The document discusses developing mobile services for libraries. It recommends libraries ask how many patrons use mobile devices and what technologies they use. The document then provides tips on creating mobile library websites and apps, including what content to include and design best practices. It also discusses using mobile technologies like QR codes, location-aware tools, and social media to engage patrons.

1. DEVELOPING INNOVATIVE MOBILE SERVICES THROUGH YOUR LIBRARY MEREDITH FARKAS http://www.flickr.com/photos/williambrawley/4310319103/

2. QUESTIONS TO ASK BEFORE DOING ANYTHING How many of my patrons access the Web via a mobile device? What mobile technologies do my patrons use? What social technologies do my patrons use? Are any organizations my library is aligned with (municipality, University, etc.) looking to create mobile services? What library services and collections might be most appropriate and possible to serve up via a mobile device?

3. MOBILE LIBRARY CONTENT

4. LIBRARY WEBSITE Questions to Ask Do you create a separate mobile version of your site or just serve up a different stylesheet based on the device? Do you design for the most commonly-used smartphones or also design for feature phones? Do you use a detection algorithm to redirect users to the mobile site or make them go to a separate URL?

5. DESIGN TIPS Break info down into tasks Put most-used content at top Minimize scrolling and clicks Icons and text are better than either alone Shorten text to minimal amount needed Minimize need to type whenever possible

6. WHAT TO INCLUDE ON MOBILE WEBSITES Depends on library (look at your usage stats!) Catalog search Databases/federated search/discovery layer Circ info (due dates, holds, etc.) Room/computer reservations Reference info/widgets/forms Hours Links to useful mobile content

7. GREAT MOBILE LIBRARY WEBSITES

8. GREAT MOBILE LIBRARY WEBSITES

9. GREAT MOBILE LIBRARY WEBSITES

10. GREAT MOBILE LIBRARY WEBSITES

11. GREAT MOBILE LIBRARY WEBSITES

12. SERVICES TO MOBIFY YOUR SITE Creates device-specific or universal mobile versions of your library website Mobile Site Generator Mobile Micro (Mosio) Mobilizer from dotMobi Unity Mobile Usablenet Assistive

13. EMULATORS/SIMULATORS Allows you to view your page in various mobile browsers Some are web-based; others you must install on your computer See my wiki http://meredithfarkas.wetpaint.com for a list of emulators

14. LIBRARY APPS Users can install and easily access specific functions of the website without relying on the Web For smart phones Must be designed for the individual operating system (iOS, Android, etc.)

15. EXAMPLES OF LIBRARY APPS

16. EXAMPLES OF LIBRARY APPS

17. EXAMPLES OF LIBRARY APPS

19. MOBILE CATALOG SEARCH WorldCat Local (Boopsie) SirsiDynix (BookMyne) III (AirPac) Polaris (MobilePac) LibraryThing (Library Anywhere) Serials Solutions (Summon) Open source solution (MobileCat) Build it yourself (plain-text translation)

20. LICENSED CONTENT EBSCOhost (mobile app and mobile web interface) Hoover’s Mobile IEEE XPlore Lexis Nexis (Get Cases, Shepardize) PubMed for handhelds Refworks Mobile Westlaw EBL (EBook Library) Overdrive SAGE Safari Books Online and many more (growing by the day!)

21. ANY QUESTIONS?

22. SPECIAL COLLECTIONS MATERIALS: WOLFWALK

23. SPECIAL COLLECTIONS MATERIALS: DUKE MOBILE DIGITAL COLLECTIONS

24. SPECIAL COLLECTIONS MATERIALS: FLICKR

25. LOCATION-AWARE TOOLS Smart Library (Oulu University, Finland) Map-based tool that helps users find a specific bookshelf in the library Mobile Oxford Portal (UK) Can find the nearest copy of a particular book Durham (UK) Technology-Enhanced Campus Provides students with location-specific personalized information on-campus.

26. QR CODES Provide additional information on physical resources Historical objects, buildings, etc. Read-alikes of popular books (Contra Costa County Library) QR codes in the stacks to take users to the mobile catalog (Columbus Metropolitan Library) Pull up or bookmark a website with more info

28. AUGMENTED REALITY AND RFID Shows you what subjects are contained on a shelf. Shelf-reading (shows when books are out of order) Overlaying historical images of a place on reality Scanning over a device will pull up instructional content Going up to a journal will pull up the e-version Scanning over a book takes you to a page with descriptions and reviews

29. TXT A CALL NUMBER

30. SEND A CALL NUMBER

31. RSS SMS ALERTS RSS feeds can be converted into SMS messages (txt message alerts) Library news Events New books

32. MOBILE REFERENCE AND INSTRUCTION

33. SMS REFERENCE Point-of-need Messages need to be short (150 characters or less) Patrons may be charged for messages they send/receive Only useful for really brief transactions

40. ROVING REFERENCE

41. RESEARCH TIPS VIA SMS

42. SCREENCASTS Movie taken of your desktop Good for demonstrating library website, databases, etc. Audio narration, captioning, spotlighting, interactive components Various export options (dependent on software) Example: http://library2.norwich.edu/guide/index.php/How_to_Use_Academic_Search_Premier

43. PODCASTS MP3 + RSS Uses Research instruction Library/university/community news Book reviews Events Library tours Children’s stories

44. LIBRARY TOURS UIUC Undergraduate Library Tour (iphone app)

45. LIBRARY TOURS

46. INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEOS Library orientation How-to’s Use the library equipment Get on the wireless Find things Readers’ advisory

47. MOBILE DEVICE AS PERSONAL RESPONSE SYSTEM

48. QR CODES

53. OTHER USES FOR QR CODES Send a txt to a reference librarian Library tours Library scavenger hunts

54. ANY QUESTIONS?

55. MOBILE MARKETING

56. TWITTER

57. LIBRARY ANNOUNCEMENTS, NEWS, EVENTS

58. PROMOTE/RECOMMEND MATERIALS

59. SHARE RELEVANT LOCAL INFO

60. INFO FOR SPECIFIC POPULATIONS

61. INTERACT WITH PATRONS

62. INTERNAL STAFF INFO

63. LIBRARIANS ON TWITTER Twitter is a great professional development and networking tool Build relationships with bright, tech-savvy librarian Learn about new resources Query the hive

64. GETTING A FOLLOWING

65. QR CODES

66. QR CODES

67. QR CODES

69. FOURSQUARE Add an entry for your library Tips To-do lists Offer prizes for the most library visits (the mayor of your library)

71. FOURSQUARE Add an entry for your library Tips To-do lists Offer prizes for the most library visits (the mayor of your library) Get to know your power users and reach out to them via Twitter Harvard: uses to encourage students to explore campus UNC: Campus Dining shares into via Foursquare

72. FOURSQUARE METRICS

73. SMS NOTIFICATIONS Must be OPT-IN News Events New books by subject When a hold is available for pickup Due dates/overdue notices

74. Questions? Find me at meredith.wolfwater.com/wordpress mgfarkas (at) gmail.com flickr, twitter: librarianmer facebook: meredithfarkas Slides and links at http://meredithfarkas.wetpaint.com http://www.flickr.com/photos/trucolorsfly/2401196653/