BRIEF COMMUNICATIONS
quire those titles necessary to comply with the CONTU guidelines averaged $138 per hospital. It has been reported to the authors that where the identified use patterns were considered to represent a continuing demand rather than isolated requests generated by unique projects, subscriptions have been initiated. Therefore, an analysis of the current year could be expected to indicate a reduction in the already low percentage of copyright infringement. Were the publishers to collect royalty fees from CIR libraries through the Copy Payments Center for excess photocopying at this rate [4], the sum involved would appear to be relatively insignificant. Thus, this study corroborates a conclusion reached by Line and Wood from their study of the effect of photocopying by the British Lending Library on journal sales-there is no evidence that the problems of publishing have anything to do with photocopying by libraries [5]. A recent study by Middleton of ILL experience at the University of Washington Health Sciences Center during 1976 concluded similarly that applying the CONTU guidelines would have generated no additional income for publishers [6]. Furthermore, because the ILL practices of CIR can be considered representative of hospital library consortia in general, the conclusion of this study that the implementation of Copyright Law revision will have no significant impact on ILL service within CIR librariesprovides reassurance for all librarians relying on resource sharing to ease the problems resulting from tight budgets, limited space, and increasing demands for service. REFERENCES 1. The Copyright Revision Act of 1976 (PL 94-553), Section 108(g)(2). 2. The Guidelines for the Proviso of Sub-section 108(g)(2) originally appeared in the House Judiciary Committee Report (H. Rept. 94-733), reprinted Am. Libr. 7: 610, Nov. 1976. 3. WEST SUBURBAN HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION. CONSORTIUM FOR INFORMATION RESOURCES. Dynamics of Hospital Library Consortia. Waltham, Mass., West Suburban Hospital Research and Education Association, 1975. 4. MLA News no. 93: 6, Aug. 1977. 5. LINE, M. B., AND WOOD, D. N. The effect of a largescale photocopying service on journal sales. J. Doc. 31: 234-245, Dec. 1975. 6. MIDDLETON, D. R. Predicting the impact of copyright specifications on interlibrary borrowing. Bull. Med. Libr. Assoc. 65: 449-451, Oct. 1977.
Received December 29, 1977; revision accepted February 27, 1978.
342
Providing Health Care Information to Patients in a Small Hospital BY DORIS J. RICKARDS, Medical Librarian
Robert M. White Memorial Library Paoli Memorial Hospital Paoli, Pennsylvania
MANY seeds of inspiration are planted at MLA conventions with the hope that some will be carried home to germinate. Tended with hard work, imagination, and enthusiasm, some eventually grow into full projects. The Patient Reference Library at Paoli Memorial Hospital is the result of inspiration from the 1976 MLA convention at Minneapolis. The need by patients for comprehensive background information on their medical problems has not been consistently met in the past. The need to read, think, and accept limiting health conditions before the statement "Do you have any questions?" is raised is vitally important so that patients can know if they do have any questions. The lack of availability of medical and related materials for the patient has come to the forefront in the recent wave of consumer rights issues. The inaccessibility of the clinical hospital library to the patient and the lack of specific medical materials in most public libraries has left an information gap that the Patient Reference Library is attempting to fill. ORGANIZATION
Our 188-bed hospital already provides programs in diabetes patient teaching and cardiac rehabilitation. These are excellent interdepartmental programs, but they do not satisfy the patients and their families who want more information, to assimilate on their own, about other conditions. After Wjorking out basic plans for a patient reference library, administrative approval was sought. The Medical Library was allowed several hundred dollars to establish and test run the Patient Reference Library. The idea was then presented to, and accepted by, the Library Committee of the Medical Staff. Policies and procedures were established as the project developed and questions arose. Because the project is under the supervision of the Medical Staff Librarian, these policies have been included in a separate section of the policy and procedure manual of the staff library. Bull. Med. Libr. Assoc. 66(3)July 1978
