Text Message Notifications

Keep up-to-date with your library account on your mobile phone using the library’s new Shoutbomb text messaging service.

• Receive text notices about items available to pick up, items due soon, overdue items and fines.
• Send a text to request a renewal and receive a text back with the result of your request.
• Send an ISBN to check whether a book is on the shelf at a nearby InfoSoup library.
  

PLEASE NOTE: The library does not charge a fee for this service, but your cell phone plan’s regular text-messaging rates apply.

Frequently asked questions:

Will I be charged for this service?
How do I sign up for the Shoutbomb service?
How do I use the Shoutbomb service in Spanish?
How do I send a text message to an email address?
What do I do if I don’t get a reply from the Shoutbomb services?
When will I receive texts?
What kinds of messages are available with the Shoutbomb service?
How do I report an issue?
How do I quit using the Shoutbomb service?

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. Check with your cell phone service provider to see the cost of text messages in your service plan.

How do I sign up for the Shoutbomb service?

1. Send a text message with only the keyword signup to infosoup@shoutbomb.com.
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 typed incorrectly. 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 zero was accidentally omitted, an error message will be received asking for the number once again. Go back to your original message and make sure the library card number entered is accurate, make any necessary corrections and resend. If you resend the same number you will not receive a reply. (See “What do I do if I don’t get a reply?” for more info.)
4. If the library card number is valid, you will receive a message asking for your PIN.
5. If the PIN is valid, you will receive a message thanking you for registering.
6. If registration is complete, you will receive a message asking for your email address. Sending your email address is optional.
7. This completes the signup process.
   

How do I use the Shoutbomb service in Spanish?

In order to use a language other than English, you must select the appropriate keyword that corresponds to the English equivalent. Below are the Spanish translations for each of the English keywords.
*Note: in some cases the keywords are always in English

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 infosoup@shoutbomb.com email address. Give the contact a name, such as “InfoSoup 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.
• Some phones have a separate field for Email and Phone Number. If this is the case, enter  infosoup@shoutbomb.com in the Email field.
• If not, look for a box that says 123 on the menu screen. (This means that you’re entering a number to designate who you’re texting.) Press the relevant button (typically the Shift key or one of the Option buttons) to switch this to ABC.
• Enter infosoup@shoutbomb.com as the designated address. Send the message signup  to this location.
• Add this contact info to your Address Book.

Android Phones:

• Open up Messaging and select Compose New Message.
• Set infosoup@shoutbomb.com as the recipient.
• Send signup as the message text.
• Save infosoup@shoutbomb.com as a contact.

Apple iPhone:

• No special instructions

BlackBerry:

• Click on Messages.
• Press the BlackBerry button and select Compose SMS Text.
• Select [Use Once]. When it asks “Which Type of Address?” choose Email.
• Enter infosoup@shoutbomb.com as the email address. Send the message signup.
• Add infosoup@shoutbomb.com to your Address Book.
  

What do I do if I don’t get a reply from the Shoutbomb service? 

The Shoutbomb service processes all request within 60 seconds of receiving your message, but some cell phone providers do not deliver this first message promptly. 

1. Wait and see if the reply arrives.
2. If after 4 hours you still have not received a reply, send the keyword resend to infosoup@shoutbomb.com.

3. 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 infosoup.support@shoutbomb.com.
   

When will I receive texts?

Texts will be sent only when activity on your account triggers a message and will usually arrive around 8 AM and 4:30 PM. 

What kinds of messages are available with the Shoutbomb service?

General services messages

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.  This option is automatically turned on when you register.
help - Request detailed descriptions and how to use each keyword.
isbn - Texting  the letters “ISBN” + a 10- or 13-digit ISBN number to search the library catalog. Useful if you are in a bookstore and want to check library holdings.
signup - Register for text messaging service.
resend - Resend the last message from Shoutbomb.
test - Test your connection to Shoutbomb service.
quit – turn off the text messaging service.

Hold messages

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

ra - Request to renew all eligible items.
renew – Toggle notification on or off for 2-day due date warnings. (This option is automatically turned on when you register.)

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 infosoup.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 infosoup@shoutbomb.com, then reply to the instructions from Shoutbomb.