Mail handling in serials (2 messages) Marcia Tuttle 02 Nov 2001 14:38 UTC
----------(1) Date: Thu, 1 Nov 2001 14:25:01 -0500 From: Lynne Stevens <lstevens@RMWC.EDU> Subject: Re: Mail handling in serials (Scott Wicks) Hey, Scott -- It would be helpful if we knew which publishers do this. Which one(s) do you know about? Lynne N. Stevens Serials Coordinator Lipscomb Library Randolph-Macon Woman's College 2500 Rivermont Avenue Lynchburg, VA 24503 434 947-8133 434 947-8134 FAX lstevens@rmwc.edu ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Thu, 1 Nov 2001 11:31:04 -0500 From: Scott Wicks <sbw2@CORNELL.EDU> Subject: Re: Mail handling in serials Like many others, Cornell has issued guidelines for mail handling. We have made gloves available to staff and discussed the steps to take when encountering suspect mail. Yesterday we had an incident with something called "press powder." At least one publisher (and I'm sure there are others, too) uses this powder to prevent pages from sticking together and the wrapper from adhering to the cover while in transit. Usually the amount is so minimal that one does not see it. Yesterday we SAW it and had a nice test run of our "what to do" procedures. I thought that you might like to be aware of this powder, not that you shouldn't take every precaution, but to consider this factor for your local "Health Safety" crisis responders to investigate while you all sit around in quarantine wondering why you didn't think ahead to be sure you had food at your desk to endure just such an event. When we contacted the publisher, we learned that they had received similar queries over the past several weeks. Maybe they will change their policy. --Scott ----------(2) Date: Fri, 2 Nov 2001 08:48:03 -0500 From: Maggie Rioux <mrioux@WHOI.EDU> Subject: Re: Mail handling in serials One more thought on the mail handling thread - I noticed several postings saying that libraries were using latex gloves. If at all possible you should be getting nitrile gloves, NOT latex. Many people are allergic to latex and it's also very easy to develop an allergy. Some folks are so allergic that they could have a life-threatening reaction to receiving mail that someone else had touched while wearing latex gloves. Nitrile gloves are about the same cost and they won't potentially endanger any of your staff (especially the people wearing them). Most EMS systems have switched to nitrile (and they come in pretty colors too, like purple and blue). Also - if folks are using gloves they should be shown how to remove by turning them inside out and should be told that any time they have felt they should use gloves that when they remove them, they should also wash their hands thoroughly with soap and hot water. And don't forget to have ziplock bags handy for the suspicious stuff that made you put the gloves on in the first place. I didn't know that EMT training was going to be so useful... Maggie Rioux -- **************************************************************** * Maggie Rioux | Email: mrioux@whoi.edu * * Information Systems Librarian | Voice: 508/289-2538 * * MBL/WHOI Library | Fax: 508/457-2156 * * Woods Hole Oceanographic Inst. | Foot: Clark Lab, Room 135 * * Woods Hole, MA 02543 | Quissett Campus, WHOI* **************************************************************** President of North American Serials Interest Group (NASIG) - "a group of smart people of good will"