Unique Is The Material Recovery Experts For Libraries.
Let us show you our secrets.
Our focus is providing libraries with a proven approach to help with the return of items to the shelves and unblocking patrons who are currently unable to use library services.
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?
The Unique Process
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.
Materials remain the most important issue for patrons.
Patrons reported that access to readily available books and materials was the most important library offering according to a new survey. Readily available materials were judged to be more important than even even more than e-books and other virtual materials or library events.
Unique partnered with several of our library customers to conduct a survey of their patrons to better understand library customer perspectives and behaviors regarding library materials, library communications and virtual services. Enter your email to see the full survey results:
Questions? Sign Up For A Free Material Recovery Consultation
Learn from our extensive experience working with over 2,000 libraries worldwide.
With almost 30 years of experience, we understand the particular needs and concerns of libraries. Let’s set-up a time to review your internal processes and settings and share any suggestions to save your library time and money.