Return books using CourierPost special rates

School loans and books returned to National Library Services to Schools.
Use CourierPost's Services to Schools discounted delivery rates to return books (in whole-school or anytime title loans) to the National Library. Download return address labels for boxes. Run a circulation report and remove our books from your ILS.

When to return books

If you've finished using our books, return them early so we can issue them to another school.

The due dates for whole-school resource loans are on your school dashboard and the printout that comes with your books. The return dates for your anytime requests are on a printout sent with your books.

Dates for ordering and returning school loans has more information about when your books are due back to us.

How to use CourierPost

Step 1: Set up an account

Email CourierPost to set up a specific 'Services to Schools' account at least 2 weeks before you plan to return your books to the National Library.

Email ingrid.ropeti@nzpost.co.nz with 'Services to Schools' in the subject line.

She'll need your school’s:

  • address (mailing and physical address if different)
  • telephone number
  • contact name and email address.

CourierPost will tell you your account number once it's been set up. You'll need this number to order your courier tickets (step 2).

Step 2: Order pre-paid book(s) of CourierPost tickets

There are 2 types of ticket books you can order depending on the weight of the boxes you want to return to the National Library.

Weight of box of books Product code of ticket book to order Discounted cost/book (excl. GST and VFR*) Notes
Up to 15kg CNTOTS $132.50 (20 tickets) Ignore the 5kg weight limit on the tickets
15–25kg CPCTWI $239.12 (25 tickets)

* Variable Fuel Rate (VFR) — note that this cost varies but is typically about 5 cents.

Note

  • Usually, schools order the CNTOTS ticket books because boxes sent from the National Library typically weigh no more than 15kgs each so will be a similar weight to return.
  • You can only use these discounted tickets to send items within the North Island or within the South Island, not between the islands.
  • CourierPost doesn't sell single tickets — you need to order a book of tickets. But remember you can use the discounted tickets for other deliveries too (besides returning books to the National Library).

Ordering a ticket book

There are 2 ways to order a book:

  • phone CourierPost (0800 268 7437) and give your CourierPost account number, or
  • visit the CourierPost website and order online.

You should receive your ticket book within 1 to 3 business days.

Ordering a ticket book though the CourierPost website

  • In the 'buy' tab, select Purchase with account/credit card. If this is your first order, follow the steps to:
    • set up a user profile using your CourierPost Services to Schools account number
    • authenticate your account by clicking a link in a confirmation email sent by CourierPost.
  • Sign in to your account — your username is your email address, your password is the one you created earlier.
  • Go to the Store page to order your ticket book.

Step 3: Box your books, and attach an address label and CourierPost ticket

The return address label to use for each box of books depends on which collection the books come from.

Books borrowed from the Schools Lending Collection

Return your whole-school and anytime title request loans by courier (or in person) to your nearest National Library collection centre. These are:

  • Auckland Centre for schools in the North Island
  • Christchurch Centre for schools in the South Island.

Use these address labels:

Books from our Wellington collections

Return books from National Library's 'Wellington, Overseas Non-fiction Collection' and 'Wellington, New Zealand Pacific Collection' to Wellington using the return labels supplied with your books.

CourierPost tickets to use

Make sure the weight of each box is within the weight limit for the CourierPost ticket you attach (up to 15kg for CNTOTS or up to 25kg for CPCTWI). And remember the delivery address must be within the same island to use either of these ticket options.

If the weight of your box ends up being more than the maximum weight allowed for your tickets (e.g. more than 15kgs), do not attach another ticket. Each ticket has an individual tracking number, so only one ticket can be used on a box. Instead, split the books between 2 boxes and use a new ticket for the second box.

Step 4: Arrange for CourierPost to collect your box(es) of books

To book a courier to collect your boxes,

If you are a rural school, put the boxes with your outgoing mail that your rural postie collects. Another option is to take the books to your local town's postal service outlet.

If you'd like to track your boxes once they have left your school:

CourierPost contacts for help

Phone 0800 268 743 to:

  • order tickets
  • arrange a pickup
  • track items
  • query a late or missing item.

Phone or email Ingrid Ropeti — 021 262 3231 or ingrid.ropeti@nzpost.co.nz if you:

  • have any general questions about how the CourierPost schools' service works
  • think you have been charged incorrectly.

Run a report and remove our books from your ILS

If you've added National Library books into your integrated library system (ILS), run a circulation report showing issue data for these resources. You can use this data as part of a follow-up evaluation of the impact the lending service has had on your students' learning.

Once you've run the report and returned our books, remove them from your catalogue.

Need help?

Renew books, overdue books, lost or damaged books may have some helpful information.

Or phone or email us: