Have you seen the ‘Elf’ or specifically, the ‘Library Elf‘? He is not actually in your local library but is hanging out on the Internet. Elf is ‘your personal email library reminder service’. It works great and is very simple. Register with your name, an email address and create a password. Find your library system on the list and then add your library card and your ‘pin #’ if applicable.

From the site:

‘ Let Elf help you manage your library loans and holds…

Who uses Elf?

-Anyone who wants to reduce overdues

-Families with children and lots of books

-Individuals with several library cards

-Anyone who requests a lot of holds

-What’s delivered?

-Email and/or RSS alerts before items are due

-Email and/or RSS alerts on overdues and holds

-Consolidated list of yours or your family’s library loans and holds

-Cellphone text message alerts for holds (US and Canada)

-Real-time checking by browser ‘