This document discusses experimenting with mobile technologies in libraries. It provides examples of how libraries are using mobile devices to provide library content and services. Some key points: - Many libraries are making ebooks, articles and other digital content available via mobile apps and devices. Some are also creating multi-touch textbooks. - Libraries are developing mobile versions of services like catalogues, reference inquiries and room booking to be accessed from mobile phones and tablets. - Emerging technologies like QR codes, location services and augmented reality are being tested for mobile specific content and services. - Skills needed for "m-librarians" include IT skills as well as user focus, communication and collaboration abilities. Knowledge of

1. Experimenting with mobile
technologies in libraries
Jo Alcock
@joeyanne

2. UK mobile statistics
• There are more mobile phones in the UK than
people
• 51.3% of UK mobile phone users have a
smartphone
• 12% of UK population have a tablet (and
sales are growing 378% each year)
Sources:
2012 Mobile Internet Usage Statistics blog post (from Westminster eForum event, March 2012)
2012 Mobile Future in Focus report (Feb 2012)

3. Why should we get serious
about mobile web?
Mobile vs. Desktop web in UK

4. What skills do m-librarians need?
• IT Skills
• Personal traits
• User focus
• Communication
• Collaboration
• Research and
development
Kate Davis and Prof. Helen Partridge at #mlib11

5. What knowledge does an m-librarian need?
• Different mobile devices
• Basics of using mobile
software
• QR codes
• Location services
• Augmented reality

6. Mobile technologies in libraries
• Library content on mobile
devices (books, articles)
• Library services from
mobile devices (enquiries,
statistics, collection
management, circulation)
• Mobile specific content/
services (location
services, QR codes,
augmented reality)

7. Library content on
mobile devices
E-books, electronic articles, digitised materials...

8. How people actually use the iPad

10. Google Books for mobile

11. Collins, Hodder, Nelson
Thornes, Open
University, Oxford
University Press and
Pearson Education have
created Multi-Touch
textbooks available now
from the iBookstore.
iBooks textbooks

12. Ebook apps on iPad

15. JISC MACON

16. JISC m-biblio

19. JISC PhoneBooth

20. Library services from
mobile devices
Enquiry support, finding resources, circulation,
collecting statistics, room booking...

21. SMS
enq
uirie
s
State Library of Ohio

22. SMS
tips
University of Huddersfield Library

23. Mob
cata ile
logu
e
Keele University Library

24. Rov
enq ing
uirie
s
University of Warwick Library

25. Mob
circ ile
ulat
ion
DC Public Library

26. Loa
mob ning
ile d
evic
es
Creekview High School Library

27. Loa
mob ning
ile d
evic
es
Radcliffe Science Library (University of Oxford)

28. Col
libra lectin
ry s g
tatis
tics
University of Warwick Library

29. Col
libra lectin
ry s g
tatis
tics
North Carolina State Library

30. Other experiments
• Room booking by mobile (incorporating QR
code outside room to check availability and
book if free)
• Paperless online weeding (using iPad in the
stacks to colour code stock as "dusty" and
withdraw from catalogue if necessary)

31. Mobile specific
content/services
QR codes, location services, augmented reality

32. LSE Library

33. North Carolina State University Library

34. The Wallace Center/Rochester Institute of Technology

35. Staffordshire University Library

36. University of Huddersfield Library

37. University of Bedfordshire Library

38. Delaware District County Library

39. Aberystwyth University Library

40. University of Bedfordshire Library

41. Oak Park Public Library

42. University of Warwick Library

43. University of Sheffield

44. SCARLET project

45. Miami University, Ohio

46. Great, but...
=

47. Some of this doesn't cost money!
• QR codes
• Location apps (e.g.
Foursquare, SCVNGR)
• Barcode scanning apps
• Open source software
• Summon mobile*
• Database mobile apps*
*free with existing subscriptions

48. What do we need to do?

49. What do users want?
Charles Darwin University Library

50. Points to take away
• Aim for high impact, low cost
• Don't over invest
• Utilise free resources
• Animoto (video creation)
• bit.ly (URL shortener with
statistics and QR codes)
• ZBar (barcode reader)
• Kaywa (QR code generator)
• Be flexible and adaptable to
users' needs

51. Resources available:
http://bit.ly/mlibsbcu