I'm aware of the financial situation with the post offices and them laying off employees!  its a shame its happining because not only people has lost there jobs but it seems it takes twice as long to receive packages.

Mine seem to be coming and going at the same pace as a few years ago, maybe even faster (exception being delays for severe weather).  Several have gone lost in the last month or so, but I suspect that's more a matter of not getting mailed than actually getting lost once in the hands of USPS.

The post office has a moritorium on closings until May 15 and they haven't  been laying off anyone. The reduction in workers is through attrition--people retiring or being fired and not hiring replacements.  I haven't noticed a slowdown in delivery times. I have noticed a slowdown in sender's mailing times. I used to see books mailed the day of or the day after a request, now it seems like mailing dates are being pushed out as long as possible. 

I agree Brandy, I've had more incoming books declared lost in the last 6 weeks, than the last several years combined. 

I've exchanged pm's with a couple senders, so it sounds like they mailed.  But oddly enough, (although over half were mailed with PBS DC) none of the missing books has enroute scans.  Was everyone super distracted with taxes last month?