BRIEF COMMUNICATIONS MATERIALS The first purchase was a book cart with four tilted and one flat-bottomed shelves. It was decided to limit the initial acquisition of items to books and pamphlets. The type of information covered in the initial purchase included specific health problems; physical and psychological adjustments; geriatrics; health, hygiene, and safety; alcoholism and drug abuse; pediatrics (for parents and young patients); and cookbooks for special diets.* The magazine Psychology Today is donated. It is planned to add Family Health Magazine in 1978. The largest problem encountered by the librarian throughout the whole development stage was finding suitable materials on all the specific topics to be covered. Items were sought that did not give an overly clinical presentation, yet did not talk down to the reader. Easy readability, both in style and size of type, was important. The first step in the selection process was Bowker's Medical Books in Print [1]. The suggestions in this book were then taken to knowledgeable people within our own institution-the dietitian, patient teaching/inservice staff, the cardiac rehabilitation program coordinator, the nursing supervisor, physicians, and so on-for revision and
suggestions. The Chester County (Pennsylvania) library system was extremely helpful. Their coordinators were aware of what the public in the county was asking for because purchases for all sixteen branches are done centrally. They provided me with book suggestions, as well as titles of those books actually purchased. I became familiar with the Mail Order Delivery Program (MOD) provided for house-bound county residents. Our patients are introduced to this mail-order library service before they are discharged. The county library system has also provided us with a list of those libraries that carry copies of books on our cart so that we can refer patients. The original book order was placed through our regular book jobber. This proved unsatisfactory because many of the titles ordered were printed by nonmedical publishers and the time delay was too great. We then turned to a local bookstore owner who is not only willing to order whatever we need (most items are delivered in less than two weeks) but also provides us with a generous discount. In addition, he is able to get most items in
paperback, a format better suited to our budget. His store keeps copies of the same cookbooks as we carry on our cart so we can advise patients where these books are locally available. Pharmaceutical houses, manufacturers of hospital supplies, and societies are good sources of low-cost and free material. We received copies of many pamphlets from the American Cancer Society. The Del-Chester Lung Association sent a representative with their items to observe our project. Once the materials arrived, the problem arose as to who should be responsible for reviewing them. This was quickly solved by placing the books on the cart in the library and inviting the entire hospital staff to participate. A sheet of paper for comments was placed in each book. We anticipated some negative reactions but were pleasantly surprised. After being on display almost two months, no book had sufficient negative comments to necessitate its removal from the cart. With the sanction of all those who took the time to review the books, processing was begun. A very simple in-house subject classification system is used. Each book is assigned a call number and stamped with library identification; no accessioning is done. All books with book jackets are covered with Mylar. Forty books were originally purchased; after the project was accepted by staff and patients, permission was given to obtain sixteen additional titles. The 1977-1978 library budget includes extra funds for books and supplies for the Patient Reference Library. The Public Relations Department of the hospital sent a news release with a photo to local newspapers. A news release was also sent to MLA News [2] and drew a large response.
IMPLEMENTATION Getting the materials to the patients was the next step. The project could not succeed without cooperation from the hospital staff. The medical staff members were sent several news-sheets explaining the project and were contacted personally for their suggestions and reactions. The cart was then taken to each nursing station, where the materials and their necessity were explained. The nursing staff was notified that the library staff would stop at the nursing station first before entering any patient's room. The patients themselves are informed of the service by an *A list of the books comprising the Patient Reference insert placed in the folder they receive upon admission. The library phone extension is included Library is available from the author. Bull. Med. Libr. Assoc. 66(3) July 1978
343
BRIEF COMMUNICATIONS
Could we please have your opinion on the Patient Reference Library? o NO EFFECT OR PROVIDED I like the program o YES c NO NO NEW INFORMATION I found the material o HELPFUL o DISTURBING Did having this information affect your ability to ask questions of the staff? z MADE IT EASIER o MADE IT HARDER o ELIMINATED NEED TO ASK o NO EFFECT I would like to see some or more information on Comments
FIG. 1.-Questionnaire given to patients borrowing from Patient Reference Library.
