Kay Munro and Rosemary Stenson's breakout session on developing a mobile strategy for the library (based on their experiences at University of Glasgow).

1. Developing a mobile strategy for the library
Kay Munro & Rosemary Stenson – University of Glasgow Library

2. Why should we care about mobile?
“According to a recent report from mobile
manufacturer Ericsson, studies show that by
2015, 80% of people accessing the Internet
will be doing so from mobile devices. Perhaps
more important for education, Internet- capable
mobile devices will outnumber computers
within the next year.”
Johnson, L., Smith, R., Willis, H., Levine, A., and Haywood, K., (2011).
The 2011 Horizon Report. Austin, Texas: The New Media Consortium

3. Will people really want to use the Library
on their mobile?
Operating No of Visits to No of visits to No of visits to
System Library Classic Search QuickSearch Yip – they
homepage
already were!
iPhone 5015 3560 1936
iPad 1817 1284 579
Data from Google Analytics
Android 1299 926 561 shows the number of hits to
Blackberry 970 627 290 the Library homepage,
Classic Search and
iPod Touch 719 689 247
QuickSearch pages by mobile
Symbian OS 278 208 79 devices for 2010 -11.
Sony 79 39 6
Samsung 20 13 4
Windows 17 12 3
Nokia 15 12 2
LG 5 1
Total number 10235 7372 3708
of visits

4. But what do our users want to do on their
mobiles?
Don’t assume – ask!
Establish a programme of regular surveys
of users to establish mobile device
ownership and use:
• What kind of devices do they have?
• What Library services do they currently
access via their mobiles?
• What Library services do they want to
be able to access via their mobiles?

5. Library Mobile Survey
What Library services do you currently use on your
mobile device?
Answer options Responses Responses
Mar 11 Jan 12
I didn’t know you could! 58.7% 51%
Search for books etc 29.4% 37%
Renew books 19.5% 22%
Check Library opening hours 19.5% 18%
Check account for fines 12.5% 24%
Watch Library videos 2.6% 1%

6. Library Mobile Survey
What other Library services would you like to
access?
Answer options Mar 11 Jan 12
Read e-books 50.9% 51%
Search for articles 59.3% 59%
Contact a Librarian/get help 21.3% 23.1%
Check out books 56.3% 57%
Wouldn't use Library services 12.9% 11.9%
on my mobile

7. Your experiences / thoughts?
What’s your story?
Are you measuring mobile
traffic on your own sites?
Are your users asking for
services for mobile devices ?

8. Getting started
Started in June 2010 – Mobile Technologies Group set up
Early decisions
• Not apps (for now)
• Catalogue search
• Renew books
• Need lots of phones, tablets and e-
readers to test
• Need to do regular surveys of library
users

9. The pace quickens!
Confirmation of the trend to mobile
• Planning for the implementation of
AirPAC began October 2010.
• Monthly data from Google
Analytics showing a bigger than
expected increase in mobile
access to our website & search
services
• Clear that we needed to think
more widely and more
imaginatively

10. JISC Strategy InfoKit
http://www.jiscinfonet.ac.uk/infokits/strategy
InfoKit sets out “the most important tasks and processes required to
successfully articulate, coordinate and manage Strategic activity” and
defines certain key stages in strategy development and implementation
We identified eight key stages :
3. evaluate and monitor developments in mobile
technology;
4. evaluate user requirements;
5. form and define our objectives;
6. formulate a strategy;
7. identify the resources required;
8. gain approval from senior management;
9. consult and obtain buy-in from other library groups;
10. manage effectively implementation.

11. Strategy emerges
Strategy emerges
• Dec 2010
• 10 areas
• Project plan
• Phased implementation
• What problems are we
facing?
University of Glasgow Mobile Strategy:
http://www.gla.ac.uk/media/media_203782_en.pdf

12. 10 areas
• Library search • Bluetooth
• QR codes • Infrastructure
• Instant messaging for • Live Lab concept
enquiries • User Education
• Access e-resources • Promotion and evaluation
• SMS library notices

13. How to manage an innovative strategy?

14. Your experiences / thoughts?
Do you have a strategy for mobile?
Is mobile part of a larger Library
strategy?
Is mobile part of a larger Institutional
initiative?

15. How we are delivering the strategy
Phase 1 Jan - Apr 2011
Ten priority areas
Eight Working Groups
Modest targets
Deliverable services
Phase 2 Jan 2012 – June 2012
Same ten priorities
Six working groups
More ambitious targets
Combination of deliverable
and aspirational services

16. Mobile Catalogue
Phase 1: July 2011
• AirPAC
• Searching/requesting
• Library Account
• Renewals/fines
• Key Library information

17. Mobile Web Site
Phase 2: May 2012
• Develop a mobile friendly
website
• Using iWebKit5
• Incorporate features from
AirPAC
• Still limited information but
mobile specific

18. Your experiences / thoughts?
Do you have a mobile version of
your catalogue or mobile website /
app?
Mobile Website or App?
Library initiative / IT initiative?

19. The ‘Live Lab’ concept
• For Library staff
• Variety of devices
• Familiarity & engagement
• Application to current
operational processes?
• Self-paced learning

20. Digital Media Skills
Digital Media
In the future, we must be able to teach
users about how to access information
from their mobile devices and show
them how to organise and use effectively
that information for coursework and
research.
(University of Glasgow Library Mobile
Strategy, 2010)
… But what about the Library staff?

21. 23 things mobile
23 things mobile!
23 things mobile is a self-directed course which will introduce Library staff to
mobile technologies. The aim is for staff to spend an hour or so each week
over 10 weeks exploring all things mobile – includes:
Communicating: bloggs, texts, tweets,
messaging
Devices: phones, tablets, e-book readers
Networks: wifi, 3G, the cloud
Applications: apps, ebooks, qr codes
Sharing: share point, facebook, google +
Fun stuff: videos, gaming

22. Your experiences / thoughts?
What is the level of digital
media skills among your
staff?
Are your staff onboard with
mobile initiatives

23. Top Tips and Lessons Learned
• Develop a strategy rather than just a number of
ideas
• Ensure that your strategic framework is flexible
and adaptable in this rapidly changing
environment – don’t be afraid to make changes!
• Understand that not every initiative will be
deliverable
• Get Library senior management buy-in
• Get Library staff involved
• Keep control of project
• Understand your users:
– what devices they own
– what they do with their devices
– what they want to be able access from the
Library via their devices