Many of you have expressed concerns to us regarding the increased time it is taking to receive material in the mail. We understand the frustration with long waits. The United State Postal Service is experiencing unprecedented delays. These delays are mostly the result of budget cutting measures to counteract the high cost of the COVID-19 pandemic and the declining use of postal services in the digital age. While it is possible that these measures could create a longer life for the agency, they are especially inconvenient to our patrons and others who rely on the post office for crucial services.
We appreciate your continued patience as we deal with the ongoing postal delays. We know how important library services are to you. It is unlikely these delays will be resolved soon. In fact, according to a recent article in the Washington Post changes in service standards are likely to become the norm. The article states, “The proposed service standards…represent the biggest slowdown of mail services in more than a generation, experts say. It involves significant reductions in airmail…and geographic restrictions on how far a piece of mail can travel within a day.” The article later says the new plan could increase delivery time for first class mail traveling from one side of the country to the other up to five days.
Please plan to incorporate these delays when requesting and returning material. When we put your requests in the mail they literally leave our hands and our control. At the Utah State Library for the Blind and Print Disabled we will continue to provide the highest standards of customer service and do our best to serve you.