The document discusses resource discovery on mobile devices for libraries. It notes that in March 2012, 61% of visits to an academic library website were from iOS devices, 17% from Android, and 20% from other mobile platforms. The document outlines a mobile discovery interface using the EBSCO API, a mobile authentication bookmarklet tool, and a good practice toolkit for publishers and libraries. It also discusses librarian and user expectations around the functionality and usability of discovery tools on handheld devices.

1. Resource discovery on
mobile devices
M-libraries information sharing, 8 May 2012

2. 2012: MACON
Mobilising Academic Content Online
1. Mobile discovery interface (using the
EBSCO API)
2. Mobile authentication bookmarklet tool
3. Good practice toolkit for publishers
and libraries
http://www.open.ac.uk/blogs/macon
Twitter hashtag: #OUMACON #mlibs

3. Mobile marketplace
THE BIG PICTURE

4. Visits to OU Library website
March 2012
20%
iOS
Blackberry 2%
Android
61% 17%
Other

5. Discussion
WHAT FUNCTIONALITY DO
LIBRARIANS EXPECT FROM
DISCOVERY TOOLS?

6. Usability Functionality
Librarians expect lots of advanced options
Mobile devices have limited space on the screen and are used in a different
way to desktop devices – some compromise will be necessary to ensure
usability.

7. Discussion
WHAT FUNCTIONALITY DO
LIBRARY USERS EXPECT FROM
DISCOVERY TOOLS?

8. Functionality Usability
Users are looking for convenience most of all
Keep it simple
Make authentication and access easy

9. Discussion
HOW DO YOU ENSURE USABILITY
ON A HANDHELD DEVICE?

10. Mobile
usability/
design
principles
http://www.flickr.com/photos/revstan/3805285952/

11. Know your audience

12. 1cm x
1cm
Leave space around buttons and links

13. Reduce typing, “clicks”,
downloads and increase speed

14. Minimize volume of downloads

15. Include search

16. Make authentication easy

17. Provide best available file format

18. Reading full text
Phone type PDF HTML Plain text ePub
Smartphone (iPhone/Android)    
Feature phone (Blackberry/ Maybe   Maybe
N95)
Basic internet phone    

19. MOBILE WEB VS APPS

20. Mobile Proprietary Web app
website app [HTML 5]
Website or App?
Platform independent Platform specific Platform independent
Use existing staff skills Staff need new skills
Build on existing skills
Limited access to device
Access to device hardware
hardware
Access to device hardware
Easy to find Hidden in app store
May be regulated by App store
Under your control
owner Can be used on desktop
Storage is server side Limited memory on device
Under your control
Difficult to personalise Inherently personal
No need to develop separate
Can only be used online Can be used offline versions for different platforms
1. What are the characteristics of mobile apps and mobile-optimised websites? July 2010.
http://cloudworks.ac.uk/cloud/view/4110
2. W3C Mobile Web Application Best Practices. December 2010. http://www.w3.org/TR/mwabp/
3. Neilson, J (2012) Mobile Sites vs. Apps: The Coming Strategy Shift. http://www.useit.com/alertbox/mobile-sites-apps.html

21. Benefits to users
Mobile Mobile
apps websites

22. Which platforms or browsers do your users have?
Apps or websites?
Separate website or responsive design?
MONITOR TRENDS

23. Recommended reading
• JISC user behaviour observational study: User behaviour in resource
discovery:
http://www.jisc.ac.uk/publications/programmerelated/2010/ubirdfinalreport.aspx
• JISC TechWatch Report: Delivering Web to Mobile:
http://blog.observatory.jisc.ac.uk/2012/05/09/final-release-of-techwatch-report-
delivering-web-to-mobile/
• ComScore Datamine (for EU, UK and global trends):
http://www.comscoredatamine.com/category/mobile/
• Responsive Web Design: http://www.alistapart.com/articles/responsive-web-
design/
• M-libraries group on Mendeley: http://mnd.ly/JVA6Hv

24. M-Libraries Conference 2012
“From margin to mainstream: mobile technologies
transforming lives and libraries”
• 24-26 September at the Open University
• www.m-libraries.org
• Registration now open

25. Thank you
• OU Library mobile site: www.open.ac.uk/library/m
• Mobile Discovery Good Practice Toolkit (work in
progress): http://cloudworks.ac.uk/cloudscape/view/2411
• MACON project blog: www.open.ac.uk/blogs/macon