It is possible to generate many different SMS alerts through Alma, please read this page through and request activation by emailing the Help Desk at help@flvc.org. FLVC has already set up and tested the necessary Integration Profiles for each institution which sends texts generated by Alma through our Twilio server to the patron.
Less than half of the forty institutions had SMS set up for their patrons through Mango. The Mango set up allowed patrons to opt-in to SMS messaging themselves when they logged in. Since this feature was through Mango and not through Aleph it wasn’t possible to migrate that information into Alma. The alerts that the patron received through Mango were: Courtesy, Overdue, and Hold Available.
Before turning on SMS messaging you should consider which notifications should be turned on, there are many to choose from and you may not want them all. SMS messages are received in addition to emails.
In order to receive SMS messages a patron must have an SMS "Preferred" phone number in their patron account. This can either be created manually by staff or the patron can log in to their account through Primo and add the number themselves.
When you request SMS messaging to be turned on please let us know which notifications you would like to activate.
Please read the following about SMS opt in/out compliance:
https://www.twilio.com/learn/call-and-text-marketing/guide-to-us-sms-compliance
While it is possible to set an SMS phone number for patrons through the patron load, FLVC cannot support this option at this time. FLVC currently pays for the Twilio service which includes a base rate plus a charge per message. Having messages go out to all patrons has the potential to make this service unaffordable. Allowing patrons to opt in will ensure only the patrons who want to receive messages receive them, will prevent patrons who don't want to receive them from marking library texts as spam and possibly putting our service on notice, and will keep costs reasonable.
Patrons can opt in themselves by logging in to Primo and going to the Personal Details section of their Library Card.
If opting patrons in through the patron load is not feasible. patrons can be manually added by staff. In order to facilitate this your library might want to create a sign-up list.
The steps to do this are as follows:
In Alma search for the patron:
Open the patron record and click on the “Contact Information” tab.
Look for the patron’s preferred cell phone number in the Phone numbers list.
If it is there, click on the ellipse next to the phone number and change the “Preferred SMS” from ‘No’ to ‘Yes’ and click the “Save Phone” button at the top right.
If it is not in the list, click the “Add Phone Number” link. Choose, “Mobile”, add the number, change the “Preferred SMS” from ‘No’ to ‘Yes’ then click “Add and Close”.