Business case

1. 7/23/2015
February 10, 2014
Business Case: 1000 Books before Kindergarten Mobile Application
History of Library-Based Program:
The Bremen Public Library in Indiana created the first 1000 Books before Kindergarten program in 2006.
It has spread from there, with libraries primarily in the Midwest and a few in the Northeast offering the
program. Libraries around the country are encouraging families to track books read on paper. Fifteen
public libraries in Waukesha County launched 1000 books before Kindergarten programs in early 2014.
Improve Customer Satisfaction:
Today the 1000 Books program requires the parent or grandparent write down the title of each book
read to a child in a paper journal. Although this is the traditional way the program has been offered
around the country since 2006, Waukesha County Federated Library System (WCFLS) thinks our
customers would embrace an earth-friendly, easily accessible way to record titles digitally. Our
customers are very tech savvy and a recent Pew Internet research report came out showing 61% of cell
phone users have smart phones1
. That means 6 out of 10 people have access to the internet on their
mobile device.
WCFLS brainstormed ways a parent and/or caretaker could record titles while at home, at the nursery or
even in the waiting room of the doctor’s office. The idea to have a mobile app created to track books by
multiple adults for a child or children was born. WCFLS also wanted parents to engage with the library
and continue to make visits to the physical building.
Mobile App Research & Background:
In April of 2013, WCFLS sent an email to a youth services listserv group that has nationwide reach.
WCFLS asked the question if anyone was using an app to track the 1000 Books before Kindergarten
program. The response from several librarians was no, but please do let them know if we find one or
have it developed.
In May of 2013, WCFLS reached out to Michael Diedrick, owner of ByteStudios, in Milwaukee.
ByteStudios has been creating web sites for over a decade and also creates mobile applications. After
discussing the various features that were wanted for the app, we were given a ball park figure of $8,000.
This ballpark figure was helpful in 2014 budget considerations.
WCFLS read an article in June 2013 about the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee Mobile Innovation
lab creating mobile apps for nonprofits and researchers at no cost. WCFLS phoned the Mobile
Innovation Lab and inquired if they would be interested in partnering with WCFLS in creating a mobile
app. The response was very positive and a teleconference meeting was set up in August 2013 between
Angela Meyers, Public Relations Librarian, WCFLS, Claudia Backus, Special Services Librarian, WCFLS, and
1
http://pewinternet.org/Reports/2013/Smartphone-Ownership-2013.aspx

2. 7/23/2015
Michael Hostad, Director of Web and Mobile Services at the Mobile Innovation Lab. At this meeting,
WCFLS discussed what types of features we wanted in the app: barcode scanning, multiple child entry,
multiple adults able to access and add titles, progress bar and gamification elements.
A brainstorming session was scheduled for August 2013 and included Claudia, Angela and Mellanie
Mercier, Automation Coordinator, at WCFLS. It also included Michael Hostad and three student workers
from UW-Milwaukee. We discussed with the team what types of features WCFLS wanted included in the
app and what the possible barriers would be – how much of the child’s information to collect (HIPAA
regulations, etc.), how would multiple adults have access to the recorded details, where will the data be
stored, will the individual libraries have access to the data to generate favorite book lists.
Shortly after this meeting a Statement of Work was developed and further discussion occurred over
email. Some of the questions WCFLS had for the Mobile Innovation Lab included: will the app be
designed in both iOS and Android, where will the data get stored, first time log in would include birth
year and month for child, manual entry for titles that can’t be found by barcode scan (or has no
barcode), online portal-who has access (WCFLS and member libraries?), possibility of adding RSS feeds
with library events.
The group of app developers and WCFLS reconvened in November 2013 to discuss the questions we
asked of the Mobile Innovation Lab and to show us a mock up of the design. The idea behind creating a
design mock up was to help move the conversation along so we could see the elements we have
discussed in the past and brainstorm solutions to problems. WCFLS posed additional questions which
included where the data would be stored and who would hold the developers license in the Apple store
and Google Play stores? From this meeting WCFLS’ Mellanie Mercier contacted Waukesha County’s IT
Department to discuss storage options and developer licenses.
Expected Benefits:
The benefits of having a mobile app for the 1000 Books before Kindergarten program are numerous.
 Waukesha County could lead the way by supporting the development of a mobile application,
the first for the county.
 Waukesha County public libraries could be the first to offer a mobile app to track books read to
children and offer gamification type programming to drive traffic back to the physical library.
This mobile app would be branded for Waukesha County’s 1000 Books before Kindergarten
program but could be adapted for other libraries’ use—again, Waukesha County would be
leading the way, not only in Wisconsin, but nationally.
 Greatly reduce the amount of paper needed to print paper logs and provide two-pocket folders
for children enrolled in the program. Currently, there are over 200 families participating in the
program which launched in January 2014. WCFLS’s goal for 2014 is to have 500 families enrolled
in the program.

3. 7/23/2015
 Public libraries are often asked how they will remain relevant in today’s digital age. By offering a
free mobile app parents, grandparents, and caregivers can readily track early literacy milestones
for their children and receive early literacy tips via the mobile apps integration with the library.
By offering a mobile app, libraries are keeping up with the times and providing service
customers will appreciate.
Options Considered:
 WCFLS considered hiring an app development firm to create the app, but funding the project
would be cost prohibitive at this time.
 WCFLS considered working with the Mobile Innovation Lab as a partner at no cost to WCFLS.
o Storage of data on person’s local device. No statistics can be gathered and if customer
loses his/her device or switches devices, the data is lost.
o Cloud storage of data on UW-Milwaukee’s cloud storage account at appcelerator.com.
This would allow access by WCFLS and member libraries for statistics.
 WCFLS considered creating a google form parents could update with book titles
 WCFLS considered creating a mobile web site for logging books.
 WCFLS considered doing nothing and keeping with the traditional pen and paper method.
Expected Cost of the Project:
 The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Mobile Innovation Lab has agreed to create a mobile
app for WCFLS at no cost. Costs are being underwritten by start-up funds to the Mobile
Innovation Lab.
 The cost of a developer’s license in the google play store per year is $25/year and a developer’s
license in the apple store is $100/year.
 The Mobile Innovation Lab has offered to store the WCFLS data on their cloud service
subscription at appcelerator.com unless it goes over the monthly allotment. In that case, WCFLS
would need to pay the additional $10/month fee.
 Storing the data on a server is consideration but specific costs have been researched.
Expected Risks:
 Security breach: What is the procedure and who handles it? Mobile Innovation Lab, UW-
Milwaukee, WCFLS?

4. 7/23/2015
 Data storage: if a cloud storage solution is selected and more data is used than expected, WCFLS
will need to pay the difference for additional storage
 New versions of operating systems for smart phones will be released. How will changes be
handled? WCFLS would be given a WYSIWYG portal to make simple changes. More complex
changes would need to be handled through the Mobile Innovation Lab, or in the case that
development was handed over to Waukesha County in the future, then the County’s IT
Department.
 Ownership of the app would need to be agreed upon in a formal manner
Next Steps:
Next steps include exploring expected risks in greater detail and determining if this project will move
forward.