The document discusses barriers and challenges related to accessing subscription e-content on mobile devices during an information-sharing event held on May 8, 2012. Key topics included access and authentication issues, the need for guidance on devices and content, and the importance of evaluation metrics. Conclusions indicated a preference for a mobile web experience over separate apps for each publisher due to usability concerns.

1. Mobile technologies in libraries:
information sharing event
8 May 2012 #mlibs
Barriers and challenges to
accessing subscription
e-content on mobile devices
Alison McNab
@AlisonMcNab
Session hashtag: #MobiContent

2. Breakout sessions at UKSG 2012
Mobilising your e-content for
maximum impact
Context
Ruth Jenkins & Alison McNab
Publishers / Librarians / End-users
190 delegates signed up
Barriers and challenges
Introduction then delegate input:
•Post-it pointsabove
Examples of / Twitter
•Themes
•Discussionsession became focus group
Breakout

3. What did the librarians think?

4. What did the librarians think?
 Access & authentication  Variety of different
(off-campus / international)  devices
 Content:  apps
 discovery / discovery tools  interfaces
 evaluation  versions
 platforms
 Both librarians and end-
 Infrastructure issues users may need guidance
-IT support and support
 All need opportunities to
 Integration
evaluate and experiment
 Licensing issues
 Metrics?

5. Conclusions
 “Phones too small, tablets too expensive”
 Separate apps for each publisher are a
retrospective step
 Who are the experts?
 Responsive design
 Optimal solution: a mobile website wrapped
inside an app?
See: J. Anderson & L. Rainie The Future of
Apps and Web (Pew Internet: March 2012)
http://bit.ly/KfE7F3

6. Thank you!
Alison McNab
De Montfort University
AMcNab@dmu.ac.uk
#MobiContent