this insert. The cart is on the patient floors approximately twice a week. (This is done among other librarian duties and is time consuming). When a nursing station is approached, the staff is usually ready with names, room numbers, and the type of information each patient wants. Occasionally a patient will call the library requesting specific material from the cart. Dropping by patient rooms (with permission of the head nurse) gives me a chance to explain the program, spread some cheer, and win some shy clientele. Talking with families and patients in waiting areas extends awareness of the project and encourages its use. Books for juvenile patients and their families are left in the Special Care section in order to be available to parents at all times. When items are borrowed, each patient also receives a questionnaire and is asked to return it with the book (see Figure 1). No due date is given, but it is requested that the book be returned on or before discharge. Upon the suggestion of the nursing staff, a form stating patients' names and the specific books borrowed is left at the station. This will further facilitate the return of books. (Since the cart went on the patient floors in February 1977, only two books have not been returned). The librarian discusses the material wanted with the patient in order to determine suitable books or pamphlets. The patient is encouraged to write down and ask the doctor any questions related to his or her specific clinical problem. Our collection of ten specialized cookbooks has been very well received by patients and their families. Each time a cookbook is borrowed, the borrower is supplied with several four-by-six lined cards stamped PATIENT REFERENCE LIBRARY PAOLI MEMORIAL HOSPITAL A TASTY RECIPE FOR: on
SERVINGS:
344
This provides the quiet activity for patients of transcribing recipes from the cookbook, is especially helpful to wives and mothers of those put on restrictive diets, and saves wear and tear on the cookbooks.
RESULTS AND EVALUATION Favorable verbal comments on the project serve to supplement the documented evaluation provided by the questionnaire. Additional purchases will be guided by those subjects in which patients and physicians express an interest. The nursing staff and librarian are carefully watching the answers to the question "Did having this affect your ability to ask questions of the Staff?" If an item frequently draws the answer "eliminated the need to ask," this material will be reevaluated; it is our intention to encourage patient/staff dialogue, not to discourage it. The questionnaire also provided us with positive support when we asked that the Patient Reference Library be included in the 1977-1978 budget. Medical staff reaction has been good, although not overwhelming. The general acceptance may be due to having a young staff with less resistance to innovation and change and that supports patient education. Doctors are now coming to the library with suggestions for the cart without having to be asked. They have also asked that this service be considered for outpatients. The seed of inspiration planted in June 1976 has grown to a healthy young stalk in the Patient Reference Library. We look to full maturation and fruit to satisfy the patient as materials and services are made readily available. REFERENCES 1. Bowker's Medical Books in Print, 1976. New York, R. R. Bowker Company, 1976. Bull. Med. Libr. Assoc. 66(3)July 1978
BRIEF COMMUNICATIONS
2. RICKARDS, DORIS J. Patient reference library established. MLA News 91: 5, June 1977.
Received December 29, 1977; revision accepted March 14, 1978.
Comparison of United Parcel Service and United States Postal Service Delivery Speed and Cost for Interlibrary Loan By BIRSEN KAYA, Interlibrary Loan Assistant ALICE HURLEBAUS, Head, Materials Access Division Medical Center Libraries University of Cincinnati Cincinnati, Ohio
THE interlibrary loan staff of the University of Cincinnati Medical Center Libraries is dedicated to providing prompt service to its requesters. It appeared from checking books loaned to other libraries that a considerable length of time was required for shipping those materials. Occasional communications from other libraries concerning the delayed receipt of books reemphasized the time spent in transit; for example, a book was received after the loan period expired, and the time in transit was three weeks for an approximate two-hundred-fifty-mile distance. At the same time the interlibrary loan staff observed from checking materials borrowed from Library A that their use of United Parcel Service (UPS) provided more rapid service. Prior to the fiscal year 1977-1978, the Medical Center Libraries were not charged directly for postage costs; the costs were absorbed by the university. In early 1977 it became evident that this procedure would change with the beginning of the fiscal year 1977-1978, thus necessitating the payment of postage charges directly from the libraries' budget. The desire to provide faster service, combined with anticipation of direct postage charges to the libraries, prompted a study of comparative costs of using UPS and the United States Postal Service (USPS) for book delivery. PROCEDURE UPS and USPS offices were contacted in order to obtain operational information about their services and current rate charts. An opinion on UPS service was obtained from Library A. This liBull. Med. Libr. Assoc. 66(3)July 1978
