In October 2008, 200 library facilities that receive regular LORI Delivery services were asked to record and to report their out-going item counts. The survey took place October 19 through October 25, 2008, with 93% (185) of network libraries participating. All together, 47,073 items were transported in the LORI Delivery system during the week of October 19, 2008.

As with the past surveys, the heaviest delivery traffic occurs on Monday for most libraries. 

On Monday, October 20, 2008:

• 9,320 items were shipped from LORI libraries
• 491 bins were used for outgoing materials
• Had there been enough bins at the time, 545 bins would have been used for all  outgoing materials
• If the volume of incoming materials is similar to the outgoing volumes, a minimum of 1,090 bins of library materials were in transit among LORI libraries
  

OLIS conducted similar surveys in 2001, 2006 and 2007.  The following are numbers drawn from these surveys:

• In a typical week of LORI Delivery, a total of
  • 47,073 items were transported in 2008
  • 40,038 items were transported in 2007
  • 36,274 items were transported in 2006
  • 25,693 items were transported in 2001
    
    
• Based on the assumption that most libraries open five days a week, the average number of outgoing items placed to the delivery system per day per library are:
  • Academic library
    • 35 items in 2008
    • 26 items in 2007
    • 27 items in 2006
    • 19 items in 2001
  • Public library
    • 123 items in 2008
    • 103 items in 2007
    • 93 items in 2006
    • 70 items in 2001
  • School library
    • 2 items in 2008
    • 2 items in 2007
    • 1 items in 2006
    • 1 items in 2001
  • Others
    • 3 items in 2008
    • 4 items in 2007
    • 5 items in 2006
    • 3 items in 2001
      
      
• Number of libraries receive LORI Delivery minus DOD (delivery on demand) libraries
  • 200 in 2008
  • 186 in 2007
  • 167 in 2006
  • 151 in 2001

Many thanks to the libraries who responded to the delivery survey. The survey results provide us with valuable insight into the growth of the Rhode Island’s resource sharing activities. The information is also crucial for OLIS to plan for the future of this vital service to the state’s library services.