Subscribing to Library Elf

For the past five years Library Elf has been helping library patrons keep tabs on their library material. Library Elf is an independent service and was not funded by libraries. Costs have gone up (new server, higher bandwidth, etc.) and to help pay for the new costs and better support, we are implementing two levels of service: a basic service which is free and a premium service which is subscription based. If you have gotten good value out of Elf in the past, we hope you will help support Elf by subscribing to the premium service.

New Subscriptions

New users receive a free trial period. When you sign up, you will be able use the service at the premium level for the first six reminder notices or three weeks (which ever is longer). After that, the free service continues at the basic service level. At any time, you may subscribe to the premium service by logging into your Elf account and clicking the Subscribe button.

For existing users, this subscription system starts Jan 23/09. You will be given six additional free notices. During this time, you are able to log into your account and click the subscribe button to subscribe for the year. If you decide not to, then Elf will automatically convert your account to the free basic service level.

Basic Service

The basic service provides email reminders similar to those found in existing library email reminders: single card with pre-dues and over dues (holds ready and holds requested are not included). This free service is mainly for users whose libraries do not have a pre-due or overdue email reminder service. If your library does provide such a service then you should use theirs instead of ours.

Premium Service

The premium service provides multiple ways of monitoring your library cards. This is mainly for users who frequent different libraries, have families with young children and users who frequent the library a lot.

A number of libraries have subscribed to Elf's services. The libraries that have subscribed to Elf are shown with "subscriber" after their names. Subscriber library patrons will receive the multiple cards premium service at no cost - but only for the 'subscriber library'. These libraries automatically show up when you add a card to your Elf account and will have the "subscriber" designation after their names.

About 10% of the libraries are still in beta testing. These libraries automatically show up when you add a card to your Elf account and will have the "beta" designation after their name. There is no charge to use these libraries at the multiple cards premium level.

Also, for a limited time, we asked for donations from our Elf users. These donors will receive the equivalent single or multiple cards premium subscription for 2009. Thank you very much for your support.

Basic and Premium Comparison