Friday, December 9, 2011

Depository Distribution is on the Move!

Please read below and add comments as appropriate:

FDLP Connection - Featured Articles
Written on Tuesday, 06 December 2011
Ringing in the New Year also means a big move for the Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP) distribution operation. In an effort to improve efficiency, save money, and better serve FDLP libraries, depository library distribution will be operating out of the GPO Laurel Warehouse in Laurel, Maryland, effective January 4, 2012. The move from the main U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO) headquarters building in Washington, D.C. will take place in December 2011. This effort will decrease the cost of warehouse space for the FDLP and take advantage of more up-to-date facilities that are better suited for the FDLP distribution functions.
A cross-organizational team of GPO staff members has been developed to manage this project. For several months, staff members from GPO’s Library Services & Content Management (LSCM), Publication & Information Sales (P&IS), Information Technology & Systems (IT&S), Operations Support, and Plant Operations/Building Services have been collaborating on making this move as efficient as possible and as seamless as possible for FDLP libraries. First, GPO staff began with a feasibility analysis to ensure that this move was the right “move” for the FDLP and GPO. Next, a Concept of Operations document was developed that served to document the details of the move, capture the current and future states of operations, and plan the desired objectives and outcomes. Staff in D.C. have also been working closely with “our new neighbors,” P&IS staff, who already occupy the Laurel Warehouse.
The GPO team will also be conducting extensive quality control exercises on the FDLP distribution workflow post-move to ensure that the operation is fully-functional at the new location. Throughout this transition, it is our number one priority to make this move with as little disruption to libraries as possible.
All FDLP distribution operations will be moved. This includes:
Depository box preparation and shipment
Receipt and processing of shipping list claims
Depository stock receipt and warehousing
International Exchange Service (IES) box preparation and shipment
What can libraries expect?
December 2011: The last box shipments will be mailed from Washington, D.C. to libraries. Libraries will continue to receive separate shipments of individual titles into late December.
December 2011: Libraries may continue to submit claims for material missing from October, November, and December shipments; however no claims will be filled until the transition period ends in January 2012.

Boxes will be mailed to and from the following address:
U.S. Government Printing Office

Federal Depository Library Program
Document Warehouse
8660 Cherry Lane
Laurel, MD 20707-4986

Libraries can expect to receive shipments and claim fulfillment from this address. All returned shipments from libraries will be sent to this address as well.
Late December 2011–January 3, 2012: No depository shipments will be shipped out to libraries. Each year during the holidays, there is a two-week lull in paper and microfiche shipments.
January 2012: Some libraries may receive their shipments on a less frequent basis (i.e. less than 1 box per week) until the FDLP distribution operation is fully implemented. Claims fulfillment will resume.
January 2012–February 2012: Expect more shipments and more titles per shipment as GPO catches up on distribution.
The USGS map shipments will not be affected by the distribution move to Laurel.
Contacting Us
During the transition period, please continue to submit paper claims through the FDLP Desktop’s Web Claim Form. Claims will not be filled and shipped to libraries until January 2012 when shipments to libraries resume.
askGPO inquiries received in December will be monitored and answered. Inquiries related to shipments, claims, and return shipments will not be acted upon until distribution activities resume in January.
Modifying Your Address
If you would like to modify your library’s address for physical shipments, please use askGPO.
The staff at GPO appreciates your patience and understanding as we work to make this transition. Making the move to Laurel will help us better-serve FDLP libraries and uphold our mission of keeping America informed.

http://www.fdlp.gov/component/content/article/341-featuredarticles/1134-distribution-onthe-move

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