All mailing addresses used here must

• receive mail reliably
• match an entry in the US Postal Service (USPS) online database of "full addresses in standard format"

The reason for this:

It is a USPS requirement for the use of Printable Postage with tracking - every address used with Printable Postage must match one in the USPS online database.  Since Printable Postage is the only for senders to guarantee their credits here for mailing books, address validation from USPS is needed for every shipment, to give each sender a way to guarantee credit.

What to do if your address is deemed 'not valid' when you try to enter it here:

• First, try to find the format that is recognized by the USPS online database:
  • If your address has an APT # in it, make sure you are including it on the main address line - *not* in the c/o line, where USPS can't see it
  • If your address has extra information in it (more than a street address/apt number), try putting that information into the c/o line of the address
  • If you are in PR, put your urbanization into the c/o line of the address
  • Spell out terms like "County Road" - USPS may not be recognizing abbreviations if you are using them
• If this does not work, try searching the USPS online database:
  • go to http://zip4.usps.com/zip4/welcome.jsp and enter your address, then click Submit
  • An address that will work here will appear as a single result under the heading "Full Address in Standard Format"
  • If your address appears in a list of addresses under an error message OR if the search does not return any results OR gets the error message "This address may be Non-Deliverable," you need to ask USPS to update their online database to include your address (see next item for details on how to do this).

How to get your address to be recognized by the US Postal Service (USPS) online database so it can be used here:

• Contact your local PO and ask them to submit this change to the USPS online database
• You can also call 1-800-ASK-USPS for help with this.
• The company that updates the USPS online database makes the updates roughly monthly.

Special Cases to Note:

• USPS is slow to update some military addresses - newer military addresses may take longer to be updated.

While you are waiting for USPS to update their online database, you can ask us to put an alternate address (for example, a work or family member address) on your account - if you have one at which you can receive PBS packages reliably (the books will need to be marked received when they arrive at the alternate address and not when you finally get them).

If you do not have an alternate address to use while you wait, and you have an old/outdated address on your account, you should

• NOT request any books
• put your Wish List on hold (= choose "mark all" at the top of the Wish List and click the Hold button at the top right of the list)
• if your account is on Vacation Hold, make sure that no Wishes are set to auto-request  (you can turn off auto-request by choosing "mark all" at the top of the Wish List and choosing Auto-request OFF at the top right of the list)