SMS/Text Messaging with Shoutbomb

Overview

Bibliomation uses Shoutbomb as the third-party service to send text messages to patrons.

Patrons who opt in to SMS are enrolled the following day after registration, when their notification settings are adjusted by staff in Evergreen, or when they adjust notice preferences in the OPAC.

When enrolled, the patron receives a welcome text from Shoutbomb. SMS notices include:

  • Courtesy pre-overdues for items due soon

  • Hold ready for pickup

Keywords and Commands

Table 1. Shoutbomb commands you can text
Keyword Reply

MYBOOKS

Receive the status of your current checkouts.

HOLDS

Suspend or activate receiving hold ready for pickup text messages.

RENEW

Suspend or activate receiving texts for courtesy pre-overdues.

IOWEU

Get your total fines owed.

STOP

Immediately opts this phone number out of all Shoutbomb texts (legal opt-out). This overrides Evergreen notice preferences until the patron sends UNSTOP.

UNSTOP

Re-enables Shoutbomb messaging for a number that previously sent STOP. After UNSTOP, send MYBOOKS to confirm enrollment.

HELP

Get a complete list of keywords you can use to interact with Shoutbomb.

STOP is an opt-out at the messaging service level and will override a patron’s Evergreen opt-in settings. This is a Shoutbomb feature that is legally required. If a patron has ever sent STOP, they must first send UNSTOP to 844-506-7100 to resume receiving texts—this is why UNSTOP is the recommended first troubleshooting step for non-receipt.

Manage SMS Settings

In the OPAC

To change your SMS number or send a test text in the OPAC, go to Preferences → Notifications.

opac notifications
Figure 1. Notifications navigation in the OPAC

Here you can adjust the phone number and send a test text.

opac edit preferences
Figure 2. Notification edit in the OPAC

From the staff client

Troubleshooting Non-Receipt

If a patron reports they are not receiving Shoutbomb text messages, try the steps below.

Re-enable messaging with Shoutbomb

  1. Ask the patron to text UNSTOP to 844-506-7100.

  2. Then ask them to text MYBOOKS to 844-506-7100.

  3. If they receive their current circulations in reply, they’re all set.

Validate the phone number

  1. Confirm the patron’s current mobile number.

  2. Format the number as 10 digits only (no country code, no punctuation/spaces).

  3. Update the number in Evergreen.

  4. Use the "Send test text" feature in the patron edit screen to send a test message. See Send a test text from the staff client.

  5. If the test succeeds, the patron is all set.

Ask the patron to add 844-506-7100 to their contacts as something meaningful and recognizable like the library name so future messages are easier to recognize.

Related Documentation