Text Notifications from the Library
The library offers a text messaging service through Shoutbomb to help you keep track of your library account. Receive notifications about holds, upcoming due dates, overdue items and account fees.
What You Need to Get Started
- A mobile phone that can send and receive text messages
- A text messaging plan from your mobile carrier
- Your library card number
- Your last name
How to Sign Up
- Text SIGNUP to 844-551-1540.
- You will receive a message asking for your library card number.
- Reply with your library card number.
- You will receive a message asking for your last name.
- Reply with your last name.
If your library card number or last name is invalid, you will be prompted to enter it again.
After successfully signing up, you will receive confirmation messages explaining which notifications are active and introducing additional commands you can use.
How to Use
Each text you send to 844-551-1540 will trigger a response. Each command will trigger a new response. There is no need to clear between commands.
Commands are not case-sensitive; for example, texting "HOLDS," "Holds" or "holds" will all work the same.
General Notifications
General Notifications
Text any of the following commands to 844-551-1540.
| When You Send | What You Will Receive |
| HOLDS | Items available for pickup |
| COURTESY | Reminders about items that are due soon |
| OVERDUE | Overdue items |
| FEES | Fees on your account |
| NOTICES | View the current status of all your notification settings |
Check Your Library Account
Check Your Library Account
Text one of the following commands to 844-551-1540.
| When You Send | What You Will Receive |
| MYBOOKS | Lists holds, items due soon, overdue items and current fees |
| IOWEU | Shows the total fees associated with each registered library card |
| MYCARDS | Lists the library cards connected to your phone |
| RESEND | Resends available messages from the previous three days |
Item Statuses
Item Statuses
Text one of the following commands to 844-551-1540.
| When You Send | What You Will Receive |
| HL | List of items currently available for pickup* |
| CN | List of items approaching their due date** |
*If you send "HL" on the same day you receive a hold notification, the response may show only the items that became available that day. If you send it later, the response will show all items currently available for pickup.
**Item titles may be shortened to reduce the number and length of text messages.
Managing Additional Cards
Managing Additional Cards
You can connect additional library cards to the same phone number. Text one of the following commands to 844-551-1540.
Adding an Additional Library Card
- ADDCARD+LibraryCardNumber+Lastname- this will add a new card to your phone number to manage.
OR
- Text "ADDCARD" to 844-551-1540.
Reply with the additional library card number when prompted.
Reply with the last name associated with that card when prompted.
Text "MYCARDS" at any time to get a list of which cards are connected.
Removing an Additional Library Card
Text "DROPCARD"
If one extra library card is on the account, it will automatically drop that card.
If more than one is attached to the account, it will reply with a numbered list of all the accounts. Reply to the message with the number listed next to the library card you want to drop.
You will receive a confirmation message after the card has been removed.
Help Commands
Help Commands
At any time you can ask for help. Text one of the following commands to 844-551-1540.
You can type "Help" with any command. You will receive instructions explaining how that command works.
Examples:
| When You Send | What You Will Receive |
| HELP SIGNUP | For help with signing up for the system |
| HELP MYBOOKS | For help with managing your titles |
| HELP ADDCARD | For help with adding a card to your account |
| HELP REMOVECARD | For help with removing a card from your account |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a charge to use this service?
Is there a charge to use this service?
The library does not charge customers to use this service. However, your mobile carrier’s regular message and data rates may apply to texts you send and receive.
I didn't receive a reply. What should I do?
I didn't receive a reply. What should I do?
The text messaging service is generally configured to respond within 60 seconds. Delivery times can vary depending on your mobile carrier. If you do not receive a reply in that time, text "RESEND".
How do I stop notifications?
How do I stop notifications?
To immediately remove your phone number from the text messaging service, text: "STOP". You will receive a message confirming that your phone number has been removed.
How do I unsubscribe?
How do I unsubscribe?
At any point you can cancel receiving text messages from the library.
Text "QUIT+LibraryCardNumber+Lastname". You will receive a confirmation message saying you unsubscribed from the service. You can also text "QUIT" and then follow the prompts that will be replied.
You must use the PRIMARY library card to unsubscribe from the text messaging service.