Customer Support Ruling

Books – Media Mail
Updated January 2001

PS-064 (473.2.2)

This Customer Support Ruling discusses the eligibility of books at the Media Mail rates of postage.

Current administrative policy provides for the mailing of fill-in type self-help textbooks at the Media Mail rate.  Also mailable at that rate as prescribed by Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) 473.2.2* are workbooks, books containing sheets which are blank on one side, loose-leaf bound books and books consisting of reading matter in the form of listings of such information as where to obtain certain services or products where no compensation was paid to the publisher for the publication of these listings and the publisher has no interest in the services or products listed.  In addition, this is true for catalogs containing editorial matter concerning products and listings of suppliers provided that no consideration has been paid to the publisher by suppliers or manufacturers for listing in the catalogs.

Reprints of historic catalogs are also acceptable in the mails at the Media Mail rate for books provided that the original publishers or manufacturers had no control over or interest in the reprinting of these publications or their subsequent sale or distribution.

Crossword puzzles, pattern books, poster books, iron-on transfer books, and cut-out books which do not consist of reading matter as well as publications containing advertising are not acceptable in the mails at the Media Mail rate of postage.  They are subject to the applicable First-Class Mail, Standard Mail, Parcel Post, or Bound Printed Matter rates when mailed.

*See also DMM 173.3 and 373.2.

(Signed)
Sherry Suggs
Manager
Mailing Standards
United States Postal Service
Washington DC 20260-3436