1) The document discusses different approaches taken by various institutions in Scotland to develop mobile apps and deliver content to mobile devices. 2) It describes apps developed by Telford College, the University of Edinburgh, and Stirling University, highlighting their key functions and the challenges faced. 3) It proposes a shared national survey be developed by members of a Mobile Devices Community of Practice to understand existing mobile activities across Scottish libraries and priorities for future development, with the goal of identifying areas for potential collaboration.

1. Delivering Content to Mobile Devices
Andrew McCreath
Exec Director of IT&Communication
Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen

2. A touch of context
• HEIDS “above campus” IT Services Study 2011
– Collaborative tools highlighted. Such tools include:
• Email
• Shared calendaring;
• Shared documents and document storage;
• Communications tools such as instant messaging, Voice Over
IP, (VOIP); video conferencing, Twitter and Facebook;
• Conferencing and bulletin boards such as like Ning or Elgg;
• Shared and secure file management such as Sharepoint /
Google Docs, Sites and Office365;
• Content Management systems such as Drupal, Joomla and
Wordpress;
http://www.heids.ac.uk/reports/HEIDS_Shared_IT_Services_Study_Report.PDF

3. What
Stirling Collaborative
Nov 2011 Tools are of
Interest?
SharePoint
Telford College
Feb 2012
Lync + Telford’s Mobile Apps
Office 365 + Lunch
at
ZeroOne
O365 Event
Dundee
UWS, Hamilton Creating
Aug 2012 Mobile
Apps

4. UWS – Hamilton, 24th August
• 3 Contrasting Approaches.
• All delivered access to information, and
selected services.
• Edinburgh Telford College
– App developed by third party, 1st release Oct 2011
• Edinburgh University:
– Ombiel app
• Stirling University
– Decided to develop a “web app”

5. Edinburgh Telford College
• Engaged with students to determine design and
functions
• Key functions – personal timetable, interactive
diary, absence recording, contacts for key
departments
• Cost savings from not printing student handbook
• Winner of Jisc I-tech award in 2012 for support to
learner services
• App developed by Smartphone
http://www.slideshare.net/mccreatha/mobile-app-development-telford-college

7. Edinburgh University / Ombiel
U@Ed
• Providing access to the data and underlying
services is the key challenge more than the
App availability.
• Ombiel find a number of services are
commonly requested by Institutions - Library
services, VLE access, availability of PC's. For
staff, access to finance and student records.
• “If it's on a database, it can be pushed onto an
app”.
http://www.slideshare.net/mmorrey/ued-mobile-app-for-the-university-of-
edinburgh

8. Student Survey

11. Stirling University
mStir
• Quick access, bite size, time sensitive information
well suited to mobile access situations. Not just
replicating the web site.
• Webkit engines can create a very good "app"
experience on mobile devices
• Creating app was relatively straight forward
• Getting accurate data from back end systems
onto the app was main challenge
• Printer & PC availability – high demand
• Developing “Library Anywhere”
bit.ly/mstirheids

14. UWS Hamilton – Action Areas
• Procurement
• Sharing of Expertise / Knowledge
• Collaborate to define external data feeds
• Collaborate to create a national survey

15. Institutions
Bespoke
1 Commercial
Suppliers & Commercial App
External Organisations Development
Resource
Commercial Shared
Solution Commercial
Developer App
Bespoke
Inhouse
App
2
3 Shared
Community
App
Shared National
Survey of Learners 4
Open Source?

16. SCURL Community of Practice
on Mobile Devices
• A survey will be composed and designed by
some members of the Mobile Devices CoP.
• It will be circulated to
– SCURL members (incl National Museums of Scotland)
– FE College Librarians
– HEIDS
– The Public Library sector
• Issued inDecember 2012 with analysis of the
responses to be completed by mid January 2013.

17. Survey Contents
• Existing activity amongst SCURL member libraries/other Scottish
libraries, particularly in relation to (but not excluding other areas): resource
discovery, delivery of content (using own or vendor tools), showcasing
collections, location based and transactional services, orientation and
education, skills to support m-library developments;
• Approaches being used e.g. in house developments, 3rd part supplier, mixed
economy;
• Are developments cross-organisation or at library/department level;
• Any insights into user behaviour in relation to the consumption of m-library
services/resources;
• Use of specific technologies including SMS services, QR codes, augmented reality
etc;
• Priorities for future m-library developments;
• The range of approaches to developing m-library services/resources e.g. App or
mobile web or both;
• Areas for potential collaborative development, delivery or licensing;
• Any potential role of 3rd party suppliers in any collaborative approach.

18. Questions?