[PADG:754] Re: rainy day bags for circulating materials

[Gary Menges <menges@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Andy,

The University of Washington Libraries has rainy day book bags. We have a 
web page at:

http://www.lib.washington.edu/Preservation/bookbags.html

However, we need to revise the web page as our Friends recently decided 
the Libraries should take over the expense since it was on going. (We have 
used them since 1999.) They are now purchased with revenue from our 
library coffee shop - Suzzallo Espresso. The artwork has changed to delete 
references to the Friends. The intent is to provide on rainy days when 
users lack back bags, briefcases, or other containers to put their books 
in, but sometimes they are provided on request or when a user has checked 
out a lot of books. We buy about 15,000 at a time and the supply lasts up 
to two years.  They are a 16x17x5 Patch Handle Book Bag 2.25 mil. - white 
film with purple imprint.

Our vendor is

Regal Poypak
9160 Wildflower Court
Hales Corners, WI 53130

Contact:
   Eileen Hendry-Valaitis
   Program Manager, Collegiate Accounts
   1-800-278-0092

Gary

On Tue, 29 Nov 2005, Andrew Hart wrote:

> I've seen rainy day bags for circulating materials, often printed with 
> library info or a preservation message, at a number of libraries over the 
> years. I'd like to follow this example at UNC and I could use some background 
> info from peer libraries. If your library uses plastic bags, I'm interested 
> in your thoughts on the following questions.
>
> Approximately how many bags do you go through per year? 
> Do circulation staff always offer or provide bags? Only on rainy days? When 
> requested?
>
> What kind do you use? (general design and variety of plastic -- or a 
> manufacturer and product number)
>
> Is there anything you wish you had done differently or that you are 
> particularly pleased about?
>
> If your library has bags but you're not involved with design, ordering, or 
> use guidelines, please suggest someone I could write to.
>
> There was an exchange on the DistList some years ago about re-using grocery 
> bags. While this is a nice idea for environmentalism and frugality, I'm most 
> interested in information about bags ordered new for the library. In addition 
> to keeping materials dry, I'd like to make sure the bags are clean and also 
> take advantage of the PR/marketing opportunity of custom printing.
>
> Thanks,
> Andy
>
> --
> Andrew Hart
> Preservation Librarian
> CB#3910, Davis Library
> University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
> Chapel Hill, NC 27514-8890
> Tel. 919-962-8047
> Fax 919-962-4450
> Email: ashart@xxxxxxxxxxxxx