We starting asking people not to return any items via Hays DX a number of years ago as they have lost a total of 8 of our books. The average replacement cost at the time was approx. £40.00 making a total of £320.00 (probably more at today's prices). We did try to pursue these items with DX but never got anywhere. Just last year a loan was sent us from another library via Hays and that too never arrived. There must be a black hole somewhere with all these books in it! We are a University Medical Library housed in a separate building from the main University Library and I think the problem is, as Tracey suggests, where to drop the parcels off. The Medical School has a decant Stores which is only open in the morning and after that deliveries have to be made directly to the address on the envelope and I think we are just too hard to find on the fifth floor. As far as I know we have not lost any items with Royal Mail and we use them for returning all items to other libraries except BL. Kind regards. Marian Marian Rixham Inter Library Loans Walton Library Medical School Framlington Place Newcastle University NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE NE2 4HH Telephone 0191 222 8108 [cid:image003.jpg@01CCA2DA.B3983A10]<http://www.ncl.ac.uk/library/about/news/details.php?news%20id=326> From: For interlibrary-loan and document supply services. [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Tracey Jackson Sent: 14 November 2011 10:56 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: ILL / Recorded Delivery v Consigned - Tracked We have been using DX for some time and have also noticed a number of locations asking us not to use them for returning books. However in our experience we have had very few problems with DX but it does seem to be reliant on the standard of couriers, ours is very reliable. We have noticed in the past that if there is a risk of things going astray it tends to be with locations such as Universities that have multiple sites or large sites with multiple buildings. It's almost as if the courier is unsure of where to drop off parcels, I know this has been the case in the past with a University, as we sent an item tracked and when the signature was followed up the drop off point had been somebodies office rather than the library. The parcel was found sitting in an office with nobody having any idea of where to send the parcel (even though it was addressed to the library). Our experince of using Royal Mail is very similar to using DX, they appear to 'lose' things just as much as DX do but the difference being is that we have no way of claiming costs from the Royal Mail as we do with DX. Also the Gold and Consigned services offered by DX are easily just as secure to use as Recorded Delivery with Royal Mail with the advantage of being able to specify how much insurance coverage we require. We have also found that DX prices have often been lower than the Royal Mail. Tracey Tracey Jackson Inter-Library Loans Supervisor Libraries Culture and Learning Health and Community Services Hertfordshire County Council From: For interlibrary-loan and document supply services. [mailto:[log in to unmask]]<mailto:[mailto:[log in to unmask]]> On Behalf Of Timothy Peacock Sent: 11 November 2011 14:26 To: [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> Subject: ILL / Recorded Delivery v Consigned - Tracked Colleagues, Here at Derby and I'm sure elsewhere, we notice occasional clear responses from lenders indicating to the effect, 'Please do not return items by DX'. In this respect would any of you have comments regarding the following thoughts / queries? * If your library stipulates 'Do not return by DX', does this relate only to the 'regular' jiffy bag service? This is rarely specified. * If you stipulate 'Do not return by DX' would you still 'accommodate' the consigned / tracked return services offered by DX? * Does anyone have any examples where the DX consigned / tracked service has been less than reliable? We have no examples of this here at Derby. Bearing in mind we are all looking to appropriate cost savings where possible, should there be a little more clarity here? I will collate responses (anonymised) if this mail creates sufficient Friday afternoon response........ Tim ============================ Tim Peacock E-Resources and Interlending Administrator [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> Tel: +44 (0)1332 591204 Fax: +44 (0)1332 597773 The University of Derby The Library Kedleston Road DERBY DE22 1GB UK ============================ ________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ The University of Derby has a published policy regarding email and reserves the right to monitor email traffic. If you believe this email was sent to you in error, please notify the sender and delete this email. Please direct any concerns to [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>. ****Disclaimer**** The information in this message should be regarded as confidential and is intended for the addressee only unless explicitly stated. If you have received this message in error it must be deleted and the sender notified. 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