So I checked out LibraryElf. It is a tool for tracking your library loans and holds, to help you avoid overdues and keep track of materials out on multiple library cards. It’s like a personal assistant for the avid library user! It seems that this would be very helpful for families with multiple members, and thus multiple library cards, or if you request a lot of holds, or have cards with multiple library systems. LibraryElf sends you e-mails or RSS alerts before items are due, as well as alerts on overdue materials and holds. It also consolidates a list of your family’s loans and holds, and (with the premium service) sends text message alerts for holds. One very nice enhancement is the ability to see the items you have out in your iCal calendar, such as Google Calendar, Outlook Calendar, and Apple iCal. With this feature, you can see at a glance a summary of the items you have out, including the library, user, and item titles. LibraryElf offers a free trial period, which includes all of the premium services, but expires after six notices (or three weeks, whichever is longer). Thereafter, the free service would continue at the Basic service level, with the option of the Premium level. The following comparison of these levels, which I took directly from LibraryElf (at http://www.libraryelf.com/Subscription.aspx), is helpful:
Basic and Premium Comparison
| Basic | Premium | |
| Library cards allowed | One | One or more |
| Customizable settings | Partial | All |
| Type of alerts | Pre-due and overdue | Pre-due, overdue, not due, holds ready and holds requested |
| Email format | HTML | HTML |
| RSS | No | Yes |
| Text message alerts 1 | No | Yes2 |
| Items summarized in Elf calendar | No | Yes |
| iCal calendar | No | Yes |
| Private daily snapshot web page | No | Yes |
| Real-time checking by browser | No | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Optional |
| Support | FAQ | 24-48 hour email response |
| Cost (single card) | Free | $12.00 USD/year |
| Cost (multiple cards) | Not available | $20.00 USD/year |
| Sign into your Elf account and subscribe today! 1 US and Canada only 2 Alerts for holds ready and items due the next day | ||
So, the prices are obviously: free for basic, $12/yr. for a single card at the premium level, or $20/yr. for multiple cards at the premium level.
The Hillsborough County Public Library Cooperative (HCPLC) is a subscribing member of LibraryElf, which means that patrons of HCPLC get the multiple card premium level service for free. I think this is wonderful! I’ve actually been a beneficiary of this service for several months, without even knowing it! I have a library card with HCPLC (my main branch library is the Brandon Public Library, but I also frequent the Seffner-Mango, Bloomingdale, New Tampa, and John F. Germany Libraries as well) and I’ve frequently received phone messages informing me that materials I have on loan are overdue, or that materials are available for me to pick up that I have placed on hold or have requested via Inter-Library Loan (ILL). Until today, I didn’t know that this service was through HCPLC’s subscription to LibraryElf. I even received seven (yes, seven!) phone calls from HCPLC on my wedding day to inform me of overdue materials! Yikes! In my own defense, I was a little busy, and not thinking about due dates at the time. How does that old saying go…doctors make the worst patients…and librarians make the worst patrons?! Well, in the end, this is a very helpful service for library patrons to keep track of their materials—both on loan and on hold—and to avoid overdues.
For Library Subscriptions, visit: http://www.libraryelf.org/ (Library subscribers can brand the LibraryElf website with their own logo, and there are no advertisements.)
For Individual Subscriptions visit: http://www.libraryelf.com/
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