I found another library related mashup. Library Elf - your personal library reminder service. How patrons register. They create their own Library Elf username and password then they select their library and then they give Library Elf their library card number and pin number. If the patron's library is not listed they can recommend it to Library Elf to have it listed. Library Elf users then can receive emails, text messages, and RSS feeds for renewal reminders, overdues, and hold items.

Library Elf is independent of the library's on the list. It has no affiliation with the libraries and it operates on its own. Libraries who have catalogs that allow their users to access their accounts online using a username and pin are all eligible to be included in Library Elf's list. It is patron initiated not library initiated, although many libraries do recommend Library Elf to their users. I don't know of any who actively discourage its use because I think that would be counter productive, show their patrons how little they care about their service needs, and ultimately be pointless because Library Elf is not beholden to the libraries.

The thing I like about Library Elf can be a really great service for many smaller libraries (especially special and medical libraries) that do not have the ultra expensive and talented ILS from Innovative, Sirsi, etc. Some libraries are using open source catalogs while others are using more affordable catalogs that haven't yet developed all of the bells and whistles of the big guys. If your catalog already allows users to go online into their account and view their record, renew, place holds, etc. then they can sign up for this alert service even if your own catalog doesn't have the alert service yet. What a great thing for your users.