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2.3. Shipping Supplies for Resource Sharing

Last Updated 09/23/2024

What to use for shipping out library materials

The State Library has put together a grouping of supplies for the resource sharing aspect of NC Cardinal that we recommend to have on hand or purchase locally. Resource sharing "kits" may contain some of the following supplies:

A/V boxes

Corrugated boxes 

Bubble Mailers

Electronic Scale 

Brecknell GP100 Portable Electronic Utility Bench Scale : 100lb Capacity

Printing Rolls

FedEx provides free printable shipping labels: 

MUNBYN External Rolls Label Holder (fits FedEx labels listed above)

Zebra ZP 450 Label Thermal Bar Code Printer

MFLABEL® 20 Rolls of 250 4x6 Direct Thermal Blank Shipping Labels for Zebra

ROLLO Shipping Label Printer

Boxes/Envelopes Tips:

1. Reuse boxes/envelopes/poly mailers whenever possible. Gather boxes from departments within your system. It may take getting into a rhythm of shipping before you acquire extra boxes. Do not use any boxes or envelopes that are damaged beyond repair. 
2. When reusing shipping boxes, packing or duct tape can be used for reinforcement if necessary.
3. Make sure that you mark out or tear off whatever shipping label was previously on the box before you send your package out. If this is not done, it is possible that the box will not be processed correctly by FedEx and could be sent back to its previous destination.
4. Do not use any boxes that have chemical labels such as the following example (disinfectant warning) :

Packaging Tape:

Packaging tape or duct tape can be used to secure your shipping packages and for reinforcement with partially damaged boxes, bubble-lined envelopes.

Bubble wrap audiovisual equipment for protection of the casing and its contents. Be creative, but also be mindful that everyone is sharing material that is valuable to its system.

1. Though there is not a specified weight limit per package, try not to exceed 40 pounds per package because more than that will be difficult to lift for some individuals. 

FedEx printed labels that delegate where the package(s) are being sent. These are highlighted in the FedEx section of this document.

FedEx Label Pouches:

Shipping and Packing Website

FedEx provides the consortium with plastic shipping label pouches, found at Packing & Shipping Supplies section of the website. You can select Packing and Shipping Supplies from the Shipping menu, and then select the "Order Free FedEx Express Supplies" option. They are what you should use to contain the actual shipping label you print off from the FedEx website designating the package you are sending along with its tracking number.

FedEx Small Pouch

Part No.: 158396

Dimensions: 10-7/8' x 6-7/8' (27.62cm x 17.46cm)

Capacity: Will hold a document 9-5/8' x 6-1/8' (24.45cm x 15.56cm).

 

Important Note About Free FedEx Shipping Supplies

It should be noted that not all of the free supplies offered by FedEx are available to us, because we use FedEx Ground and NOT FedEx Express.

When viewing the page linked above, it is important that you check the details of each item listed.  If it says "For FedEx Express shipments only" (example highlighted below), it cannot be ordered.

To help mitigate this, it is recommended that you select the "Ground" option in the search criteria list on the left of the screen, as pictured below.  This will restrict the list to only supplies that can be ordered for FedEx Ground.

Of those listed, the following are irrelevant for our purposes:

Please Note:  FedEx stresses that the only supplies that should be ordered are the printable shipping labels (part #167072) and the small pouches (part #158396) described above.