My Own Personal Amazon

Of all the numbers in my life, the most useful has to be my library card number. It's so useful that I've even managed to memorize it, which is something I've yet to accomplish with my credit car or driver's license numbers.

I use the library system here in Salt Lake like my own personal Amazon. As soon as I hear about a book I'd like to read, I login to their web site and order it to be transferred to my neighborhood branch. Then they email me when it's ready for me to pickup. Generally it's an ideal system.

It's weak points are not alerting me to due dates and the clunkiness of the interface to login and check what I've got reserved and checked out.

There are ways around this though. Library ELF recently appeared on the scene. It ties into libraries across the country and allows you to access all your library information from one simple screen. It even allows you to tie into multiple library accounts, and then provides the information via email or RSS feed.

If you aren't taking full advantage of the library in your community, I strongly urge you to. I'd be going broke from my goal of reading one book a week if it weren't from my library. And if you are taking full advantage of your library, check out Library ELF.