For decades, imported goods valued under $800 entered the U.S. tariff-free under what鈥檚 known as the de minimis exemption. It simplified international shipping by sparing carriers and customs officials from processing paperwork for low-value items. While libraries loan books to each other, and in theory shouldn鈥檛 be impacted by the new rules, the reality has been quite different.
Since the executive order went into effect on August 29, delays, confusion, and unexpected costs have led some libraries to stop all international interlibrary loans.
鈥淲e鈥檙e seeing everything from $5 tariffs to hundreds of dollars in unexplained brokerage fees,鈥 Long says. 鈥淭here鈥檚 no consistent rationale. Some carriers are just overwhelmed, and others seem to be applying rules unevenly, I think due to the confusion surrounding this mess.鈥
In some cases, packages have been held until fees are paid or even destroyed if paperwork doesn鈥檛 meet the carriers鈥 shifting standards
To help libraries navigate the crisis, Long built a new website in collaboration with several professional committees. Through and the OCLC SHARES consortium, he and colleagues are crowdsourcing data on fees, blocked shipments, and best practices for labeling and customs language.
鈥淕erman libraries, for example, have stopped shipping books to the U.S. almost entirely,鈥 Long says. 鈥淲e鈥檙e trying to gather information from as many institutions as possible so we can identify patterns and propose solutions.鈥
Despite the uncertainty, Long remains optimistic.
鈥淟ibraries have always adapted to change, whether it鈥檚 digital transformation or global disruption,鈥 he says. 鈥淥ur goal is to keep information accessible and make sure patrons can access the materials they need, wherever they are.鈥
For now, though, international interlibrary loan remains tangled in red tape, and librarians like Long are working diligently to untangle it.
