Actually, we were more concerned about the rise of the library rate,
more so than the first class postal rates, and the impact that the
higher library rate would have on the price of journals and books.  In
other words, would the increased cost to ship materials to us show up in
supplemental invoices for journals and higher shipping charges for the
books we order (and maybe some insidiously hidden price increase for the
books themselves?)

I'm sure that our Business Manager will see higher bills for the ILL
packages that get mailed out and the first-class letters, but our main
concern was for the shipping charges for things we purchase.  The
first-class rate hike is annoying, but it's not our primary concern in
this instance.

Good luck!

Sarah

-----Original Message-----
From: SERIALST: Serials in Libraries Discussion Forum
[mailto:SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU] On Behalf Of Hall, Tracie
Sent: Thursday, March 29, 2007 3:57 PM
To: SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU
Subject: Re: [SERIALST] Postal Rates (per request from list member!)

At the risk of revealing my ignorance, since you only got one

*intelligent* response I'll now add my hesitant 2 cents--but with the

disclaimer that I don't do much of our library's shipping and don't have

that new schedule of prices you mentioned having been handed.

My limited information is that the price for the first ounce goes up

from 39 cents to 41 cents (2 cents more)--the price for the additional

ounces drops from 24 to 17 cents (7 cents less) per ounce, so I'm

thinking (always dangerous for me as math is not my strong suit) that a

package that's 2 ounces was 63 cents and now it's 58 cents.  (Although,

I'm pretty sure our library is forced to round everything up to the

nearest pound, so no 58 cent packages for us--but still a pound is

cheaper than it used to be.)

Maybe vendors will be more inclined to send invoices with books, or push

to be able to bill for everything all at once rather than individually

to cut back on those one ounce mailers, but if I see fewer envelopes

cross my desk, I for one am a happy camper!

Thanks for reading,

Tracie Lynne Hall

Chapman University Law Library

Serials and Acquisitions Librarian

370 N. Glassell St.

Orange, CA 92866

(714)  628-2539

fax: (714) 628-2560

-----Original Message-----

From: SERIALST: Serials in Libraries Discussion Forum

[mailto:SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU] On Behalf Of Sarah D. Tusa

Sent: Thursday, March 29, 2007 11:37 AM

To: SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU

Subject: Re: [SERIALST] Postal Rates (per request from list member!)

Well, there was only one response, and I fear I have deleted after

reporting it to my Dean.  Maybe Mr. Robert Boissy of Springer will be

kind enough to copy his response to the list?  If I remember and

interpret correctly, Mr. Boissy was of the opinion that there will be no

onslaught of supplementary charges for 2007, but he wasn't sure what

would happen with newspaper subscriptions.

We will most probably see the effects of the postal rate increases in

our 2008 print subscription renewals.  As Mr. Boissy did point out, this

postal rate increase serves as another good reason to go electronic

where feasible.

Best of luck!

Sarah

-----Original Message-----

From: Dyer, Sandra [mailto:Sandra.Dyer@courts.wa.gov]

Sent: Thursday, March 29, 2007 1:22 PM

To: Sarah D. Tusa

Subject: FW: [SERIALST] Postal Rates

Please summarize for the list.

Thanks so much!

Sandra

-----Original Message-----

From: SERIALST: Serials in Libraries Discussion Forum

[mailto:SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU] On Behalf Of Sarah D. Tusa

Sent: Tuesday, March 27, 2007 12:20 PM

To: SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU

Subject: [SERIALST] Postal Rates

Greetings!

The Dean of Library Services just brought me a big print-out of the new

postal rates that are going into effect on May 14, 2007.  That includes

Library Rate (as usual, I guess).  She wants me to be prepared to

discuss the impact of the increased rates with her tomorrow.

Has anyone seen any literature or news that indicates what effect the

higher rates will have on subscription costs?  Will there be reams of

supplemental invoices for "increased rate" for 2007 subscriptions that

have already been paid?  Will it increase the overall inflation rate for

2008?  (Is there an estimate for 2008 subscription price inflation?)

I imagine there will be increased shipping charges for books, but that's

easier to track and document.

Any shared insights will be greatly appreciated.  You may respond

directly to me at:  Sarah.Tusa@lamar.edu

I will summarize for the list if there is expressed interest.

Thanks!

Sarah Tusa, Associate Professor

Coordinator of Coll. Dev. & Acquisitions

Mary & John Gray Library

Lamar University

Beaumont, TX

"I'm drowning here, and you're describing the water!"  -- Jack

Nicholson, in "As Good as It Gets"