# Proposed postal rate hike

ISSN: 0888-045X

Publication date: 1 June 2000

## Citation

Fitzsimmons, E. (2000), "Proposed postal rate hike", The Bottom Line, Vol. 13 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/bl.2000.17013bab.005

## Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

New postal rates proposed by the US postal service for 12 January included a 4.5 per cent increase in the library rate, which would increase the cost of mailing a one-pound package by seven cents to $1.20. A three-pound package would cost$2.10, up from \$2.03. The rates would take effect in 2001. The postal rate commission will conduct hearings on the proposed increases before ruling on them. Mary Costabile of ALA's Washington office said she expected the Alliance of Nonprofit Mailers, a coalition that includes ALA, to challenge the rates at that time. According to an ALA study in July 1999, the library rate had increased by 78 per cent over the previous five years; during the same period the consumer price index went up only 10 per cent. The postal service had asked for a rate increase in 1997, which would have made the nonprofit library rate higher than the commercial book rate. ALA challenged the request, and a more modest hike was approved.