We do a lot of loans to American libraries, and have found that fees for getting our material back into the country are a perennial issue. Our recommendations:
The customs form should show the item has no commercial value (NCV). If the shipper is getting insurance, they should make it clear that any declared value is for insurance purposes only. The value of the item should not be exaggerated--it can lead to a large and unjustified bill for import duties!
State that the materials are being shipped "on loan" (!) between libraries / non-commercial organizations. If the item is being returned, say "Canadian [for example] Goods Returning from Interlibrary Loan"
If using a commercial courier service, the shipper should make sure to choose one that includes all fees, including brokerage charges.
The introduction to this section mentions "delivery systems that include international members". I would appreciate knowing more about these systems, to see what we might learn from their practises. |
