What is the proposed product or service?

Library Elf

What does it do?

If patrons opt to use it, it accesses their accounts and sends them updates of when things are coming due, are overdue, are available for pickup, etc. It sends email everyday there is pertinent or unresolved information instead of simply one time like system options may make available.

What problem does it solve?

Helps patrons keep aware of due dates and requests that are available for pickup, avoiding fines or materials being returned prior to pickup.

Is it the only product or service that does this?

I don't know if Voyager would enable some sort of similar internal messaging system, but even so, I would guess that it would only send a single notice. I am unaware of any other similar service.

Will this require integration with an existing CARLI product or service?

Yes, Voyager.

What is the advantage of doing this consortially?

Since patrons may have materials from any system library, and since some libraries charge quite substantial late fees and do not send out any kind of notice until something is converted to a lost status, this will potentially avoid a significant amount of patron frustration and additional paperwork generating notices. The question of privacy, is of course, a concern, but the Lincoln Trails system makes Library Elf available consortially, as do others consortia and as a user, I feel that the convenience is worth the risk. Since patrons have to opt in to the system, they are each making a choice about their own privacy/convenience comfort level.

CARLI Actions on this Product

This suggestion was discussed at the February 2007 meeting of the PSVC. Concerns expressed were privacy, giving Library Elf access to our patron records for any purpose, and the committees' reluctance to use it in their own libraries. Because of this, the PSVC has declined library Elf at this time.

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