The 2010 Horizon Report highlights mobile computing as a crucial technology for higher education, noting its widespread adoption among students and its potential for enhancing learning experiences. Academic libraries are encouraged to explore mobile technologies to offer services such as catalog searches and access to academic resources. Diverse campus perceptions and varying needs necessitate tailored mobile strategies for effective implementation.

1. What are they?What do they signify for academic libraries?January 2010 Tech TalkRebecca MillerMobile Technologies

2. A “Technology to Watch”Every year, the New Media Consortium and EDUCAUSE releases a report that focuses on applying new technologies in new areas of educationThe 2010 Horizon Report (available: http://www.nmc.org/pdf/2010-Horizon-Report.pdf) describes “Mobile Computing” as a here-and-now technology that deserves attention, especially in higher educationThe buzz: we’ve all heard it at conferences, on listservs, and in the blogs we read…let’s discuss it with each other

4. Mobile Technologies: DefinedMobile computing, mobile technologies, mobile devices…what, exactly falls under this category?Smart phonesNetbooks, smartbooks, the iPad! LaptopsAny kind of device that can access the internet using cellular-based hotspots, mobile broadband cards, and of course, wi-fi

5. How pervasive is it?According to the 2010 Horizon Report, the mobile market has 4 billion subscribers, with well over 1 billion new phones produced each yearA 2008 survey by the EDUCAUSE Center for Applied Research reported that 82% of students own a laptopAbout ¼ of the students (same survey) who identified themselves as “early adopters” of technology access the internet via handheld devices weekly or more oftenStudents spend 19.6 hours per week using an electronic device

6. In the university settingTime and energy are being devoted to studying the pedagogical possibilities of mobile devicesRecent studies (UK’s Joint Information Systems Committee) reported that students who are effective learners in the digital environment use mobile phones and even PDAs to support learningStudents see these devices as “individualized learning environments”Faculty members can conduct research and create learning activities

7. A note on communitiesThe previous information was from the December 2008 ARL report on mobile technologiesThey suggest that every community is different and that student, staff, and faculty perceptions of mobile devices will vary from campus to campusWhat do you all observe here, at LSU? What do you all USE?

8. Mobile Strategies in Academic Libraries

9. Slide from EDUCAUSE Webinar: A current example of what other libraries are doingNCSU Mobile ServicesLocations & HoursComputer AvailabilityCatalog SearchReference ServicesNews & EventsWebcam FeedsLink to campus mobile sitehttp://m.lib.ncsu.edu 9

10. Vendor Applications & Interfaces (just a few of many…)EBSCOhost Mobile (http://www.ebscohost.com/thisTopic.php?marketID=1&topicID=1336)Mobile MedlinePlus, PubMed, NCBI bookshelf (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/mobile/)Gale AccessMyLibrary (http://blog.gale.com/pressroom/uncategorized/gale-announces-new-iphone-application/)WorldCat Mobile (http://worldcat.boopsie.com/home/worldcat/)LexisNexis Get Cases & Shepardize (http://blog.martindale.com/need-to-get-cases-and-shepardize-weve-got-an-app-for-that)Library Thing (http://www.librarything.com/thingology/2010/01/library-anywhere-mobile-catalog-for.php

11. Issues & ConcernsCampus-specific procedures and policiesPrivacy and security concernsMany applications are solely for iPhones, rather than all mobile or handheld devicesOthers?

12. Further Reading/Information (besides the Tech Talk reading)EDUCAUSE Live! Webinar: “Library in Your Pocket: Strategies and Techniques for Developing Successful Mobile Services”(http://net.educause.edu/live101)ALA 2009 Poster: “Go Mobile: Top 5 Mobile Services for Libraries” (http://www.flickr.com/photos/joeydigits/3695207552/)Mobile Libraries blog: http://mobile-libraries.blogspot.com/M-Libraries (Library Success Wiki): http://www.libsuccess.org/index.php?title=M-Libraries