brary was very enthusiastic about UPS and well satisfied with the delivery time and reliability. Records kept from January 1977 through April 1977 were used for a time study on books that the interlibrary loan department received from Library A (262 miles from Cincinnati) via UPS and from Library B (207 miles from Cincinnati) and Library C (112 miles from Cincinnati) via USPS. Fifty books received during this period were considered-fifteen from Library A, fourteen from Library B, and twenty-one from Library C. In this study, the date each item was shipped (obtained from the copy of the request form returned with the book), the date each was received, and the time elapsed for each item were recorded. Records were also kept on transit time for photocopied articles received by UPS and firstclass USPS during this period. Current rate charts were used for the cost study. Rates are subject to frequent change, and indeed did change during the course of the study. At the time of the study, the USPS library uninsured rate to ship a package to any place in the United States was $0.11 for the first pound and $0.04 for each additional pound. An additional charge of $0.40 was levied to insure a package for the minimum $15.00 or $0.87 for $100.00 insurance. UPS charges are levied on a zone basis and include an automatic $100.00 insurance. Zone charts were consulted to determine appropriate zones for the libraries under consideration and the current rate chart was consulted to determine rates. The rate to Libraries A and B (Zone 3) was $0.79 for the first pound and $0.09 for each additional pound. The rate to Library C (Zone 2) was $0.77 for the first pound and $0.07 for each additional pound. UPS also offers a regular pickup service for a fee of $2.00 per week. Using three pounds as the weight of an average book (determined by weighing the books on a loaded booktruck waiting to be reshelved), the TABLE I
Library
Median transit time
Delivery
2 days
UPS
5 days
USPS
5 days
USPS
service used
A (262 miles from
Cincinnati) B (207 miles from
Cincinnati) C (112 miles from Cincinnati)
345
quire those titles necessary to comply with the CONTU guidelines averaged $138 per hospital. It has been reported to the authors that where the identified use patterns were considered to represent a continuing demand rather than isolated requests generated by unique projects, subscriptions have been initiated. Therefore, an analysis of the current year could be expected to indicate a reduction in the already low percentage of copyright infringement. Were the publishers to collect royalty fees from CIR libraries through the Copy Payments Center for excess photocopying at this rate [4], the sum involved would appear to be relatively insignificant. Thus, this study corroborates a conclusion reached by Line and Wood from their study of the effect of photocopying by the British Lending Library on journal sales-there is no evidence that the problems of publishing have anything to do with photocopying by libraries [5]. A recent study by Middleton of ILL experience at the University of Washington Health Sciences Center during 1976 concluded similarly that applying the CONTU guidelines would have generated no additional income for publishers [6]. Furthermore, because the ILL practices of CIR can be considered representative of hospital library consortia in general, the conclusion of this study that the implementation of Copyright Law revision will have no significant impact on ILL service within CIR librariesprovides reassurance for all librarians relying on resource sharing to ease the problems resulting from tight budgets, limited space, and increasing demands for service. REFERENCES 1. The Copyright Revision Act of 1976 (PL 94-553), Section 108(g)(2). 2. The Guidelines for the Proviso of Sub-section 108(g)(2) originally appeared in the House Judiciary Committee Report (H. Rept. 94-733), reprinted Am. Libr. 7: 610, Nov. 1976. 3. WEST SUBURBAN HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION. CONSORTIUM FOR INFORMATION RESOURCES. Dynamics of Hospital Library Consortia. Waltham, Mass., West Suburban Hospital Research and Education Association, 1975. 4. MLA News no. 93: 6, Aug. 1977. 5. LINE, M. B., AND WOOD, D. N. The effect of a largescale photocopying service on journal sales. J. Doc. 31: 234-245, Dec. 1975. 6. MIDDLETON, D. R. Predicting the impact of copyright specifications on interlibrary borrowing. Bull. Med. Libr. Assoc. 65: 449-451, Oct. 1977.
