By Laura Millsaps/The Tribune
Ames Tribune, April 12, 2009
When libraries in Iowa want to borrow materials from another library in
the state, they use the U.S. Postal Service, except here in Ames.
In town, it’s faster to send things with Jim Gregory, who bikes
books, articles and other circulation materials around daily between
Ames Public Library, the Veterinary Medical Library and the Iowa State
University Parks Library.
The idea that bicycle delivery would be faster got started in
2007, when librarians realized the postal service added at least a day
to deliveries across town.
“Everything apparently goes to Des Moines, gets sorted down
there, and then comes back up,” said Betty Young, who handles
interlibrary loan requests at Ames Public Library.
Gregory, the courier and co-owner of local business Bikes at
Work, said he already was responsible for picking up recycled newspaper
from the Parks Library, and the idea grew from there.
Wayne Pedersen, head of acquisitions for the Parks Library, said
the bike courier service between Ames Public Library and Parks was
launched in October 2007, and the Veterinary Medical Library was added
to the route last summer. Now, the service runs daily between the three
libraries.
Gregory’s business, Bikes at Work, manufactures heavy-duty bike
trailers and also provides courier services in Ames. Compared to
heavier jobs such as recycling newspapers and delivering groceries,
Gregory said, “this (the library service) is a piece of cake.”
Pedersen said, “We see this as a win-win-win scenario. It’s good for
the environment, the service is faster, and it promotes a small
business.”
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