Opportunities for Mobile Enhanced Libraries Services and Collections (JHU Libraries Assembly)

Opportunities for Mobile Enhanced Library Services and Collections Tito Sierra, NCSU Libraries JHU Libraries Assembly May 21, 2010

Outline
The Mobile Opportunity
Mobile Library Projects at NCSU
NCSU Libraries Mobile
The WolfWalk Project
Issues to Consider When Developing Mobile Library Services and Collections

“ In the developed world, mobile computing has become an indispensable part of day-to-day life in the workforce, and a key driver is the increasing ease and speed with which it is possible to access the Internet from virtually anywhere in the world via the ever-expanding cellular network.”
— The Horizon Report 2010 Edition
(http://wp.nmc.org/horizon2010/ )

How prevalent is mobile internet access?

How prevalent is mobile internet access?
Approximately 15% to 20% of the U.S. population access the Internet on a mobile device on a daily basis.

How big is the market for mobile library services ?

How big is the market for mobile library services ?
Unclear at the moment.
Probably small, but likely to grow.

Mobile Projects at NCSU

A suite of library services
Optimized to 3 tiers of mobile devices
Content delivery framework based on MIT Mobile Web

“ MobiLIB” at NCSU (2007)

NCSU Libraries Mobile (2010)
Locations & Hours
Computer Availability
Search
Catalog
Summon
Ask Us
Room Reservations
GroupFinder
News & Events
Webcams
WolfWalk
Reserves (coming soon)

Guiding Principles
Don’t reproduce the library website—distill it to what users might actually use in a mobile use context .

Guiding Principles
Save the time of the library user.

Guiding Principles
Mobile apps are a new thing, so be receptive to new ideas .

NCSU Libraries Mobile Demo http://m.lib.ncsu.edu

Locations & Hours

Computer Availability

Catalog Search

Ask Us

Webcams

Implementation Notes
Nearly all of our mobile library services are re-skinned versions of existing web applications .

Implementation Notes
Reuse of existing infrastructure lowered development costs and rapid prototyping possible.

A historical guide to NC State campus
University Archives Photo Collection
Location-aware
Two versions
Mobile website
iPhone App

WolfWalk Concept
Make it easy for the NC State campus community to learn about the history of campus while on campus .

WolfWalk Concept Jason Casden, NCSU Libraries

Todd Kosmerick and Adam Berenbak, NCSU Libraries

Jason Casden, NCSU Libraries

The WolfWalk Project Demo http://m.lib.ncsu.edu/wolfwalk

Location-aware Collections
How else can the location-aware concept be applied to library collections?

Location-aware Collections

Issues to Consider When Developing Mobile Library Services and Collections

Basic Questions
What value does the “mobile” aspect of the project add to the user experience with a library service or collection?
What incentives do users have to access this content on a mobile device, rather than via existing channels?

Local Factors
How prevalent is mobile internet and app usage in your user community?
Are there different patterns of use between undergraduate and graduates?
Are the mobile opportunities unique to your campus (e.g., medical reference)?

Implementation Choices
Do you build a platform specific “native app” (e.g., iPhone App, Android App), a mobile website that works across a range of devices, or both?

When to Make a Native App
Charging for it
Creating a game
Using specific locations*
Using cameras
Using accelerometers
Accessing the filesystems
Offline users

The Case for Mobile Web Apps
“ I believe that unless your application meets one of these native application criteria, you should not create a native application, but should instead focus on building a mobile web application.”
— Brian Fling, “Mobile Design and Development”

The Case for iPhone Apps
“ I am writing to tell you that I think usage and therefore your impact will be minimal if you only have a mobile website. You need to port your website to apps for the Apple and Google App Store. People spend most of their time accessing data on the web through apps.”
— Unsolicited feedback from a WolfWalk user

Shifting Landscape
Mobile technology is changing rapidly, making it difficult to plan for what’s next
New standards and technology are unevenly distributed across platforms
New interaction models emerging
Location-based Services (e.g., Foursquare)
Augmented Reality

Closing Thoughts
If you plan to work in the mobile space, be prepared to experiment .

Closing Thoughts
If you plan to work in the mobile space, be prepared to experiment .
The lack of prevalent models makes this work both challenging and exciting .

Thank you for your time! Tito Sierra [email_address]

More Information
NCSU Libraries Mobile:
http://www.lib.ncsu.edu/dli/projects/librariesmobile
The WolfWalk Project:
http://www.lib.ncsu.edu/dli/projects/wolfwalk

Opportunities for Mobile Enhanced Libraries Services and Collections (JHU Libraries Assembly)

by Tito Sierra

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Opportunities for Mobile Enhanced Libraries Services and Collections (JHU Libraries Assembly) Presentation Transcript