Courier Bags for ILL

The members of the Orbis Cascade Alliance courier service program have purchased a single size of bags to use for ILL throughout the courier system. We ask that you follow these guidelines:

1. ILL only. Bags are for ILL use only. They should not be used for inter-departmental or inter-campus mail, individual library department or staff member purposes, etc.
2. Orbis Cascade Alliance Courier only. Bags are for use in the Alliance courier system. Do not send materials to other locations through other services such as USPS, UPS, FedEx, etc. If the bags are accidentally forwarded to Participating Libraries ("Attention" on the courier label), the Dropsite is responsible for ensuring they are returned into the Alliance system.
3. Other system bags. Continue to use all your other bags. A limited number of bags has been purchased to assist members with ILL shipping and reduce the time and expense of using padded envelopes and boxes. There are not enough to replace the courier bags already in use by members for PORTALS, WCCLS, Multnomah Co. Library, Griffin, OPALL, Corvallis-Benton Public Library, Clatsop CC, Jackson Co. Library, Portland CC, Columbia Gorge CC, etc.
4. Fragile materials. (Cassettes, jewel cases, etc.) Please do not ship materials unprotected in the bags. Videotapes, CD's, DVD's, etc. should be sent in padded envelopes or small cardboard cases inside the courier bag. Here's an illustration of examples.
5. Excess bags. To return bags to the system, include an empty bag or two into each bag sent to a Dropsite (not Participating library). If you are unable to do this, bags should be held at your site and sent when a Dropsite requests them. Please do not return excess bags to the Alliance office; this will take them out of circulation.
6. Damaged/dirty bags. Please contact the Alliance office to alert us to the issue and discuss returning the bag(s) to us.