IA Shares Delivery

Public libraries in Iowa receive a weekly IA Shares delivery from the Iowa AEA van delivery service at a specified day and time. 

View the IA Shares Delivery Schedule & Individual Routes

Same Day Delivery

Drivers may be able to deliver from one library to subsequent librar(ies) on the same route in a single day. To check the order of the libraries on your route, access the full IA Shares Schedule and click on your hub location at the top of the page, then refer to the individual route that your library is on.

To facilitate these items for libraries further down the route, place the bags on top of the IA Shares delivery tote.

County Libraries & Library Systems

IA Shares stops at the main branch for county libraries or larger library systems. County libraries and library systems are responsible for routing materials between the branches of their system.

IA Shares Service Model

To improve efficiency and manage costs, a small group of high-volume lending libraries (identified using a year's worth of SILO ILL lending statistics and representing about three percent of public libraries) receive an extra IA Shares pickup day. This model supports the goal of maximizing the movement of materials throughout the delivery system, which benefits all participating libraries. 

Libraries with fewer than 15 SILO ILL borrowing and lending transactions total in one year receive on-demand service for IA Shares and can request a pickup via the On Demand Request Form. This keeps IA Shares accessible while maximizing efficiency.

The State Library will review statistics again before annual renewals of the agreement with the Iowa AEAs to determine if any changes to this model are necessary.

Sending items via IA Shares is easy:

1. Place materials going to a single library in an official IA Shares bag.
2. Access the IA Shares Label Generator in the SILO ILL system at this link (login required): IA Shares Label Generator; or, when logged in to SILO, look for the IA Shares dropdown tab and click “Label Generator.”
3. The From Address field will be populated with the library name associated with your SILO account.
4. In the To Address field, browse the list of IA Shares libraries, or start typing the destination library name to locate it in the list. (As long as a library is on the list, it can be sent to via IA Shares!)
5. Select as many libraries as you need to make labels for and indicate the number of labels you'd like to be created, then click Make Labels to generate a PDF. Print, trim, and insert labels into the clear window of each IA Shares bag.
6. Place the bag in an official IA Shares tote to be picked up at your library’s next scheduled delivery.

Do NOT use cardboard boxes, padded mailing envelopes, or handwritten labels to send materials via IA Shares. Iowa’s AEAs reserve the right to refuse delivery of items that do not meet IA Shares delivery packaging and labeling guidelines.

Any library material that can fit in a tote or bag and is under 50 pounds can be sent to another Iowa public library via IA Shares. 

Currency and checks are not permitted for shipment in IA Shares, and sending fragile items is not advised. The delivery service should not be used to send food, personal letters, non-library promotional materials, propaganda, shelving, furniture, book racks, computer software, or any electronic devices.

Oversize items can be sent via IA Shares if it falls under the 50-pound weight limit requirement and fits in an official IA Shares tote. To send an oversize item, place it in an IA Shares tote, close, and affix a delivery slip created with the IA Shares Label Generator on top of the tote, covering it with clear packing tape. You can tape or zip tie the tote closed to indicate the entire tote is going to a specific location.

There is not a limit to the number of items that libraries can send, as long as they fit in an approved bag or tote. 

Report both unplanned and planned closings to AEA staff by completing the IA Shares Change of Service Form as soon as possible. 

Both the lending and borrowing libraries are responsible for packing materials so that they are protected from damage, and in making sure all parts are included in a multi-part item. 

If the damage appears to have occurred while traveling through the IA Shares delivery system, follow the claims process outlined at the link below: 

Process for Damaged or Missing IA Shares Materials 

The State Library has received requests from authors, non-profit organizations, and other entities to handle distributing items to all Iowa public libraries. This costs the State Library money for the significant staff time involved in preparing the items for delivery. It also requires that the State Library has enough IA Shares bags and totes on hand to handle the delivery, which then takes those items out of the regular rotation for a period of time.

Currently, the State Library will only distribute materials to all Iowa public libraries via IA Shares if the materials are from the State Library or a vendor that the State Library contracts or partners with (such as promotional materials for online resources, Bridges, or other vendors, etc.).

Checks, Letters & Endorsement Certificates: Checks and letters from the State Library to Iowa public libraries will continue to be sent via USPS. Endorsement certificates for new directors will also be sent via USPS. 

SILO Interlibrary Loan System: SILO ILL is the online system used to track interlibrary loan requests, while IA Shares is the delivery service used to move the items requested through SILO to and from public libraries around Iowa. While some IA Shares resources and links can now be accessed within the SILO ILL system (such as the Label Generator), librarians must continue to report ILL transactions within SILO.

STEM To Go & Storytime Kits: Available for checkout to public libraries to enhance STEM and storytime programs, STEM To Go & Storytime Kits are contained in IA Shares totes and are sent from and returned to the State LIbrary via IA Shares.

All Iowa Reads Discussion Sets: All Iowa Reads book discussion group sets will be sent to libraries via IA Shares, either by putting the plastic container of books in an IA Shares tote with a label taped to the top, or by taping an IA Shares label directly to the container of books.

Enrich Iowa Interlibrary Loan Reimbursement & Open Access: Interlibrary Loan Reimbursement through the Enrich Iowa program remains unchanged. All interlibrary loan returns to public libraries should be sent via IA Shares. Public libraries may still need to mail interlibrary loans to request academic or special libraries. 

It is strongly recommended that all Open Access returns to public libraries are sent via IA Shares. Returns to academic libraries will still need to be sent via USPS, and a postage receipt will be required for reimbursement.

The State Library hopes public libraries will be satisfied with the AEA van delivery service and drivers but understand issues may arise. 

Contact your AEA Hub primary contact to address any concerns. If you need help finding your hub’s contact information, or if you would like to speak with State Library staff directly, please reach out to Tom Keyser at 515-242-6542 or Tom.Keyser@iowa.gov.