After months of planning MCLS will now be able to gather a more accurate record of the volume of materials being shipped with RIDES. Direct delivery sites all have barcodes specific to their site to be scanned by the courier every time service is provided, followed by the scanning of the tote bar codes for both pick up and delivery. 8,000 totes were delivered to MCLS in phases. We received six (6!) semi-truck loads with 67 pallets of empty totes that were then unloaded and moved into storage units. MCLS staff and five temp workers spent three days attaching two matching barcodes to each tote, stacking the barcoded totes back on the pallets, and stretch wrapping the load. The completed pallets were then returned to the storage unit to await pick up and distribution by our courier.

A big thank you is in order to National Storage Center in Okemos, Michigan for their generosity, MCLS staff for their enthusiasm performing “other duties as assigned”; and all Michigan libraries who participate and have shown great patience knowing this project will improve efficiency and ultimately strengthen our systems.

For a peek behind the curtain of this project check out this Facebook photo album.