State Library of Iowa Partners with STAT Courier and MOBIUS To Launch Statewide Delivery Service for Public Libraries

State Library of Iowa

DES MOINES — The State Library of Iowa is now offering a weekly delivery service to Iowa public libraries. The agency contracted with St. Louis-based STAT Courier to operate the service and partnered with MOBIUS, a library consortium out of Columbia, MO, for management of the system.

The new service, dubbed IA Shares, offers one day per week delivery to each public library in Iowa, allowing libraries to send and return materials borrowed by patrons. The service is offered by the State Library at no cost to public libraries, and will allow many libraries to offset expenses that were previously set aside to send and return items via the postal service.

“We are thrilled to offer this valuable service to each and every Iowa public library – all 543 of them,” said Michael Scott, State Librarian. “IA Shares will encourage resource sharing among libraries which will improve library service for Iowans. Overall, we’ve heard positive comments since the service launched, with many libraries appreciating the ability to free up some money in their budgets to go to other important areas.”

The service officially launched mid-November 2019 and has been running efficiently with minimal complications since then. STAT Courier drivers collect, sort, and send materials from seven hub locations each weekday. The system requires a total of 35 routes across Iowa in order to stop at every public library throughout the week. Staff at MOBIUS provide technical support, communication with libraries, and other management services to ensure IA Shares runs smoothly and on schedule each week.

IA Shares is made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by the State Library of Iowa.