Received December 29, 1977; revision accepted February 27, 1978.
342
Providing Health Care Information to Patients in a Small Hospital BY DORIS J. RICKARDS, Medical Librarian
Robert M. White Memorial Library Paoli Memorial Hospital Paoli, Pennsylvania
MANY seeds of inspiration are planted at MLA conventions with the hope that some will be carried home to germinate. Tended with hard work, imagination, and enthusiasm, some eventually grow into full projects. The Patient Reference Library at Paoli Memorial Hospital is the result of inspiration from the 1976 MLA convention at Minneapolis. The need by patients for comprehensive background information on their medical problems has not been consistently met in the past. The need to read, think, and accept limiting health conditions before the statement "Do you have any questions?" is raised is vitally important so that patients can know if they do have any questions. The lack of availability of medical and related materials for the patient has come to the forefront in the recent wave of consumer rights issues. The inaccessibility of the clinical hospital library to the patient and the lack of specific medical materials in most public libraries has left an information gap that the Patient Reference Library is attempting to fill. ORGANIZATION
Our 188-bed hospital already provides programs in diabetes patient teaching and cardiac rehabilitation. These are excellent interdepartmental programs, but they do not satisfy the patients and their families who want more information, to assimilate on their own, about other conditions. After Wjorking out basic plans for a patient reference library, administrative approval was sought. The Medical Library was allowed several hundred dollars to establish and test run the Patient Reference Library. The idea was then presented to, and accepted by, the Library Committee of the Medical Staff. Policies and procedures were established as the project developed and questions arose. Because the project is under the supervision of the Medical Staff Librarian, these policies have been included in a separate section of the policy and procedure manual of the staff library. Bull. Med. Libr. Assoc. 66(3)July 1978
BRIEF COMMUNICATIONS MATERIALS The first purchase was a book cart with four tilted and one flat-bottomed shelves. It was decided to limit the initial acquisition of items to books and pamphlets. The type of information covered in the initial purchase included specific health problems; physical and psychological adjustments; geriatrics; health, hygiene, and safety; alcoholism and drug abuse; pediatrics (for parents and young patients); and cookbooks for special diets.* The magazine Psychology Today is donated. It is planned to add Family Health Magazine in 1978. The largest problem encountered by the librarian throughout the whole development stage was finding suitable materials on all the specific topics to be covered. Items were sought that did not give an overly clinical presentation, yet did not talk down to the reader. Easy readability, both in style and size of type, was important. The first step in the selection process was Bowker's Medical Books in Print [1]. The suggestions in this book were then taken to knowledgeable people within our own institution-the dietitian, patient teaching/inservice staff, the cardiac rehabilitation program coordinator, the nursing supervisor, physicians, and so on-for revision and
suggestions. The Chester County (Pennsylvania) library system was extremely helpful. Their coordinators were aware of what the public in the county was asking for because purchases for all sixteen branches are done centrally. They provided me with book suggestions, as well as titles of those books actually purchased. I became familiar with the Mail Order Delivery Program (MOD) provided for house-bound county residents. Our patients are introduced to this mail-order library service before they are discharged. The county library system has also provided us with a list of those libraries that carry copies of books on our cart so that we can refer patients. The original book order was placed through our regular book jobber. This proved unsatisfactory because many of the titles ordered were printed by nonmedical publishers and the time delay was too great. We then turned to a local bookstore owner who is not only willing to order whatever we need (most items are delivered in less than two weeks) but also provides us with a generous discount. In addition, he is able to get most items in
paperback, a format better suited to our budget. His store keeps copies of the same cookbooks as we carry on our cart so we can advise patients where these books are locally available. Pharmaceutical houses, manufacturers of hospital supplies, and societies are good sources of low-cost and free material. We received copies of many pamphlets from the American Cancer Society. The Del-Chester Lung Association sent a representative with their items to observe our project. Once the materials arrived, the problem arose as to who should be responsible for reviewing them. This was quickly solved by placing the books on the cart in the library and inviting the entire hospital staff to participate. A sheet of paper for comments was placed in each book. We anticipated some negative reactions but were pleasantly surprised. After being on display almost two months, no book had sufficient negative comments to necessitate its removal from the cart. With the sanction of all those who took the time to review the books, processing was begun. A very simple in-house subject classification system is used. Each book is assigned a call number and stamped with library identification; no accessioning is done. All books with book jackets are covered with Mylar. Forty books were originally purchased; after the project was accepted by staff and patients, permission was given to obtain sixteen additional titles. The 1977-1978 library budget includes extra funds for books and supplies for the Patient Reference Library. The Public Relations Department of the hospital sent a news release with a photo to local newspapers. A news release was also sent to MLA News [2] and drew a large response.
