SMS (text) messaging

SJVLS libraries now offer SMS text messaging notification of holds, overdues, and general messages.  This is an opt in service, it will not be automatically applied.

There are 2 ways this can be set up:  either by staff in Horizon (the choices are under the phone number), or by the customer in the My Account section of Enterprise.

or

Some things to know:

• When an SMS HOLD message is sent there will be no phone, email or print message sent.
• When an SMS OVERDUE message is sent, customers will get *both* the SMS and their standard way of notification.
• "General” message examples are “Game of Thrones Season 5 was returned without disc 4” or “Your claimed return item, Game of Thrones Season 5 has been located on the shelf and checked in.”  The ability to add these messages will be added to some staff accounts soon (more on this to come).
•   In Horizon, only check SMS options for mobile phones (“m” or “m-no”), even though the options appear for “home” or “other”.  Checking SMS for home or other phones will do nothing.
• If a customer wants both email and SMS, set up the phone type as ‘m-no’.  If SMS and a phone message to their home phone is wanted, set mobile phone as ‘m-no’ and add a home phone number with the ‘h’ designation.
• Holds for eBook or eAudio items may be placed via Enterprise, but customers will not get a text message; they will get their usual email notification.
• The phone number the text messages are sent from is 8559132458.

  

 1/2020

Time Elapsed From Overdue to Lost Status

Overdue notices are sent every 15 days following the date the Overdue Still Out block is set on the borrower’s record. There are 60 days between the Overdue Still Out block and when the item status is automatically set to Lost status. The same schedule applies for print, phone and email notices. Here’s an example of the progression for an item with a three-week circulation time that has not been returned:

• Item checked out........................March 1
• Overdue Still block placed...........March 23
• First Overdue Notice....................April 7 (sent by print, phone or email depending on preference in Borrower's record)
• Final Overdue Notice...................April 22 (sent by print to all borrowers)
• Lost Notice...............................May 22 (sent by print to all borrowers 60 days after item overdue)

We used to send out additional notices between the first and final overdue notice. However, these reminders were shown to have little effect on customers' returning overdue their items. Therefore they were eliminated and we saved the cost of producing and mailing those notices.

Revised 9/15/2010
Reviewed 1/2018