Telephone Notification of Overdue Items

Everyone occasionally forgets to return Library materials on time. Our phone notification service will place three calls when an item is overdue on your PLCMC library card.

• one call when an item is 10 days overdue
• one call when it is 27 days overdue
• and one call when it is 44 days overdue.

To find out which items are overdue, call the TELECIRC service at (704) 416-0100 or check online.

Please have your library card bar code ready when you call. If you have any questions, please call your local library.

TeleCirc FAQs

• Dial In consists of a number of activities you can do by telephone.
• Dial Out delivers automated phone messages and notices to patrons.

What is the Telecirc number?
(704) 416-0100

What do I need to use Telecirc Dial In?
You must have a touch tone telephone to use Telecirc. Have your library card ready, and if you are renewing specific items, have them with you as well. Choose from these options:

1. Renewal Menu
   1. List items on loan
   2. Enter barcodes
   3. Renew all
   4. Quit
2. List titles on loan
3. List or cancel titles on hold
4. State current fines
5. List overdue items
6. Record your name
7. Listen to a library message

Tell me more about each option.

1. Renew - On this menu there are three choices you can make. You can either: list items on loan (with an option to renew), enter barcodes of items for renewal or renew all items currently out to you. Remember to have the barcodes of the items you wish to renew ready. If you have more than 15 overdues or owe more than $10.00 the renewal option will be unavailable to you. Renewable items may be renewed twice. What if I only want to renew 1 or 2 items? What is the fastest way to do this?

The fastest way to renew just 1 or 2 items is to choose the enter barcodes option from the renewal menu and enter the barcodes of the items you wish to renew.

The renewal service is available 24 hours a day. However if the item is due that day you must renew before 11:59 p.m. (before Midnight) in order to avoid overdue charges.

When you renew items currently on loan you will be given the new due date. When a renewal is not possible it will be for one of the following reasons:

• Item is not renewable (e.g. Rental Items)
• Item has reached its maximum number of renewals
• Item is on hold for another person
• You have more than 15 overdue items or owe more than $10.00.

2. List items on loan - You can verify the date that the items currently on loan are due back.

3. List or cancel titles on hold - You can hear a list of titles being held for you and the location where you may pick them up. You may also choose the option to cancel a hold. Telecirc will inform you that it will be cancelled overnight.

4. State current fines - You can find out if you owe any fines and charges to the Library.

5. List overdue items - You can hear a list items that are currently overdue.

How do I end the call to Telecirc Dial In?
To end the call at any time, please press the * key. After a moment, Telecirc will thank you for calling and hang up.

What does Telecirc Dial Out do?
Automated phone calls are made to library users who have items being held or who have overdue library materials.

How does it work?
When the phone is answered, Telecirc says "This is the Telecirc Library calling, please press "1" to continue." If the call is received by an answering machine, or if you wait and do not press "1", Telecirc leaves a voice message, repeating the message two times.

When "1" is pressed, the system states the borrower's name and then provides their library message. The message will then be repeated two times. You can hang up at any time during the message.

When you receive the message, you may then use the Telecirc Dial-In phone number ((704)416-6237) to find out more details (such as titles or due dates) on holds or overdue materials.

Telecirc calling schedule:

• Sunday: No calls
• Monday thru Saturday: 9:00 am to 9:00 pm
• Holidays: No calls

Valid phone numbers
Telecirc will call numbers that are up to 10 digits long (no extensions, missing numbers or extra numbers). Number separators such as dashes or spaces do not count. Some PBX systems and answering machines do not send the expected "tones" when the voice mail starts, so TeleCirc does not leave a message.

What does the "Invalid Barcode" message mean?

The most common reason for receiving this message is that you entered your library card too soon. If you receive an "Invalid barcode" message when dialing in to TeleCirc, please wait until the TeleCirc Greeting is complete (i.e. wait until you hear the phrase "followed by the pound key") before entering your library barcode.

If you receive a "fast busy" signal when calling into TeleCirc, it means that all of lines are currently in use.

If you are unable to dial into our TeleCirc system for any reason, please try our Online Catalog.

Privacy Issues
Although Telecirc Dial Out may speak your name and number of items you have on hold or overdue, Telecirc does not speak any title information. You have several options to find out the titles on hold or overdue.

• Check your account thru the PLCMC homepage http://www.plcmc.org
• Calling a library location
• Calling Telecirc 704-416-6237. The service is available 24 hours, every day of the year.

What if I don't want to receive TeleCirc phone calls
That's easy. Just sign up for e-mail notification of holds and overdues. You may also wish to contact your local branch for other options.