IMPLEMENTATION Getting the materials to the patients was the next step. The project could not succeed without cooperation from the hospital staff. The medical staff members were sent several news-sheets explaining the project and were contacted personally for their suggestions and reactions. The cart was then taken to each nursing station, where the materials and their necessity were explained. The nursing staff was notified that the library staff would stop at the nursing station first before entering any patient's room. The patients themselves are informed of the service by an *A list of the books comprising the Patient Reference insert placed in the folder they receive upon admission. The library phone extension is included Library is available from the author. Bull. Med. Libr. Assoc. 66(3) July 1978
343
BRIEF COMMUNICATIONS
Could we please have your opinion on the Patient Reference Library? o NO EFFECT OR PROVIDED I like the program o YES c NO NO NEW INFORMATION I found the material o HELPFUL o DISTURBING Did having this information affect your ability to ask questions of the staff? z MADE IT EASIER o MADE IT HARDER o ELIMINATED NEED TO ASK o NO EFFECT I would like to see some or more information on Comments
FIG. 1.-Questionnaire given to patients borrowing from Patient Reference Library.
this insert. The cart is on the patient floors approximately twice a week. (This is done among other librarian duties and is time consuming). When a nursing station is approached, the staff is usually ready with names, room numbers, and the type of information each patient wants. Occasionally a patient will call the library requesting specific material from the cart. Dropping by patient rooms (with permission of the head nurse) gives me a chance to explain the program, spread some cheer, and win some shy clientele. Talking with families and patients in waiting areas extends awareness of the project and encourages its use. Books for juvenile patients and their families are left in the Special Care section in order to be available to parents at all times. When items are borrowed, each patient also receives a questionnaire and is asked to return it with the book (see Figure 1). No due date is given, but it is requested that the book be returned on or before discharge. Upon the suggestion of the nursing staff, a form stating patients' names and the specific books borrowed is left at the station. This will further facilitate the return of books. (Since the cart went on the patient floors in February 1977, only two books have not been returned). The librarian discusses the material wanted with the patient in order to determine suitable books or pamphlets. The patient is encouraged to write down and ask the doctor any questions related to his or her specific clinical problem. Our collection of ten specialized cookbooks has been very well received by patients and their families. Each time a cookbook is borrowed, the borrower is supplied with several four-by-six lined cards stamped PATIENT REFERENCE LIBRARY PAOLI MEMORIAL HOSPITAL A TASTY RECIPE FOR: on
SERVINGS:
344
This provides the quiet activity for patients of transcribing recipes from the cookbook, is especially helpful to wives and mothers of those put on restrictive diets, and saves wear and tear on the cookbooks.
