Starting Monday, your News-Leader will arrive by mail. Here's why, and what to expect

News-Leader subscribers can expect something extra in their mail on Monday.

As reported a month ago, beginning with the Monday, Dec. 4 edition, the U.S. Postal Service will deliver your print News-Leader along with the rest of your daily mail.

It's no small change, we know, especially for those of you accustomed to spreading the paper alongside your morning coffee. But in the face of equally significant changes in the economy, workforce and online readership, we must adapt. The shift to postal delivery will allow us to get the News-Leader in the hands of folks who prefer a printed copy more consistently and efficiently going forward.

I've heard from many readers over the years who are grateful for the dedicated service and care shown by the carriers who deliver their newspapers, pitching carefully-bagged copies day after day in just the right spot. We've been blessed to have them. But increasingly in recent years, we haven't been able to hire enough of them. You can point a finger at fluctuating gas prices, increased competition for drivers and the surge of readers who prefer to read us online, but the end result is that too many subscribers have not been getting their newspaper delivered reliably and on time.

Delivering the paper through the Postal Service, as many other newspapers already do, lets us address that inconsistency and improve customer service. Monday through Friday, your printed News-Leader will arrive with your other daily mail. Your Sunday paper, meanwhile, will be delivered early, on Saturday. It will be up to you whether to sneak a peak then or wait to read it with the online subscribers Sunday morning.

It's not my intention to tell anyone how and when to read the news (I'm just happy that you do!). With the many different ways we share our stories — in print, on our website, in mobile apps and the online eNewspaper — our aim is to bring you the news in the manner you prefer.

As a print subscriber, you get access to all of our offerings. So, if reading the news over morning coffee is your preference, consider taking a look at the eNewspaper, which is an electronic replica of the print paper that will show up in your mailbox the same day. In addition to all the content included in print, it includes bonus sections with late-breaking sports and national news. And you're not just limited to Springfield — your subscription gets you universal access to eNewspaper publications across our network, including USA TODAY. You can find all the details online at news-leader.com/enewspaper.

Or sign up for our Daily Briefing email newsletter, which delivers the latest headlines to your inbox each morning. That way, if you prefer, you can scan the highlights and save other stories and the crossword for a more leisurely read in print. (If one crossword isn't enough, your current subscription also gives you unlimited access to the USA TODAY Crossword digital app and site).

If you'd rather stick to print and only print, that's fine, too. We give you options, but it's your choice which you use.

Take advantage: Learn about all the benefits of your News-Leader subscription

And while the hands delivering your News-Leader are changing, inside those printed (and digital) pages you'll find the same dedicated coverage of local and state government, education, sports, restaurants and people you do today. With the shift to printing and delivering the Sunday paper earlier, we've planned some improvements to the front-page design and are migrating a few long-time community features, including our weekly People Are Awesome section, to the big weekend edition.

It has been a privilege these past two decades to report the news in the community where I was born and raised. I want you to know that I and the staff here at the News-Leader remain committed to bringing you timely, meaningful and useful news that holds institutions accountable and serves you, the public, first and foremost.

Thank you for reading and supporting us with your subscriptions. If you have any questions or need assistance as we navigate these changes, please don't hesitate to contact customer service at 1-800-695-2005, or access online support at help.news-leader.com/contact-us.

Amos Bridges is editor-in-chief of the News-Leader.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Springfield News-Leader begins U.S. Postal Service delivery Dec. 4