FAQ

The Library Books Service is a special program to provide qualifying libraries access to special postal parcel rates to mail eligible library books.

• It is available for use only by public libraries, universities libraries, or other libraries maintained by non-profit organizations or associations for use by the public in Canada.
• The library books mailed using the Library Books Service must consist wholly of reading matter and contain no advertising or administrative materials other than incidental notification of books and meet the maximum size and weight requirements.
• The maximum weight for Library Books is 5 kg.

Please complete an application form.

• Library Books shipments are made easy from one shipping screen
• The ability to track shipments online
• The ability to send an automatic email at the time of shipping to advise the recipient the book is on its way.
• Get the rate information automatically
• Validate information prior to printing
• Print address labels and return labels on plain paper
• No need to download software and updates are automatic
• No manifests required (for our Online version of electronic shipping tools)
• Support is available through “Contact us” email
• Address Book functionality

Assuming that all libraries have a computer and printer (inkjet or laser) and access to the Internet, the only equipment required is a weigh scale. Weight accuracy for Library Books is not crucial given that the rates for Library Books are calculated at 1-kilogram increments, so the weigh scale does not have to be expensive.

You may pay using a credit card or a prepaid credit card.

Delivery Confirmation (Tracking) is available. This feature provides positive confirmation that the item arrived at its destination. Coverage for loss or damage is not included or available for purchase.

No postage is required on the return shipment, provided a Library Books Barcoded Return Label is used. Each Library Books shipment must contain only one return label and the label must be used for the return of the original shipment.

No, they will only have to enter this once at the beginning of the day. This information will remain unless they click on the clear button after they have printed a label. They do, however, have to enter the rest of the information for each subsequent individual shipment.

Yes, you need to enter the dimensions of each parcel shipped using the Library Shipping Tool.

The password only needs to be entered once per session if multiple labels are being printed.

A Library Shipment can be deposited either at a post office or in a Receipt Verification Unit. Shipments bearing a Library barcoded shipping label and the required postage can be deposited in a Street Letter box. The benefit of depositing your shipment directly at the post office is that a receipt scan is made by Canada Post immediately and the shipment is in the system for tracking. If it is dropped into a Street Letter box it could take 24 hours before the box is emptied. Also parcels handed in at a the post office are sorted and shipped more directly than parcels picked up in a box (they would go to a central sorting facility before being separated out as parcels).

Libraries using fabric bags will need to re-engineer their bags to allow the label to be applied or phase-out fabric bags and use different containers (jiffy bags, bubble packs or cardboard boxes). The fabric bags require a more costly manual sort than other containers.

The shipping label produced by the tool is a basic 8 ½ x 11 standard sheet of paper that all printers use. One half is apply to the item and the other half is used as a customer receipt. For shippers with Commercial agreements using a more sophisticated shipping system, a 4 x 6 inch thermal label is available.

Library Materials may consist of books, magazines, records, CDs, CD-ROMs, audiocassettes, videocassettes, DVDs and other audiovisual materials and other similar library materials.

Items as specified under Canada Post’s Non-mailable Matter Regulations.

Yes – visit www.canadapost.ca/tools/pg/manual/PGlibrary-e.asp.