As Tracey Quigley (graduate-speech communication) sat down at her computer to eat breakfast Tuesday morning, she got a surprise in her e-mail.

The book she had put on reserve at Schlow Memorial Library, 100 E. Beaver Ave., was available for her to pick up.

Previously, Quigley would have received the notice in the mail, meaning a wait of several days before she even knew Jane Green's Jemima J was available.

"It's faster, it's easier," Quigley said. "It's more convenient, and it saves paper."

Schlow implemented its e-mail notification system Monday for overdue or reserved books and fines.

Although the library only has about 5,000 e-mail addresses for its 33,000 patrons so far, staff members hope the program will continue to grow.

"We're hoping that even if only 1 or 2 percent sign up that we'll save money," said Diane Schmidt, Schlow's circulation director.

People also get the notices quicker than in the mail, she said.

Schlow tested the e-mail notification system last week on staff members. For instance, Schmidt said the system was set up so that she would receive an overdue notice for a Berenstain Bears book.

The software the library is using was downloaded and implemented at no cost to the library, and so far, the switch has been completed without problems.

Getting the e-mail addresses of each patron for notification purposes can be tedious, however.

For the past few years, the library has been gathering e-mail addresses to prepare for the new system, Schmidt said. Papers around the library ask patrons to give the library their e-mail addresses in hope of saving money, paper and time.

The library has paper imitations of CD-ROMs asking for e-mail addresses.

Once filled out, patrons drop them in the disk drive of a miniature, cardboard version of a computer.

To Penn State students, electronic notification seems routine.

Penn State's library system has been using e-mail notification since November 1997, said Dace Freivalds, lead systems analyst with Library Computer Services.

"One reason to switch was the cost reduction, and this way users get notice much more quickly," she said.

Currently, 75 percent of the library's users received e-mail notification, though Freivalds said there are still those who prefer to receive them through the mail.

It is optional for Penn State users to be notified by e-mail.

It took Penn State about six months to completely implement the program, including the time spent programming its notification system, Freivalds said.

Despite the switch to e-mail, Schlow will still need to send some regular mail notices. If a material is not returned after six weeks, a notice must be sent by certified mail for legal reasons, Schmidt said.

She added e-mail notices for overdue books are sent out two weeks after the material was due — enough time for the library to search for the book itself.

Estimates reveal Schlow could save roughly $10,000 a year if all users switched to e-mail, Schmidt said, adding 90 percent of the mail the library sends is notices for the thousands of items that are overdue at any given time.

Besides saving money, the library also hopes e-mail could reach students who have moved and not updated their addresses.

"It's been really positive," she said. "Hopefully it will run without a hitch and get people the information faster."

To switch to e-mail notification, patrons should call the library at 235-7815 or e-mail acctinfo@schlowlibrary.org.