Courier Transit Time
Results of Three Surveys: 1997 April, May, November

Since the implementation of Orbis Borrowing, Orbis staff have coordinated three surveys to measure transit time. Each survey measured the time in transit, and did not include library processing time (from the time the request is placed to: print paging slip, get item, check out, mark and pack; receive bag, unpack item, check in and notify patron item is available). Every sending site was asked to mark a form indicating the sending point and destination, and courier pickup date and time; then the receiving point would mark the date and time received.

The overall average time in transit has increased since last Spring: April, 1.6 days; May, 1.5 days; November 1.83 days.

A note about averaging: In Survey #2, April, we looked at all the bags shipped in a three day period. Survey #3, November: sending (that is "FROM") sites completed one survey form for each "TO" site, so that time was measured and averages were not influenced upwward or downward by heavy volume of packages to particular sites.

Dropsites vs. forwarding sites: When Orbis Borrowing began, two member institutions were not direct dropsites: materials for WOU were addressed to the Chemeketa Community College dropsite, and from there forwarded to WOU; materials to Whitman were addressed to Walla Walla Public, and fowarded to Whitman. In the Fall, before the November survey, WOU became a direct dropsite. Whitman will begin direct delivery service Feb. 2, 1998.

Survey April 3-5, 1997
Transit Time FROM   Transit Time TO
FROM # SHEETS # DAYS AVG   TO # SHEETS # DAYS AVG
EOU 50 128 2.56   EOU 27 35 1.30
GFU 37 51 1.38   GFU 50 71 1.42
L & C 45 61 1.36   L & C 66 85 1.29
LINF-M 44 76 1.73   LINF-M 55 89 1.62
LINF-P 31 49 1.58   LINF-P 22 37 1.68
OIT 43 67 1.56   OIT 28 42 1.50
REED 49 63 1.29   REED 43 59 1.37
SOU 45 72 1.60   SOU 56 82 1.46
UO 46 59 1.28   UO 67 98 1.46
UP 45 67 1.49   UP 34 54 1.59
WOU 51 101 1.98   WOU 41 107 2.61
WHITMAN 45 80 1.78   WHITMAN 49 135 2.76
WILLAMETTE 45 64 1.42   WILLAMETTE 44 59 1.34
Overall 576 938 1.63   Overall 582 953 1.64
                 
Survey May 19-21, 1997
Transit Time FROM   Transit Time TO
FROM # SHEETS # DAYS AVG   TO # SHEETS # DAYS AVG
EOU 15 44 2.93   EOU 30 43 1.43
GFU 22 26 1.18   GFU 21 31 1.48
L & C 20 26 1.30   L & C 21 32 1.52
LINF-M 41 45 1.10   LINF-M 24 37 1.54
LINF-P 12 15 1.25   LINF-P 8 9 1.13
OIT 4 4 1.00   OIT 19 27 1.42
REED 34 49 1.44   REED 20 27 1.35
SOU 59 93 1.58   SOU 33 44 1.33
UO 16 22 1.38   UO 76 87 1.14
UP 18 22 1.22   UP * 0 0 0.00
WOU 29 57 1.97   WOU 39 93 2.38
WHITMAN 31 54 1.74   WHITMAN * 0 0 0.00
WILLAMETTE 15 17 1.13   WILLAMETTE 25 30 1.20
Overall 316 474 1.50   Overall 316 460 1.46
* Note: No forms returned from UP & Whitman.          
Survey Nov. 4-5, 1997
Transit Time FROM   Transit Time TO
FROM # SHEETS # DAYS AVG   TO # SHEETS # DAYS AVG
EOU 19 47 2.47   EOU 17 33 1.94
GFU 21 42 2.00   GFU 24 45 1.88
L & C 22 35 1.59   L & C 19 27 1.42
LINF-M 26 42 1.62   LINF-M 24 46 1.92
LINF-P 11 20 1.82   LINF-P 10 18 1.80
OIT 14 24 1.71   OIT 12 25 2.08
REED 23 37 1.61   REED 21 31 1.48
SOU 19 36 1.89   SOU 23 39 1.70
UO 26 57 2.19   UO 25 35 1.40
UP 9 14 1.56   UP 21 33 1.57
UPS 17 29 1.71   UPS 19 55 2.89
WOU 20 27 1.35   WOU 21 35 1.67
WHITMAN 21 46 2.19   WHITMAN 15 44 2.93
WILLAMETTE 24 43 1.79   WILLAMETTE 21 33 1.57
Overall 272 499 1.83   Overall 272 499 1.83
                 
note: UP prepared survey forms Nov. 11-12   note: Linfield McMinnville's statistics slightly affected by courier error: 1 days' materials delivered to GFU.
                 
Last Updated on 1/30/98 By Nancy Nathanson
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