Temporary Requesting Down Time Due to Book Delivery Process
Sharing between libraries is one of the best and most valuable services we provide you. This works through a behind-the-scenes delivery process, run by a delivery service.
The contract for our book delivery service is held by the Maine State Library and is subject to State Procurement Laws and procedures. This year, it was required, by state procedures, to go through a competitive bidding process, and was subsequently awarded to a new vendor.
Because of the transition to a new vendor who won the competitive bid, and a legal appeal process to overturn that decision by an unsuccessful bidder, there will be an interruption to book delivery between libraries at the end of the current contract which expires on June 30th.
We do not currently have firm dates for the length of this interruption, but we expect that there will be no delivery for at least six weeks this summer, starting on July 1.
In anticipation of this interruption, the Maine InfoNet Board and the Minerva Executive Board have made the difficult decision to turn off all requesting between libraries within the MaineCat environment, including Minerva, MILS and URSUS, as of June 4th. This affects all UMS Libraries patrons as well as all public patrons.
You will still be able to request and place holds on locally owned items, but will not be able to request materials from other libraries.
Turning off requesting between libraries will allow materials currently in transit to be delivered and will reduce the flow of new material entering delivery. This will help get as many items back to their owning libraries as possible and will help ensure materials are not stranded in the delivery system.
Please be assured we recognize and feel the same frustration with this challenging situation that you all are feeling.
If you would like more details regarding this, please visit the FAQ: Van Delivery FAQ)