Glen Ridge Public Library
January 25, 2018
Update on Statewide Library Delivery Service
Dear Valued Library User:
Over the last few weeks, the statewide library delivery system funded by the NJ State Library through LibraryLinkNJ has not been providing the level of service we demand. Late last year, LibraryLinkNJ transitioned to a new delivery vendor. This change has been fraught with problems. You have probably noticed that its taking much longer for materials to be sent from other libraries. In some cases, items are taking over 3 weeks to arrive. It is frustrating, unacceptable, and I apologize.
There is an enormous backlog of material that has yet to be delivered and our efforts to find a solution to transport the volume of materials between BCCLS libraries has not been successful. For perspective, BCCLS comprises 20% of the total number of libraries on delivery in the state but is 50% of the total volume of statewide delivery. Glen Ridge alone has over 700 items marked as incoming. As a whole, BCCLS processes over 4,300 requests daily.
After careful consideration, effective today, BCCLS has suspended holds for the next two weeks
.
This means:
- Items currently on their way will be processed on arrival.
- New holds will not be allowed to be placed on items.
- All hold lists will be frozen; you will keep your spot in line, but for the time being nothing will be filled.
- If you need an item that another library has, staff can assist and contact that library to reserve the item, but you'll need to pick it up from the owning library.
- We also ask when possible, that items be returned to the owning Library.
- These steps will be reevaluated based on feedback from the BCCLS Library Directors on February 8.
We are aware of how much this poses a tremendous inconvenience to our users and how important the ability to place requests and have them delivered in a timely manner is.
This decision was not made lightly. It speaks to the severity of the situation.
What happens next?
- If libraries are not sending material, the expectation is that delivering the backlog of roughly 86,000 items can be the main focus of the delivery provider.
- The BCCLS President has formed a task force to address delivery and how we will ensure service at the level we require.
- As per LibraryLinkNJ’s bylaws, BCCLS has requested a special meeting of the LibraryLinkNJ membership in order to address the situation.
I understand your frustration and we ask for your patience as we do our best in the current situation. I am not pleased with the fact we have to suspend delivery, but as Vice President of the BCCLS Executive Board, I support the decision. It is a necessary step to ensure we can rectify this problem and get back to providing the level of service we want to provide to you, our Library users.
If you have any questions, or concerns, please feel free to reach out to me directly.
Thank you,
Jennifer Breuer, Library Director
BCCLS Vice President
