Editor’s note: This is a weekly column that provides readers with insight into the happenings of the four county libraries.
Do you ever wish that you could have access to your library account right in the palm of your hand? You can if you download the BookMyne app!
BookMyne, available for Apple or Android devices, is a free app that enables you to log into your account using your library card number and PIN in order to see what you have checked out and when those items are due, renew items, and view any overdue fines you may have. You can use BookMyne to place items on hold, check the status of your holds, edit or remove your holds, or suspend holds until a later date.
You can also use BookMyne to search the RVL catalog. You can search by all the same parameters – title, author, keyword, etc.– that are available to you on RVL.info. You can even use your device’s camera to scan bar codes of items you find in bookstores or elsewhere to see if those items are available in the library system. Think of all the money you can save if you borrow a book from the library instead of purchasing it!
Are you constantly forgetting to return your items on time? Late fees starting to add up? We have a resource for that, too! If you sign up for Library Elf, you can receive text or email reminders when items are due, overdue, or ready for pick up. Just go to www.LibraryElf.com and create an account to get started. Library Elf allows you to add multiple cards to your account, which is especially helpful if you have children who check out items on their own library cards. It’s time to ditch the endless sticky notes on the fridge, reminders scrawled across the back of your hand in pen, and forgotten mental notes that escape your memory as soon as you swear you’ll remember. Best of all, you can say goodbye to all those overdue fines!
Library Elf does more than just send reminders. You can use it to view your checkouts and holds, see what position you’re in on the holds queue, and get an idea of what actions you may need to take soon in order to keep your account in good standing. Not sure if you’ve already read a certain title? Library Elf can help! Library Elf is the only place that you can access your checkout history. It will provide you with a chronological list of items you’ve previously checked out, starting with the most recent.
Library Elf can be accessed through the web browser on your computer or mobile device. While you can’t search the library’s catalog, renew items, or edit or remove holds through Library Elf, it does provide a link to the RVL website, which you can use to do those things.
If you’d like to learn more about the BookMyne app or Library Elf, ask a staff member at your local branch for more information.
-Audrey Clark
