Breaking the boundaries: results from a trial of mobile content at the University of Nottingham

1. Breaking the Boundaries:
results from a trial of mobile
content at the University of
Nottingham
Wendy Stanton
www.nottingham.ac.uk/is

2. www.nottingham.ac.uk/is
Outline
•Aims of the Pilot Project
•Technical Issues
•Content
•Lending Services
•Usage
•Feedback
•Summary

3. www.nottingham.ac.uk/is
Aims of the project
 To identify demand
 To investigate technical/support issues
 To identify any practical issues
 To gain feedback
 To make recommendations

4. www.nottingham.ac.uk/is
Technical issues
 Customisation
 Personal data
 Wireless considerations
 Restrictions

5. www.nottingham.ac.uk/is
Lending
 6 Tablets
 2 Libraries Hallward and Greenfield
Medical
 3 hour time limit
 Use within the library only
 Security
 Power supply

6. www.nottingham.ac.uk/is
Content
•UoN Email
•YouTube
•Libraries – Which library do I need?
•UNLOC – Library Online Catalogue
•Browser
•Unbound Medicine

7. www.nottingham.ac.uk/is
Unbound Medicine
•Only ebook content
•Coincided with a trial of 13 titles
•Promoted to staff and students
•Technical considerations
•Multiple devices
•Use

8. www.nottingham.ac.uk/is
Usage
July
2011
Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Jan
2012
Loans 9 33 27 145 209 79 79
378 people borrowed the tabs and 27% have
used them more than once
There has been no loss or damage

9. www.nottingham.ac.uk/is
Feedback
 Feedback form given to each borrower
 175 forms collected
 128 Hallward
 47 Greenfield Medical Library
 60% from undergraduates and taught
postgraduates
 57% rated the experience positively
 6% rated it completely unsuccessful

10. www.nottingham.ac.uk/is
What were they using them for?
Greenfield Medical Library
• Internet browsing
• Articles, journals,
• Reading eBooks
• Lectures, slides, comments,
• Audio files through WebCT
• Library Catalogue

11. www.nottingham.ac.uk/is
What were they using them for?
Greenfield Medical Library
• Email
• Viewing PDFs
• Research with a PC
• MS Office
• Dictionary
• Make notes notes
•Facebook
•YouTube

12. www.nottingham.ac.uk/is
What were they using them for?
Hallward Library
In addition:
 Foreign language sites
 BBC sites
 Shopping sites/eBay
 Music sites
 Online blackjack!

13. www.nottingham.ac.uk/is
If they could change one thing….
 Screen size or brightness
 Improved wireless (connectivity, speed,
reliability, coverage)
 Use iPads instead!
 Better help/instructions/online tutorial
 More applications (MS Office, PDF Reader,
language software
 Better web browsing
 Access to WebCT

14. www.nottingham.ac.uk/is
If they could change one thing….
• Borrow for longer
• Take out of library
• Change settings -too noisy in silent areas
• USB port
• Longer power cable
• Faster software/processor
• A stand

15. www.nottingham.ac.uk/is
Other comments
• General positive comments about the service
• Would prefer more lap tops or PCs,
• Removal of personal information
• Heavy, hard to hold and use
• Small, mobile - took to shelves
• Can’t do any serious work, not efficient

16. www.nottingham.ac.uk/is
Library staff feedback
• Positive
• Training
• Improve functionality
• More publicity
• Often a last resort (when all laptops on loan)

17. www.nottingham.ac.uk/is
Summary
 Testing practical aspects of lending
 Tested student expectations
 Configuration for multiple users
 Pilot set up quickly to test basic principles
 Security of storage
 Wide range of tasks
 Preference for larger tablets, iPads
 User Guides and support

18. www.nottingham.ac.uk/is
Discussion points
• Do we extend provision?
• How can we make best use of their size,
portability?
• Cost benefits compared to more laptops?
• Address concerns about personal information
• Locking down v loss of potential benefits
• How we provide more support/training for
staff and students?