Unique’s Gentle Nudge® Material Recovery Service is specifically designed for libraries. Since our inception, our focus has been simple: To provide libraries with a proven approach to help with the return of items to the shelves for patron usage, along with unblocking patrons who are currently unable to use library services.

While many things have changed since 1994, we believe these core standards continue to be vital to the success of libraries. Is it acceptable to ignore the overdue customer? To write them off as blocked, never to return? Or should you engage with these patrons showing them how easy it is to get back into good standing? Is it fair and equitable to the patrons who return their materials, but cannot checkout their next item as it remains indefinitely on hold or needs to be repurchased with dollars that could be used more productively?

At some point, more emails from your ILS are probably not going to do the trick – even those using Unique’s fantastic MessageBee notice service.  Most libraries send a courtesy pre-due notification 1-3 days prior to an item being due, then a 1 day, 7 day, 14 day, 28 day overdue, even a billing notice after that.  For those items still unreturned…one more email isn’t going to do it.  That is 5 or 6 communications in a 30-40 day window that go ignored!

Unique’s Gentle Nudge process includes all of the following standard:

• Data processes to locate and contact individuals who have moved
• Multi-channel communications including postal mail, emails, and telephone calls
• All communications crafted in the vein of our trademarked Gentle Nudge® approach creating awesome customer service while recovering valuable materials
• The leverage that a third-party name can give to your communication process, dramatically improving patron response
• Transparent reporting that helps you understand the value of the items that have been recovered
• Automate processing allowing library staff to focus on their critical responsibilities

All of the process is automated allowing library staff to focus on other critical responsibilities.