RE: Overdue notices

["Mann, James H." <JMann@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Paul
GCPL went live at Easter, and we switched from carbonless forms to laser
printed notices because we actually calculated a cost savings, and
unlike our previous system where we could queue the print job for
midnight, you have to process the notices manually anyway.
We use email and telephone notification, but still print about 100
notices each day.
We use cheap bond letterhead, window envelopes, an old and dying
LaserJet 5n, and a super heavy-duty Martin-Yale Premier ($750) folder.
We start our morning procedures at 8am, verify the backup, do link
maintenance, and print notices and generally get the work done in 45
minutes with the goal of kicking off TNS by 9am, and getting the mail
out by 10am. We also do notices on Saturday and schedule the morning
person for a two-hour shift.
This is a one-person job, but we generally get some help from those
arriving for work at 8:45, and I've also used this as an opportunity for
a morning staff meeting.
Things I learned:
--Print the notices from the character base
--Be prepared to print a huge number of notices the first couple of
weeks as the system cleans up from migration
--Buy the best folder you can afford (we went through 3 cheap ones)
--Run a fines for email campaign. (Our ratio of email to print is 4 to 1
so we're saving almost $100 a day in postage)

IMHO
Jim Mann
GCPL Xenia

-----Original Message-----
From: Ericsson, Paul [mailto:PEricsson@xxxxxxxxxx] 
Sent: Tuesday, December 16, 2003 11:10 AM
To: Innopac Users (E-mail)
Subject: Overdue notices

We are a new circulation site.

We'd be interested to hear any advice about dealing with the real
practical logistics of overdue notices. On our prior system we had crash
mailers. The impact printer was slow, noisy, and prone to mechanical
failures. With III we are going to give a try at using 8 1/2" x 11"
regular paper in a laser system printer, and then stuff window
envelopes. Our setup during circ training of the standard form was
pretty straightforward. And we understand that this is the typical
scenario on III.

Are libraries happy with folding&stuffing approach?

Do you use a folding machine and if so, what manufacturer and model do
you recommend to use, or not use?

Do you use crash mailers, and if so, what are the challenges and
resolutions to notices that run longer than the single page of the crash
mailer?

Any advice will be appreciated.

Thanks, and happy holidays,

Paul

	___________________________________________

	Paul Ericsson
	Adult Services Supervisor / Automation Coordinator
	Concord Public Library    http://www.onconcord.com
	45 Green St.     Concord, NH 03301     603 230-3697
	pericsson@xxxxxxxxxx
	___________________________________________
		

 

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