Overdue/Hold notices

["Amy Frazer" <afrazer@xxxxxxxxxx>]

We are a mediun size public library with a bookmobile and curently send out notices to our patrons about items on hold and/or overdue items.  We use a multicopy data mailer. We investigated a generic postcard but III said we have to print at least one item which we would not like to do (privacy issues).  We wanted to say "You have overdue items" or "You have a item on hold at____________"

Also at present, if we request an item for a patron from the bookmobile (which has its own collection) we get a message that says we will deliver the item even though

they ordered to pick up at a certain branch.  Apparently the message printed is triggered by where the item comes from rather than the pickup location according to III.  We could go with a generic message but we really don't want to.  Another problem is in an effort to get as many items on the datamailer as possible we have pushed out the line which says the pickup location.  Not to mention the difficulty reading the datamailer if the ribbon is anything but new.

What do other libraries do about notification of their patrons?  Telephone noticfication is a possiblity but right now the cost is prohibitive.  I would appreciate any suggestions to better our situation.  Many thanks.

 

Amy Frazer, Information Services
Rockingham County Public Library
Eden North Carolina