LibraryElf
From LIS 460 Summer 2007
Contents |
What is Library Elf?
Library Elf is an excellent Internet-based tool designed to help reduce overdue books and to keep patrons on top of what items they have checked out and when they are due. Via email, text phone messages, and RSS feed, Library Elf provides registered users with reminders - anywhere from weekly, to daily - when their books are due. Library Elf also informs patrons when items they have ordered or been wait-listed are available for pick-up. One of the best parts about Library Elf is that is completely free for patrons to join. Once patrons sign up for a free account, they then must choose from various options customizing how they want Library Elf to specifically work for them (what method, or methods, would they like Library Elf to notify them, how often, and for what purposes.
Library Elf is useful because it helps keep patrons organized, especially if a given patron tends to check out a lot of books. Who wouldn't want extra reminders letting them know when their materials are due?
Currently, Library Elf is most popular with Public Libraries, and is just now starting to catch on in Academic Libraries as well. Though not many School Libraries take advantage of Library Elf at the moment, I think it is only a matter of time before schools start to take advantage of this program, or something similar.
What are Benefits of using Library Elf?
-It is completely free for users to join.
-Library Partons know exactly what they owe, and when it is due.
-Patrons know when books that they are wait-listed for are available.
-Patron organization is drastically increased, resulting in fewer overdue books.
-site navigation and setting up an account is very user-friendly.
-Patrons can receive notification up to four different ways: 1. email, 2. text message, 3. RSS Feed, and 4). by signing into the Library Elf homepage and viewing your private account.
-Patrons can choose when and how often they want to be notified/updated. If a patron wants, he/she can be notified every day, every week, or even only 7 days before the book is due. The patron has complete control over how he/she wants Library Elf to be of use.
-Using Library Elf saves Librarians the time of making phone calls, sending letters, or writing emails themselves. Librarians will then have more time to work on other, more important projects.
-It is possible to receive notifications from different libraries through Library Elf if a person belongs to more then one. For example, a student could use Library Elf to keep track of his/her items at both the school library and the local public library, resulting in greater organization (provided both libraries subscribe to Library Elf).
What are the potential drawbacks of Library Elf?
-Currently, no K-12 school libraries utilize Library Elf. College Libraries seem to be taking advantage of Library Elf. On the bright side, if you are able to get your school to subscribe to Library Elf, you could become a trend-setter.
-Students must register themselves. It is completely up the user if he or she wants to take advantage of this resource. As a result, if not many people sign up, the purchase of the technology by the library may have been wasted. To combat this, students should be required to set up an account with Library Elf when they are first introduced to the library, and set up email notification.
-Standard Text messaging rates still apply, so it is important that students either be blocked from this notification method, or at least properly informed so that they do not receive outrageous bills if there phone plan does not include text messaging.
-School Libraries may not be able to afford this service. I was unable to find pricing for a library to subscribe.
Should Schools use Library Elf?
Because Library Elf has not yet caught on at the school library level, the question begs to be asked "should schools use Library Elf?" The obvious answer would be "yes, of course schools should use Library Elf." However, Library Elf should only be made available for High School students, as it may be slightly to advanced and unnecessary for any younger age level. Through the use of Library Elf, school librarians should be able to drastically cut down the amount of overdue library books turned in by students. During times of research, it is common for students to take out a large number of books, and along the way lose track of how many books they took out and when they are all do. With Library Elf, a student could set a reminder to give him an update 48 hours before an item is due, and another update the day it is actually due. Through the use of Library Elf, student organization will clearly increase. Ideally, I think that high school students should be required to sign up for email notification through Library Elf that first time they are introduced to the library.
Library Elf is also an important tool for students to learn not only because it keeps them better organized, but also because with each new technology students learn, they become more information literate. It would advantageous for high school students to learn how to use Library Elf because many Academic Libraries are starting to take advantage of Library Elf, and that way the student will already be familiar with how to use it and be a step up on other students.
But, there are potential barriers that could prevent Library Elf from reaching school libraries, such as cost. I was unable to find any information regarding how much a subscription would cost a library. Also, Library Elf would be too advanced for most students below the high school level, and as a result should really only be used in high school libraries.
