Libraries without walls

Libraries Without Walls: Its Time To Go Mobile The Power of Convergence: Technology and Connectivity in the 21 st Century Library and Information Services. PAARL Conference, 2009 Nov. 11-12, St Paul College, Pasig

Introduction
Libraries without walls refer to practices that provide equitable access to information for users who are located outside of the library building. The earliest form of library service outside library buildings are the book mobiles. Currently the Philippines also has library hubs.
In the new learning environment where the market is made up of digital natives and digital migrants libraries without walls are ICT-based library services provided to remote users.
Computer-based library services for distance and other learners
Mobile libraries or m-libraries that use mobile devices to provide library service

Book Mobiles or Mobile Libraries: A bookmobile or mobile library is a large vehicle designed for use as a library

Library Hub

ICT-based Remote Library Services
Website information: hours of opening, contact information, announcements, etc
Virtual reference services: ask a librarian, IM, chat, links to Web OPAC and other databases
Alerting services and document delivery services
Library services for distance learners
Web 2.0 tools and libraries
M-librarianship

Website Information

Virtual Reference Services

Virtual Reference Service

Alerting Services

Distance Learning/Education
Distance education, or distance learning, is a field of education that focuses on the pedagogy and andragogy, technology, and instructional systems design that aim to deliver education to students who are not physically "on site". ... en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distance_Learning

Distance/Remote Education
Principle: Students whether on campus or outside must have the same access to materials and services and provided with the same technical support
Basic Assumption. All services and instructions are offered at a distance using some kind of:
transmission system or telecommunications technology or
Networking agreement with other libraries

Extended Library Service
Library service that extended beyond normal hours or those that extend beyond the library to users other than students and faculty such as prisoners, sick and old people, those working in far places, etc.

Web 2.0 Tools and Libraries
Web 2.0 tools provide libraries with new ways of communicating and collaborating among themselves and with users. These tools allow users to write and contribute content to the Web
These applications/tools include: blogs, RSS and newsreaders, wikis, social bookmarking, photo/video sharing, social cataloguing, podcasting, mashups, virtual worlds

Blogs or Weblogs
An online journal on which article are posted in chronological order and in which users are able to participate by posting comments.
Libraries use blogs to promote their services, advertise events and post book reviews. Other libraries use it as their new home page. Still other use it for special subject areas.

RSS and Newsreaders
Really Simple Syndication (RSS) enables publishers to distribute their content to the masses. It involves posting an article, photo or other content to a Website after which a related XML page is created which people can access via an RSS link. That article, photo or other content can then be redistributed in any format as long as there is no violation of copyright.

RSS and Newsreaders
Libraries use RSS technology to share library news and content as well as to gather and redistribute related information from other Web sources.

RSS Feeds

Wikis
A wiki is a collaborative online space in which users can work together on a shared project. The largest wiki to date is Wikpedia.
Libraries use the technology to provide users with subject focused resource collections, and to offer community tools for participation and collaboration

Library Wiki

Social Bookmarking
Unlike social networking sites which focus on relationships, social bookmarking such as del.icio.us allow users to bookmark Web sites, articles, blog posts, images, etc for future retrieval.
Bookmark collections are organized by members who assign descriptive keywords or tags allowing for self-service taxonomy

Social Bookmarking
Libraries use social bookmarking to provide patrons with subject guides and readers advisory sources.
Traditional library web products are rigid for purposes of control. In the online world however, users prefer Google's simple interface. Social bookmarking and tagging tools help libraries bridge the gap between the library's need to offer authoritative, well-organized information and their patrons' web experience.

Social Cataloguing
Social cataloguing websites allow users to create personal catalogs of their books, CD and other collections and share them
LibraryThing is the largest of these social cataloguing Web sites. It has a collection of 17 million books. Other sites include Shelfari, and Listal.
Libraries use social cataloguing as a collection development tool and integrating LibraryThing in their catalogs

Podcasts
A series of audio recordings that can be subscribed to via an RSS feed. Podcast are being used for language learning, interviews, tours, debates, etc.
Libraries are using podcasting to communicate with and disseminate information to their patrons and market their services

Mashups
A mash up is a hybrid web application that combines data and functionality from different sources to form something new. A majority of mashups center on maps and videos
Libraries use mashups to display new library acquisitions by combining searches of book reviews with the library catalog.

M-Libraries or Library Mobile Services?
Library mobile services refer to library services provide to patrons within “mobile” environments or using mobile devices such as cell phones, iphones, and PDAs .
The aim of mobile library services is to bridge the digital divide by providing services to the “born digital generation” who commonly use mobile phones and other mobile devices.

The Mobile Web
Definition: The World Wide Web accessed through a mobile device such as cellular phones and the iPod Touch
Mobile phones that have Web capabilities can search the Internet from anywhere that the phone can get a signal. The cell phone is the desk top or lap top counterpart.

Example: ICDL
International Children’s Digital Library (ICDL). The largest collection of children’s literature available freely on the Internet is also available for iPhone application. The software is available free from iPhone App Store
The application (ICDL’s Clear Text Technology) allows users to read a selection of books from the ICDL collection clearly even from a mobile screen.

ICDL iPhone Application
Allows online/offline reading, simple navigation, one or two page view, clear text view.
Suffers from usability problems because of the small screen
Suffers from interoperability problems.

