This document provides 10 steps for libraries to provide mobile services on a limited budget. It recommends making the website and catalog mobile friendly, providing mobile access to databases and ebooks, using social media and location-based apps, creating a custom mobile app, offering in-library mobile services, and marketing the library's mobile offerings. Future challenges include keeping up with various mobile devices, platforms, formats, and digital rights issues.

1. Mobile Services
on a Shoestring
Sarah Houghton-Jan
Digital Futures Manager, San Jose Public Library
Author, LibrarianInBlack.net

2. why mobile?

3. why mobile?

4. why mobile?
‣ 80% of Americans adults own a cell phone

5. why mobile?
‣ 80% of Americans adults own a cell phone
‣ By 2015 U.S. ownership of smart phones will be
162 million - 2/3 of all mobile handsets

6. why mobile?
‣ 80% of Americans adults own a cell phone
‣ By 2015 U.S. ownership of smart phones will be
162 million - 2/3 of all mobile handsets
‣ 43% own MP3 players

7. why mobile?
‣ 80% of Americans adults own a cell phone
‣ By 2015 U.S. ownership of smart phones will be
162 million - 2/3 of all mobile handsets
‣ 43% own MP3 players
‣ stats on iPad - 500,000 (+ watch Android tablets)

8. Jolie O’Dell, Mashable, on the Morgan Stanley study:
http://mashable.com/2010/04/13/mobile-web-stats/

9. Even if you don’t use a smart phone,
recognize that your users do.

10. the great debate:
mobile sites vs. apps

11. 10 steps to
mobile on the cheap

12. 10 steps to
über
mobile on ^
the cheap

13. #1: your website

14. #1: your website
‣ is your website mobile-friendly?

15. #1: your website
‣ is your website mobile-friendly?
‣ find out at W3C’s mobileOK Checker

16. #1: your website
‣ is your website mobile-friendly?
‣ find out at W3C’s mobileOK Checker
‣ (or whole site) and a mobile services
create a mobile version of your homepage
webpage too

17. create mobile version of your homepage (or whole
site) w/ only mobile-friendly services
get advice at “Mobile Friendly Library Websites” by Fleur Helsingor at
the University of California, Berkeley
(http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/digicoll/libraryweb/mobile-websites.pdf)

20. ‣ is your website mobile-friendly?
find out at W3C’s mobileOK Checker

21. #2: your catalog

22. #2: your catalog
‣ test catalog’s mobile friendliness

23. #2: your catalog
‣ test catalog’s mobile friendliness
- PASS - SOPAC, Evergreen, Koha

24. #2: your catalog
‣ test catalog’s mobile friendliness
- PASS - SOPAC, Evergreen, Koha
- FAIL - Innovative,Voyager, SirsiDynix

25. #2: your catalog
‣ test catalog’s mobile friendliness
- PASS - SOPAC, Evergreen, Koha
- FAIL - Innovative,Voyager, SirsiDynix
see a pattern?

26. ‣ does your vendor offer a mobile add-
on or application? cost/free?
watch for feature & functionality loss

27. ‣ WorldCat (mobile app + mobile
webpage)

28. #3: databases

29. #3: databases
‣ mobile apps and/or mobile-friendly pages

30. #3: databases
‣ mobile apps and/or mobile-friendly pages
- EBSCO (page)

31. #3: databases
‣ mobile apps and/or mobile-friendly pages
- EBSCO (page)
- Gale (app)

32. #3: databases
‣ mobile apps and/or mobile-friendly pages
- EBSCO (page)
- Gale (app)
- others

33. #3: databases
‣ mobile apps and/or mobile-friendly pages
- EBSCO (page)
- Gale (app)
- others
‣ check with all vendors

34. #3: databases
‣ mobile apps and/or mobile-friendly pages
- EBSCO (page)
- Gale (app)
- others
‣ check with all vendors
‣ watch for feature & functionality loss

36. #4: ebooks

37. #4: ebooks
‣ eAudioBook formats: MP3s/DRM-laden
formats of death

38. #4: ebooks
‣ eAudioBook formats: MP3s/DRM-laden
formats of death
‣ eBook formats: PDF, Mobi

39. #4: ebooks
‣ eAudioBook formats: MP3s/DRM-laden
formats of death
‣ eBook formats: PDF, Mobi
‣ Overdrive eBook app

40. #4: ebooks
‣ eAudioBook formats: MP3s/DRM-laden
formats of death
‣ eBook formats: PDF, Mobi
‣ Overdrive eBook app
‣ who missed the boat?

