Maine libraries served by InfoNet borrowed approximately 300,000 items from each other in 2006.  These loans between libraries included adult, children's and teen books; books on CD or tape; DVDs; magazines; and article photocopies.

How do all these materials get from one part of the state to the other?  Some are mailed via the U.S. Postal Service but the vast majority is transported by a statewide delivery service.

The Maine State Library and the University of Maine system contract for delivery services with Velocity Express, a publicly held company that delivers office products and healthcare supplies as well as library materials.

There are a total of 160 libraries currently receiving from one to five days of delivery per week. The 114 libraries in the delivery group managed by the Maine State Library pay for their own delivery schedule which ranges from $600 annually for one day per week to $3,000 for five days per week.

These libraries sent about 500,000 items back and forth on the delivery service for approximately 34 cents per item.  That’s a bargain that all library users can take advantage of!