Why should Mobile Devices be used to provide library service?
They are convenient and portable. They can be used anywhere
They are flexible. They can be used for calling, texting, instant messaging, e-mailing, or browsing
They are proactive. Mobiles can be used to notify library users about new additions to the collection, overdues, etc. Notifications could be sent to students who've signed up for the service.
There are many more owners of mobile devices than desktops or laptops

The Mobile Devices
The mobile phones are the backbone of mobile communications. They have matured across four generations (1G, 2G 3G and now 4G)
Applications of mobile phones have become diversified and driven by many services, including music distribution, GPS autoroute guidance, electronic money, stock transactions, digital interactive TV, telemedicine and many others.

How are Cell Phones used by Students?
Take photos of catalog records, signs, etc to conserve paper and for later use
To get campus maps or contact information,
To also access the OPAC
To call the library
To access their email

How can Libraries Address Mobile Phone Users?
Libraries should:
Establish text alert services
Offer text reference services
Develop an OPAC interface for phones
Design a web site that should be configurable for small screens
Allow limited, silent-mode phone service
Develop audio tours
Look for technology that will make e-journal access possible

What Other Mobile Library Applications are currently available?

Services available in the Mobile Web
MOPACS
E-books
Audio books
Mobile TV/Video
Travel Information
Browsers
News
Blogging
RSS feeds
Food ordering
Microblogging
Mobile Web quick picks
Iphone only
Iphone quick picks
Jobs

Library mobile initiatives (1)
Library Websites and MOPACs (Mobile OPACs). Many libraries are offering Mobile versions of their Websites for their patrons to access from their cell phones. Some mobile Library Web sites are
Ball State University Libraries mobile site www.bsu.edu/libraries/mobile
OPLIN Mobile www.oplin.org/mobile
Boston University Medical Center Mobile Library http://med-libwww,bu.edu/mobile
Nashville Public Library www.library.nashville.org

PuBMed for Handhelds

Mobile Collections—Libraries load digital collections on the mobile devices for the duration of the loan period such as all reading assignments for a class.
Examples:
Thomas Ford Memorial Library offers e-mail services and play away.
Crouch Fine Arts Library (Baylor University) www.baylor.edu/lib/finearts

Library mobile instruction. Provide instruction via MP3 and video files that can be loaded/viewed in a video ipod.
Example: SheridanLibraries Podcasts (John Hopkins University) www.library.jhu.edu /podcasts

Library Mobile Initiatives (4)
Mobile databases—Academic software and database providers use the mobile web to provide information. The National Library of Medicine enables search of PubMed through handhelds at http://pubmedhh.nlm.nih.gov
Other examples:
Endnote www.endnote.com
Factiva Mobile http://mobile.beta.factiva.com
Westlaw mobile http://wl-w.com

Other Library Mobile initiatives (5)
Library SMS notification
Mobile audio tours
E-mail (push e-mail) where the email is directly “pushed” to the cell phone.
Instant messaging—MSN messenger and Yahoo offer web based clients and AIM allows IM forwarding as text messages.
Media sharing social networks—Media sharing MMS, Photosharing Flckr can be accessed by the mobile web through yahoo.
Reference Service

http://www.textalibrarian.com/mobileref/

Braking News
Music online on iPhones and iPods
EBSCO host Mobile

iPhone and iPod Applications
In 2010 Alexander Streets entire music portfolio, Music Online will be accessible on iPhone and iPod touch mobile devices.
Music Online is a new search tool that lets you cross the collection of audio, video, music scores and full text reference sources through a single interface.
Links are available at http:// tinyurl.com/ybnkxef < http://tinyurl.com/ybnkxef >

EBSCO HOST
All databses and services currently available on the EBSCOhost platform will be available via the EBSCOhost Mobile.
The main EBSCO host Mobile screen offers a number of options including choosing which databases to search and more.
Access to the press release at http:// tinyurl.com/yaxooqv ]

Journal of the American Chemical Society

Benefits of the Mobile Web
Constant connectivity—Always on
Location-Aware—have GPS (global positioning System)
Limitless access—Includes the whole Web
Interactive capabilities—Can receive and create content, make comments, take photos, write and post blogs, etc.

Challenges of the Mobile Web
Development standards--Variety of devices—different screen resolutions, functionalities, many kinds of browsers
Finding/developing made for mobile content
Difficult to navigate
Slow connection speeds
Small screens

Potential of the Mobile Web
3G/4G network development
Availability of software designed for mobile Web browsing sinch as Opera mini, mobi, symbian
Increasing ownership of mobile devices
Longer battery life
Improved signals
Search—Search engines for mobiles allow searching of the Web. Examples Microsofts LiveSEarch, 4INFO,ets

Challenges to Libraries
Have adapted to technology for modernization and not transformation.
People may be distant from a computer but they are more likely to have a mobile phone. Libraries must get their Website and OPACS function in a mobile-based browser

Conclusion
Libraries must use technology to reach and engage their users. They have to address the information seeking habits of the Net Generation
Libraries have to learn how to integrate the physical spaces with virtual spaces and services
Libraries have to make their Websites friendly to the computer and the mobile devices or handhelds

References
Lippincott, Joan K. Net Generation Students and Libraries. http://www.educause.edu/Resources/Educating the NetGeneration/NetGenerationStudensand c1999-2008 ??
Kroski, Ellyssa (2008) On the move with the mobile web:libraries and mobile technologies, Library Technology Reports 44:6
Kroski, Ellyssa (2008) Web 2.0 for librarians and information professionals New York: Neal-Schuman Pub.
Using Mobile Technology to enhance student’s educational experiences. ECAR Case Study 2, 2005

Libraries without walls

by Philippine Association of Academic/Research Librarians

Accessibility

Categories

Upload Details

Usage Rights

2 Embeds 2

Statistics