RESULTS AND EVALUATION Favorable verbal comments on the project serve to supplement the documented evaluation provided by the questionnaire. Additional purchases will be guided by those subjects in which patients and physicians express an interest. The nursing staff and librarian are carefully watching the answers to the question "Did having this affect your ability to ask questions of the Staff?" If an item frequently draws the answer "eliminated the need to ask," this material will be reevaluated; it is our intention to encourage patient/staff dialogue, not to discourage it. The questionnaire also provided us with positive support when we asked that the Patient Reference Library be included in the 1977-1978 budget. Medical staff reaction has been good, although not overwhelming. The general acceptance may be due to having a young staff with less resistance to innovation and change and that supports patient education. Doctors are now coming to the library with suggestions for the cart without having to be asked. They have also asked that this service be considered for outpatients. The seed of inspiration planted in June 1976 has grown to a healthy young stalk in the Patient Reference Library. We look to full maturation and fruit to satisfy the patient as materials and services are made readily available. REFERENCES 1. Bowker's Medical Books in Print, 1976. New York, R. R. Bowker Company, 1976. Bull. Med. Libr. Assoc. 66(3)July 1978
BRIEF COMMUNICATIONS
2. RICKARDS, DORIS J. Patient reference library established. MLA News 91: 5, June 1977.
Received December 29, 1977; revision accepted March 14, 1978.
Comparison of United Parcel Service and United States Postal Service Delivery Speed and Cost for Interlibrary Loan By BIRSEN KAYA, Interlibrary Loan Assistant ALICE HURLEBAUS, Head, Materials Access Division Medical Center Libraries University of Cincinnati Cincinnati, Ohio
THE interlibrary loan staff of the University of Cincinnati Medical Center Libraries is dedicated to providing prompt service to its requesters. It appeared from checking books loaned to other libraries that a considerable length of time was required for shipping those materials. Occasional communications from other libraries concerning the delayed receipt of books reemphasized the time spent in transit; for example, a book was received after the loan period expired, and the time in transit was three weeks for an approximate two-hundred-fifty-mile distance. At the same time the interlibrary loan staff observed from checking materials borrowed from Library A that their use of United Parcel Service (UPS) provided more rapid service. Prior to the fiscal year 1977-1978, the Medical Center Libraries were not charged directly for postage costs; the costs were absorbed by the university. In early 1977 it became evident that this procedure would change with the beginning of the fiscal year 1977-1978, thus necessitating the payment of postage charges directly from the libraries' budget. The desire to provide faster service, combined with anticipation of direct postage charges to the libraries, prompted a study of comparative costs of using UPS and the United States Postal Service (USPS) for book delivery. PROCEDURE UPS and USPS offices were contacted in order to obtain operational information about their services and current rate charts. An opinion on UPS service was obtained from Library A. This liBull. Med. Libr. Assoc. 66(3)July 1978
brary was very enthusiastic about UPS and well satisfied with the delivery time and reliability. Records kept from January 1977 through April 1977 were used for a time study on books that the interlibrary loan department received from Library A (262 miles from Cincinnati) via UPS and from Library B (207 miles from Cincinnati) and Library C (112 miles from Cincinnati) via USPS. Fifty books received during this period were considered-fifteen from Library A, fourteen from Library B, and twenty-one from Library C. In this study, the date each item was shipped (obtained from the copy of the request form returned with the book), the date each was received, and the time elapsed for each item were recorded. Records were also kept on transit time for photocopied articles received by UPS and firstclass USPS during this period. Current rate charts were used for the cost study. Rates are subject to frequent change, and indeed did change during the course of the study. At the time of the study, the USPS library uninsured rate to ship a package to any place in the United States was $0.11 for the first pound and $0.04 for each additional pound. An additional charge of $0.40 was levied to insure a package for the minimum $15.00 or $0.87 for $100.00 insurance. UPS charges are levied on a zone basis and include an automatic $100.00 insurance. Zone charts were consulted to determine appropriate zones for the libraries under consideration and the current rate chart was consulted to determine rates. The rate to Libraries A and B (Zone 3) was $0.79 for the first pound and $0.09 for each additional pound. The rate to Library C (Zone 2) was $0.77 for the first pound and $0.07 for each additional pound. UPS also offers a regular pickup service for a fee of $2.00 per week. Using three pounds as the weight of an average book (determined by weighing the books on a loaded booktruck waiting to be reshelved), the TABLE I
Library
Median transit time
Delivery
2 days
UPS
5 days
USPS
5 days
USPS
service used
A (262 miles from
Cincinnati) B (207 miles from
Cincinnati) C (112 miles from Cincinnati)
345
