags to the Illinois State Library. They will determine what can be repaired and what needs to be discarded.

ILDS Contact Info
CARLI is still collecting updated information for the "Participant List with ILDS contact name" list that was recently posted on the ILDS website. You can find the contact list on the Participants page or at the following URL: http://www.illinoisdelivers.net/memlist.html.

Contact Us
Please continue to send contact info updates, comments and suggestions to support@carli.illinois.edu. Your feedback is appreciated!