Binding & Preservation

Projects and other news will be announced here...

October 6, 2021

HF Group has switched out bindery facility from Indiana to Utica, Nebraska as of the September 13, 2021 week shipment.

 The VP of HF Group, Nebraska is Damon Osborne (402-534-2261, DOsborne@hfgroup.com).

I spoke with Damon this morning. He told me that for now he will be our main contact, although he may have his staff contact us from time to time.  (Previously, Tammi Keefer was our main contact at the Indiana facility.)

Damon told me the following which I would like to share:

1. Since we are on their regular route, they will deliver items that we have sent to them, even if we don’t have anything ready to be picked up. So we will receive a delivery next week (the week of October 11) of the items they had picked up the week of September 13.
2. They require a minimum of 75 items for a pick up and we need to notify them a week ahead of time that we have items ready to be picked up. We won’t have a shipment ready to be picked up by Oct 11. The next pick up schedule will be Nov 8, 2021.
3. I believe the Indiana facility had been invoicing us by lot and the Nebraska facility can continue to invoice us that way. We usually have separate lots for music, journals, buckram, theses (embargoed), honors theses, and digicover. If we create 2 digicover lots, we would receive 2 invoices.
4. In the shipment picked up in September, we had 2 items that could not be bound so we requested that they should be placed in special boxes. There are different types of boxes (clamshell, case boxes, etc.) and Damon wasn’t sure which type we wanted, so those 2 items will not be returned next week. I told him the type of box we want is clamshell (which Hilda had shown me). So those can be returned the week of Nov 8. They could make special arrangements to return them sooner but I don’t think there is any rush for them.
5. For now I told Damon to list Lucy as our main contact for bindery questions since Lucy will be doing the bulk of the work to prepare bindery shipments.
6. Damon will email a price list to Lucy and me. If anyone else would like a copy, please let me know and I can forward it to you.

Teri Oparanozie

From: Tammi Keefer <tkeefer@HFGroup.com>
Sent: Wednesday, July 28, 2021 2:02 PM
To: Tammi Keefer <tkeefer@HFGroup.com>
Cc: Lori Parsons <lparsons@hfgroup.com>
Subject: HFG-IN Temporary Transportation Suspension

To All of Our Library Binding Customers,

 

HF Group, Indiana facility, will be temporarily suspending all transportation routes and mail-in / incoming orders effective today, July 28^th.  We anticipate this lasting at least 30 days.  We will contact you as soon as we have an update regarding routes and incoming orders.  New schedules will be sent as soon as possible.

As we’ve communicated in the past, we do not have the proper staffing to produce the amount of incoming work we have been receiving.  Our orders continue to increase, and we are very appreciative of that trend.  Unfortunately, our ability to increase staff along with the increase in workload has been challenging.  Our current staff has been working substantial overtime hours to keep pace with our turn times.  That has been a temporary solution and one that is not sustainable.  Please know that even with this temporary suspension of routes and incoming orders, we are continuing to hire and train new staff and increase our production.  Once pick-ups resume, it would be really appreciated if you could please keep incoming shipment sizes as close to normal levels through the fall. 

Material that is currently in-process will be shipped back to you the best way possible. 

We thank you for support and patience.  If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at any time.    

Sincerely

Your Customer Service Team

Tammi       Lori     Tim     Stephanie

800-334-3628

*************************************************************************************

 

 

May 1, 2020 update:

From: Marcia Nellans <mnellans@hfgroup.com>
Sent: Friday, May 1, 2020 12:49 PM
To: Tammi Keefer <tkeefer@HFGroup.com>
Cc: Marcia Nellans <mnellans@hfgroup.com>
Subject: HF Group Re-opening Delayed (448)

Please see the attached update from Jay Fairfield. 

Since we are a customer driven business and the majority of our customers are still out for Covid-19, a decision has been made to wait a while longer to open our library binding operations.  We continue to hold any orders that were in house and any returned by our delivery providers. They are safe and we will get them out to you as soon as we go back to full production.   Tammi and I will be working Tuesday and Friday to answer your e-mails.  We are keeping a list of who is open, has a pick-up and/or is expecting a return shipment.  Once management sees there are enough customers on a route to begin picking up, we will advise when we will be headed your way.

