This cuts down the need to ship books since they are manufactured close to the customer on a just-in-time basis.

The standard effort was made to ship books and to seek reviews, which "Mama" did not get in unusual numbers.

At Scholastic a spokeswoman told me that the site would start to ship preordered books on Friday, July 15, for delivery the next business day.

For speed, publishers often ship instant books by air, which is expensive.

There was no end to ship models, books, T-shirts, key rings, mugs and chocolates.

And we can ship them books and music in the same box.

Mr. Kennedy admits to having shipped books home because his purchases would not fit into his luggage.

Publishers of educational textbooks are eager to ship books to schools.

Amazon recently announced an arrangement for the Ingram Book Company, a large distributor, to ship certain books to its customers.

A first printing of 50,000 copies is planned, and Harper expects to begin shipping books the first week in March.