Dear Librarian- What happens if I get a request on Friday or Saturday (or Sunday!) before the postage change on Monday, and the wrapper prints out with the “old” postal rate on it? What do I do to be sure that the package has enough postage on it? –Worried in Worthington
Dear Worthy,
Don’t worry – you’ll just have to pay a little extra attention for a few days. Remember that anything you mail on Monday or after must have postage that satisfies the NEW postal rates. Anything you mail before Monday can have the OLD postal rate postage on it. So if you get a request on Friday or Saturday before the rates change, you should be sure to mail the books on Friday or Saturday, using the old postage rate. If you have to mail on Sunday, you should use the NEW postal rate – because packages mailed on Sunday (for example, put into a blue mailbox on Sunday) will not enter the mailstream until Monday, and on Monday the new postal rates will apply.
Dear Librarian- OMG the flu is scary! Did you read The Hot Zone? Is it safe to mail to and from strangers? Why doesn’t the government talk about the US mail as a risk factor for getting swine flu? OMG OMG OMG –Caffeinated in Carson City
Dear Caffy,
While influenza is not Ebola virus (as described in The Hot Zone), you don’t want to get it if you don’t have to! If you are careful to wash your hands frequently and well (using soap), avoid touching your face, eyes, nose or mouth while out and about, and stay away from anyone who is coughing or sneezing, your risk of getting this recent strain of influenza appears to be small. No one is talking about the mail as a risk factor because mail is not a risk factor. Yes, if someone with the flu were to sneeze wetly onto your mail and then hand it to you, that could be a risk. But the influenza virus does not live very long on surfaces, especially in warm weather. If you are very concerned, you can be sure to leave your mail in the mailbox for 2-3 hours before bringing it in. Reasonable precautions will keep you safe, Caffy. Hey, have you ever tried herbal tea? Just a thought!
COMING SOON:
- The Twitter background contest beginning May 7th – submit your designs, and vote on the submissions, on TwitterBackgroundsGallery.com
- Postage increase May 11th…the new rates will be in the PBS system, and in the Help Center, on the 11th.