 Thank you for continuing to keep us updated on your status,

 -Marcia & Tammi

Marcia Nellans

Cust. Service

HF Group

1010 N. Sycamore St.

N. Manchester, IN     46962

260-982-2107

800-334-3628

mnellans@hfgroup.com

www.hfgroup.com

Where books are bound! 

 

Update from Jay Fairfield:

May 1, 2020
To: Customers and Clients of HF Group and divisions
Re: Update regarding business operations status
Our last communication on April 3rd stated that our company had extended its operational shutdown through May 4. A lot has transpired nationally over these last four weeks. While it appears that restrictions in some states are starting to ease, we do not yet see momentum towards a return to work for many customers and therefore, no clear path yet to fully re-open our operations.
Rather than attempt to estimate a logical date, we now feel it is prudent to consider our shutdown “indefinite”. We will provide more frequent updates as circumstances change.
However, we do have certain customers requiring specific services. We have production demand as an essential service provider or in support of an essential service provider. In other cases, we have received requests for re-opening of services for areas of the country where work restrictions have been reduced or rescinded.
Therefore, each of our five facilities will have limited work teams in place to address these various needs and begin sporadic production next week. We have developed plans at each location for safe practices at work and are staggering our production periods and practicing safe distancing in all cases.
Even with some partial re-opening of business, we want to repeat our message from April 3. We are focused on keeping the company ready, supporting and paying our employees and working to maintain HF Group’s financial health in this time of uncertainty.
Our continued best wishes for everyone’s health and well-being. And we offer our sincere appreciation for your support and loyalty. Please continue to watch for further communications through the News section on our website.
With our ongoing appreciation and good wishes,
Owners, Management and Staff
HF Group, LLC

********************************************************************

April 3, 2020
To: Customers and Clients of HF Group and Divisions (HF Group is the company NGL uses for binding.)
Re: Extension of operational shutdown
Based on widespread “stay at home” orders from all five states in which we operate, and because most of our customers are also extended with work from home or closure situations, we are extending our operational shutdown until Monday May 4th.
We do anticipate some basic operations resuming with limited capability in April. This potentially may include records & archives storage, print & bind, some specialty edition work, certain conservation & digitization services.
We are paying our employees during this extended shutdown, with some assistance from the SBA Payroll Protection Plan. As employees are asked to work, our decision to proceed will be based on workplace safety considerations. There are some aspects of our business that are considered essential, but most of our services are not, and we’ve chosen to be very selective about what work can and/or should be done during this health crisis.
We are working very hard at this time to keep the company in pause mode, including supporting most of our employees and keeping the company as financially healthy as possible, so we can quickly and effectively reopen as soon as our customers return to their normal duties.
We hope many of you will be able to resume your work and allotted budgets. Should you need extra production in the months after production has resumed, we will work very hard to meet that request. We very much value you and your commitment to HF Group and all of us hope you understand and support our decision regarding this closure.
Please know that we monitor our facilities frequently and want to reassure all of you that your property is being cared for while in our possession. (Please see Customer Property and Security memo in News at www.hfgroup.com)
Until we resume normal operations and routine customer communication, we wish everyone good health and safety. Please be cautious in your daily activities and follow published guidelines for social distancing and personal hygiene. We want everyone to eventually return to work healthy. Please continue to watch for further communications through the News section on our website.
With appreciation and good wishes,
Owners, Management and Staff
HF Group, LLC

GOAL OF BINDING & PRESERVATION DEPARTMENT:
To preserve and/or make accessible purchased library print materials in a manner which is timely, efficient, and cost-effective.

Teri Oparanozie:  Head of Acquisitions, Serials Acquisitions (ext. 41613)

Coordinate the ordering, receipt and payment of print and electronic serials

Liaison between serials publishers and Newton Gresham Library

Troubleshoot e-journal access problems.

Supervisor to Hilda Murillo

Lois Christine Charles:  Acquisitions & Serials Library Assistant II (ext. 43837)   

Process and claim print serials

Return damaged or incorrect materials to vendors.

Process and review shipments of journals, books, and theses sent to outside contracted bindery (HF Group)

Receive and coordinate with others to distribute USPS mail and deliveries

Help count money for library deposits