ARCHIVED QSG - JUN 07, 2010
USPS Homepage Skip navigation     USPS Home | Postal Explorer Home
Section divider line


Quick Service Guide 380

Commercial Flats

Library Mail Presorted Flats

June 7, 2010
Printer-Friendly PDF

Physical Standards (301)

Section divider line

Maximum weight: 70 pounds.

For an overview of the physical standards for commercial flats, see Quick Service Guide 301.

Prices and Fees (383.1.0)

Section divider line

For a complete list of Commercial Library Mail prices, see Notice 123-Price List.

For heavier pieces, see 383.1.0.

Annual presort mailing fee: $185.00.

Content (383.2.0)

Section divider line

Generally used by qualified libraries, schools, nonprofit organizations, universities, and museums to mail specific types of Package Services matter that meet additional eligibility standards. Mailable items are limited generally to books, recordings, educational, and museum materials; advertising restrictions apply. Specific mailable items may be sent to, from, or between a school, college, university, public library, museum, herbarium, or nonprofit organization (religious, educational, scientific, philanthropic, agricultural, labor, veterans, or fraternal); any such institution, organization, or association, and an individual who has no financial interest in the sale, promotion, or distribution of the materials. Also, there are provisions for publishers to mail specified items to qualified customers.

Eligibility Standards (383.3.0)

Section divider line

Mailings of 300 or more addressed pieces are eligible for 5-digit and Basic prices; sorted and marked as described below.

5-digit and Basic Presorted prices are based on weight and level of presort.

Each piece must include complete delivery and return addresses with correct ZIP Code or ZIP+4 Code.

Each piece must show in the address or return address the name of a school, college, university, public library, museum, herbarium, or a qualified nonprofit organization (703.1.2).

Mailing items with no ancillary service endorsement obligates the mailer to pay any applicable forwarding and return postage charges at the single-piece price (507.1.5.4).

Rigid, nonrectangular, and pieces that are not uniformly thick must be prepared as parcels and pay parcel prices (383.1.3).

Postage Payment and Documentation (384)

Section divider line

Meter (604.4.0) or permit imprint (604.5.0).

Postage statement: PS Form 3605-R or approved facsimile.

Mail Preparation (385)

Section divider line

Mark each piece "Library Mail" and "Presorted" or "PRSRT" in the postage area. For optional marking locations, see 302.3.2.4.

Flat-size pieces that do not meet the physical standards in 301.1.3 and 301.1.4 must be prepared as parcels.

Enter and Deposit (386)

Section divider line

All meter or permit imprint, generally, at Post Office where permit or meter license is held.

Preparation

Section divider line
Bundling and Sacking Sequence (385.5.0)
5-Digit/Scheme1
Bundles: Optional but required for 5-digit price. Scheme bundles required for 5-digit ZIP Codes in L007. Required at 10 addressed pieces, smaller volumes not permitted.2 Maximum weight 20 pounds.3
Labels: Red Label 5 SCH, Red Label 5, or optional endorsement line (OEL) (708.7.0).3
3-Digit/Scheme1
Bundles: Scheme bundles required for 3-digit ZIP Codes in L008. Required at 10 addressed pieces, smaller volumes not permitted.2 Maximum weight 20 pounds.
Labels: Green Label 3 SCH, Green Label 3, or OEL.
ADC
Bundles: Required at 10 addressed pieces, smaller volumes not permitted.2 Maximum weight 20 pounds.
Labels: Pink Label A or OEL.
Mixed ADC
Bundles: Required, no minimum. Maximum weight 20 pounds.
Labels: Tan Label X or OEL.

This graphic describes sortation for Library Mail Presorted Flats as described in the text.

Sacks: Optional but required for 5-digit price. Minimum 10 pieces (or 1,000 cubic inches), smaller volumes not permitted.
Labels: Line 1: For 5-digit scheme sacks, use L007, Column B. For 5-digit sacks, use city, state, and 5-digit ZIP Code on mail. Line 2: For 5-digit scheme sacks, use "PSVC FLT 5D SCH NBC." For 5-digit sacks, use "PSVC FLT 5D NBC."
Price: 5-Digit
Sacks: Required at 20 pieces (or 1,000 cubic inches), smaller volumes not permitted.
Labels: For Line 1, use L002, Column A. For Line 2, use "PSVC FLTS 3D NON BC."
Price: Basic
Sacks: Required at 20 pieces (or 1,000 cubic inches), smaller volumes not permitted.
Labels: For Line 1, use L004, Column B. For Line 2, use "PSVC FLTS ADC NON BC."
Price: Basic
Sacks: Required, no minimum.
Labels: For Line 1, use L009, Column B. For Line 2, use "PSVC FLTS NON BC WKG."
Price: Basic
Each bundle (except mixed ADC bundles) must contain at least two addressed pieces.
1Pieces weighing up to 20 ounces and meeting the automation-compatibility standards in 301.3.0 must be prepared in 5-digit scheme and 3-digit scheme bundles and 5-digit scheme sacks. Mailers must prepare all possible 5-digit scheme bundles and 5-digit scheme sacks before preparing 5-digit bundles and 5-digit sacks. All possible 3-digit scheme bundles must be prepared before preparing 3-digit bundles.
2Bundles may contain less than 10 pieces if the bundle size would exceed the maximum size (385.2.7).
35-digit bundles of flats placed in 5-digit sacks may weigh a maximum of 40 pounds.

 

Back to Top


ARCHIVED QSG - JUN 07, 2010
ARCHIVED QSG - JUN 07, 2010