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What Happens in MINITEX Delivery?
The MINITEX Delivery Unit processes incoming materials, sorts and packs outgoing materials
and picks up retrieved materials from all of the campus libraries at Wilson Library, Walter
Library and the Biomedical Library.
We receive our initial delivery of tubs before any staff arrives. The tubs are staged in
the Cavern Level loading dock of the Minnesota Library Access Center. At 7:00 a.m., staff
load the staged tubs on the cavern level conveyor system that sends the tubs up to the
MINITEX office.
As the morning progresses more tubs arrive. The U.S. Postal Service and UPS arrive sometime
between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. during the day. Every item that arrives is processed as
soon as it arrives. This makes for a faster turnaround time for materials moving throughout
the MINITEX region.
Three times during each day one of our staff members drives the MINITEX Delivery Unit Van
to Wilson Library to return discharged materials to all campus libraries, deliver filled
ILL borrowing requests to the Wilson Library Circulation office and pick up MINITEX filled requests to
process and pack in the MINITEX Overnight Delivery System.
During the day we make one stop each at Hennepin County Library—Minneapolis, Walter Library,
Magrath Library and the Biomedical Library to pick up filled requests. The last pick up at Wilson Library is
done at 8:00 p.m. This late pick up is to get as much into the delivery system as we can. Staff
is in the office packing tubs and loading the conveyor until 11:00 p.m.
Some of the material from the MINITEX Overnight Delivery service is sorted, packed and sent from
our office for delivery the following morning. This allows for direct borrowing among participating
libraries. MINITEX is constantly monitoring interlibrary loan traffic and expanding these
direct delivery services to meet the needs of our participants. Use the links at the top
of this page to learn more about these services.
Delivery Information for MnLINK/VDX
MnLINK/VDX ILL software allows libraries to share resources directly. The MINITEX
Delivery Unit supports MnLINK/VDX resource sharing by providing the routing slip and
the sorting and transfer of the materials on the MINITEX Overnight Courier System.
Using the MnLINK/VDX routing slip, libraries on MnLINK/VDX can place the materials
into the tub going to the MINITEX office. At the MINITEX office we will sort and transfer
the MnLINK/VDX materials on to the destination library.
We hope this collaborative effort will help libraries move materials quickly throughout
the state.
MnLINK/VDX Materials are items that are requested by and from libraries using the MnLINK/VDX
system. Filled and returned materials are sent to the MINITEX office and are sorted by the
MINITEX Delivery Unit. Some of these materials need to be processed by MINITEX Staff, and
others can be delivered directly to the designated library.
Our participants who use this service can usually see items delivered in about 1-2 business
days. The routing slips that are used for MnLINK/VDX materials are tan.
Libraries participating in the MnLINK/VDX Materials program as of February 2008 are:
- Anoka County Library
- Arrowhead Library System
- Augsburg College
- Bethel University
- Bethel Seminary
- Carver County Library
- College of St Catherine
- College of St Catherine—Minneapolis
- Concordia University—St Paul
- Dakota County Library
- Duluth Public Library
- East Central Regional Library
- Great River Regional Library
- Hamline University
- Hamline University School of Law
- Hennepin County Library
- Hennepin County Library—Minneapolis
- John Ireland Seminary
- Kitchigami Regional Library
- Lake Agassiz Regional Library
- Luther Seminary
- Macalaster College
- Martin Luther College
- Northwest Regional Library
- Northwestern College
- Pioneerland Library System
- Plum Creek Library System
- Ramsey County Library
- Rochester Public Library
- Scott County Library System
- Southeastern Libraries Cooperating (SELCO)
- St Paul Public Library
- Traverse De Sioux Library System
- United Theological Seminary
- University of St Thomas
- University of St Thomas—St Paul
- University of St Thomas School of Law
- Viking Library System
- Washington County Library
Additional Services for Libraries
Delivery Information for MnPALS Libraries
MnPALS Direct Borrowing materials are items that are requested by MnPALS libraries from
other MnPALS libraries. Filled and returned materials are sent to the MINITEX office
and are sorted by the MINITEX Delivery Unit for delivery to other MnPALS libraries. Our
participants who use this service can usually see items delivered in about 1-3 business
days. The routing slips that are used for MnPALS Direct Borrowing are pink. These libraries
can change their lending status at any time.
Libraries participating in MnPALS Direct Borrowing as of February 2008 are:
- Alexandria Technical College
- Anoka Ramsey Community College
- Anoka-Hennepin Technical College
- Bemidji State University
- Bethany Lutheran College
- Cambridge Campus of Anoka Ramsey Community College
- Central Lakes College
- Century Community & Technical College
- College of Saint Benedict
- College of Saint Scholastica
- Concordia College—Moorhead
- Gustavus Adolphus College
- Hennepin Technical College—Brooklyn Park
- Hennepin Technical College—Eden Prairie
- Inver Hills Community College
- Metropolitan State University
- Minneapolis Community & Technical College
- Minnesota Legislative Reference Library
- Minnesota State Community & Technical College—Fergus Falls
- Minnesota State University, Mankato
- Minnesota State University, Moorhead
- Normandale Community College
- North Hennepin Community College
- Pine Technical College
- South Central College
- Southwest Minnesota State University
- St Benedict's College
- St Cloud State University
- St Cloud Technical College
- St John's University
- St Mary's University
- University Center Rochester
- University of Minnesota—Crookston
- University of Minnesota—Morris
- Winona State University
Courtesy Return Service
The Courtesy Return Service provides a fast, efficient and cost effective means of
returning materials to their home library. The library that received the item sends
it to MINITEX through our courier system.
To make use of this service, you must first check the list to determine whether the
home library is one included in the MINITEX Overnight Delivery System—Courier
Libraries list. Proceed by inserting the orange routing form labeled "Courtesy Return"
into the item, with the correct three-letter code printed on the form. Finally, place
the item in the tub to be routed to MINITEX. Once received, we will forward the item to
the home library.
CLIC Service
The CLIC Service allows materials to be routed quickly
and efficiently to and from the CLIC libraries and the MINITEX Delivery System.
Libraries that receive this service include:
- Augsburg College
- Bethel College
- Bethel Seminary St. Paul
- CLIC—Cooperating Libraries in Consortium
- College of St Catherine—Minneapolis
- College of St Catherine—St Paul
- Concordia University—St Paul
- Hamline University
- Hamline School of Law
- John Ireland Seminary
- Luther Seminary
- Macalester College
- Northwestern College
- St Paul Public Library
- United Theological Seminary
- University of St Thomas—Minneapolis
- University of St Thomas—School of Law
- University of St Thomas—St Paul
Triangle Route
The Triangle route facilitated overnight direct delivery between several academic
libraries. The academic and public libraries included in this service were located in Fargo/Moorhead,
St. Cloud, Mankato and Rochester.
The materials sent through this service did not travel to the MINITEX office. The items
were sent directly from the home library to the requesting library via contract courier.
The items were returned in the same manner. The Triangle routed materials from academic
libraries traveled together with the items from public libraries.
The Triangle route ended in July 2005 when a change in courier service allowed overnight
service to many of the same locations on the Triangle route through the MINITEX office for
overnight delivery. Pilot projects for service between high volume locations are being explored.