41. #4: ebooks
‣ eAudioBook formats: MP3s/DRM-laden
formats of death
‣ eBook formats: PDF, Mobi
‣ Overdrive eBook app
‣ who missed the boat?
‣ check with all vendors

42. #5: reference

43. #5: reference
‣ text messaging - AIM hack, LibraryH3lp

44. #5: reference
‣ text messaging - AIM hack, LibraryH3lp
‣ Twitter - “send us a question with
@SanJoseLibrary”

45. IM - free IM clients (Meebo, Trillian) + individual
accounts (AIM, GoogleTalk)
web chat - nope

46. #6: social media

47. #6: social media
Facebook

48. #6: social media
Facebook
- many mobile FB apps

49. #6: social media
Facebook
- many mobile FB apps
- post updates, photos,
video, & events

51. Twitter

52. Twitter
- many more Twitter apps

53. Twitter
- many more Twitter apps
- post frequent updates

54. #7: location-based services
geo-location + data + fun

55. #7: location-based services
geo-location + data + fun

56. #7: location-based services
geo-location + data + fun
‣ check-in sites - Foursquare, Gowalla(entries for
library, tips, trips, contests)

57. #7: location-based services
geo-location + data + fun
‣ check-in sites - Foursquare, Gowalla(entries for
library, tips, trips, contests)
‣ augmented reality browsers - Layar, Wikitude,
Google Goggles

58. #7: location-based services
geo-location + data + fun
‣ check-in sites - Foursquare, Gowalla(entries for
library, tips, trips, contests)
‣ augmented reality browsers - Layar, Wikitude,
Google Goggles
- campus or library tours, local history tours

59. #7: location-based services
geo-location + data + fun
‣ check-in sites - Foursquare, Gowalla(entries for
library, tips, trips, contests)
‣ augmented reality browsers - Layar, Wikitude,
Google Goggles
- campus or library tours, local history tours
‣ Air Painter (contests, scavenger hunts)

61. #8: apps

62. #8: apps
‣ Boopsie - customized mobile library application
(Santa Clara County Library)

63. #8: apps
‣ Boopsie - customized mobile library application
(Santa Clara County Library)
‣ custom iPhone or Android app (D.C. Public)

65. #9: in-library services
‣ walk-in mobile message center (dok)
‣ library mobile charging stations
‣ library mobile media download stations

66. #10: marketing mobile

67. #10: marketing mobile
‣ market mobile with mobile

68. #10: marketing mobile
‣ market mobile with mobile
‣ start an opt-in list for library texts

69. #10: marketing mobile
‣ market mobile with mobile
‣ start an opt-in list for library texts
- group texting app “textPlus”

70. #10: marketing mobile
‣ market mobile with mobile
‣ start an opt-in list for library texts
- group texting app “textPlus”
‣ buy ads in relevant apps (local, library-like)

71. #10: marketing mobile
‣ market mobile with mobile
‣ start an opt-in list for library texts
- group texting app “textPlus”
‣ buy ads in relevant apps (local, library-like)
‣ contests for signing up, mayorships, etc.

72. …inc. marketing staff

73. …inc. marketing staff
‣ ensure mobile access to work email and
calendar

74. …inc. marketing staff
‣ ensure mobile access to work email and
calendar
‣ train staff on mobile access to library stuff

75. …inc. marketing staff
‣ ensure mobile access to work email and
calendar
‣ train staff on mobile access to library stuff
‣ encourage staff use of mobile to do work

76. …inc. marketing staff
‣ ensure mobile access to work email and
calendar
‣ train staff on mobile access to library stuff
‣ encourage staff use of mobile to do work
‣ buy mobile devices for staff to use/train on

77. 7 apps every librarian
should know
‣ Evernote
‣ IMDB
‣ Yelp

78. 7 apps every librarian
should know
‣ WorldCat ‣ Evernote
‣ IMDB
‣ Yelp

79. 7 apps every librarian
should know
‣ WorldCat ‣ Evernote
‣ Kindle/Nook ‣ IMDB
‣ Yelp

80. 7 apps every librarian
should know
‣ WorldCat ‣ Evernote
‣ Kindle/Nook ‣ IMDB
‣ Google Translate ‣ Yelp

81. 7 apps every librarian
should know
‣ WorldCat ‣ Evernote
‣ Kindle/Nook ‣ IMDB
‣ Google Translate ‣ Yelp
‣ Foursquare

82. future challenges

83. future challenges
‣ devices

84. future challenges
‣ devices
‣ platforms

85. future challenges
‣ devices
‣ platforms
‣ formats

86. future challenges
‣ devices
‣ platforms
‣ formats
‣ digital rights management

87. future challenges
‣ devices
‣ platforms
‣ formats
‣ digital rights management
‣ standards

88. questions & discussion
Sarah Houghton-Jan
web: LibrarianInBlack.net
Twitter: @TheLiB
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IM: LibrarianInBlack
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email: LibrarianInBlack@gmail.com