Keep up-to-date with your Deerfield Library account on your mobile phone using the Library’s Shoutbomb Text Notifications service!
- Receive text notifications about items available to pick up, items due soon, overdue items, and charges.
- Send a text to request a renewal and receive a text back with the result of your request.
- Send a text to see your account’s expiration date.
The Library does not charge a fee for this Text Notifications service, but your cell phone plan’s regular text messaging rates apply.
PLEASE NOTE: Choosing to use the Shoutbomb text notifications service does not change the email notifications you have been receiving from the Library. This service is an additional method of managing your Library account.
What You Need
- A text messaging-capable mobile phone.
- Subscription to text messaging (confirm this with your cell phone service plan).
- The fourteen digit barcode number from your registered library card.
How to Sign Up for the Shoutbomb Service
Sign Up By Phone
1. Send a text message with the keyword signup to 847-243-6987.
2. You will receive a reply asking you for your library card number. If you receive a reply telling you that we could not understand your message, this typically means that the text was mistyped. For example, signup is correct while sign up is not.
3. Reply with only the information requested. If library card number is mistyped or a digit is missing, an error message will be sent asking for the number once again. If you resend the same number you will not receive a reply. (See “What do I do if I don’t get a reply?” in our FAQ section below for more info.)
4. If the library card number is valid, you will receive a message thanking you for registering.
5. If registration is complete, you will receive a message asking for your email address, which is OPTIONAL to provide. If you don’t want to provide your email, do nothing. If you do provide your email, it will only be used by Shoutbomb if you have support issues that cannot be handled via text messaging.
Basic Commands
Text any of these commands to 847-243-6987 for information about your account.
addemail – Request to update user’s profile with an email address.
dropemail – Request to update user’s profile by deleting existing email address.
fees – Toggles notification on or off when fees have been added to your account.
The fee option is automatically turned off when you register.
help – Request detailed descriptions and how to use each keyword.
hl – Request a list of your items currently on hold.
quit – Turn off the text messaging service.
ra – Request to renew all eligible items.
Add Additional Family Members
addcard – Add additional library cards. Ideal for parents wanting to add their child’s card to their notifications.
Will I be charged for this service?
The library doesn’t charge a fee for this service, but your cell phone plan’s regular text messaging rates still apply.
How do I send a text message to an email address?
Nearly every text-capable phone has the ability to send messages to an email address. Generally, you create a new contact and instead of adding a phone number, add the 847-243-6987 phone number. Give the contact a name, such as “Deerfield Library Texts,” that will be easy to remember. Send a text to the newly created contact.
Here are more details about signing up with your device…
Most Phone Types:
- Go to Messaging and create a new text message.
- Open up the Send To box to designate the recipient.
- Enter 847-243-6987 as the designated address. Send the message signup to this location.
- Add this contact info to your Address Book.
What do I do if I don’t get a reply from the Shoutbomb service?
The Shoutbomb service processes all requests within 60 seconds of receiving your message, but some cell phone providers do not deliver this first message promptly.
- Wait and see if the reply arrives.
- If after 4 hours you still have not received a reply, send the keyword resend to 847-243-6987.
- You can only use the RESEND command three times per day. This limitation is in place to protect from spam messages. If you do not receive a reply after three days, then send an email detailing your issue to deerfieldlibrary.support@shoutbomb.com.
When will I receive texts?
Automatic texts will be sent only when activity on your account triggers a message and will arrive as early as 9 a.m., seven days a week. Additional messages about available holds will also be sent at 11 a.m., 2 p.m., and 4 p.m. Requested information will come as soon as the request is processed.
Notice Frequency
- Courtesy notices arrive 2 days before an item is due.
- Overdue notices are sent on days 7, 14 and 21.
- Hold notices are sent as items are ready for pick up.
- Card expiration reminder sent 30 days before it expires.
What if I switch phones but keep the same number?
If you switch to a new cell phone and the phone number remains the same you may need to transfer the service to the new phone. Text the keyword SWITCHPHONE to 847-243-6987 and follow any prompts.
How do I report an issue?
If you are experiencing any issues with the service or you would like to make a suggestion for improvement, please text/email your comments to deerfieldlibrary.support@shoutbomb.com.
How do I quit using the Shoutbomb service?
To end all text notifications and cancel your registration, text the message quit to 847-243-6987, and then reply to the instructions from Shoutbomb.
What kinds of messages are available with the Shoutbomb service?
General Service Messages – Text any of these commands to 847-243-6987 for information about your account.
addcard – Add additional library cards. Ideal for parents wanting to add their child’s card to their notifications.
addemail – Request to update user’s profile with an email address.
dropcard – Remove one or more additional cards linked to your account.
dropemail – Request to update user’s profile by deleting existing email address.
fees – Toggles notification on or off when fees have been added to your account.
help – Request detailed descriptions and how to use each keyword.
ioweu – Requests your current total charges for each library card.
mycards – Request a list of all the library cards registered to your phone.
notices – Request a list of the current opt in/out status for all notice types.
quit – Turn off the text messaging service.
resend – Resend the last message from Shoutbomb.
signup – Register for text messaging service.
switchphone – If you have changed your phone or phone number.
test – Test your connection to Shoutbomb service.
Hold Messages – Text any of these commands to 847-243-6987 for information about your holds.
hl – Request a list of your items currently on hold.
holds – Toggles hold notices on or off. (This option is automatically turned on when you register.)
Renewal Messages – Text any of these commands to 847-243-6987 for information about your renewals.
ra – Request to renew all eligible items.
renew – Toggle notification on or off for courtesy notices – sent out 2 days before an item is due. (This option is automatically turned on when you register.)
