The Other Mobile LibraryThe Other Mobile LibraryAndrea Wright, ALLA Technoforum

http://www.flickr.com/photos/27147/3411775886

Connecting

with patrons

• Use of both mobile devices and social media are growing steadily• There are two groups of patrons leading the way in mobile use:

young people and minorities-Pew Internet & American Life Project

http://www.flickr.com/photos/misbehave/2352753067/

Social Networks

• Facebook– Updates, notes, events,

photos, apps– Special organizations

pages to “Like”– My 12 year old cousin

and both of my great-aunts all have active profiles

• Twitter– Only short messages– “Follow” streams– Users tend to follow

interests instead of classmates

– Slightly more techie crowd

There probably aren’t that many people heading to your website to read your newsletter or blog. (Sorry. ) Sharing on social media sites allows your patrons to find out about what is going on with you on a site that they already check every day or every 15 minutes.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/27147/3411775886

Ways libraries are connecting

• Promoting materials and events• Providing Ask-A-Librarian service• Asking questions and getting answers from patrons• Rewarding for Likes or @Replies• Linking to “stuff”

http://www.flickr.com/photos/thomashawk/2671536366/

On Location

• Location-based networks allow people to “check-in” based on their GPS location

• People can see where their friends are or who is around• Share “tips” about favorite places and goods• Earn badges and points for check-ins

Checking Out Checking In

• Offering specials to regulars – Free DVD Check-out after 10

check-ins at the library

• Organizing Games and Contests– Library scavenger hunt with

locations around the library

• Offer tips and to-dos for little known services– Did you know the library can

help you learn Mandarin?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/nanpalmero/4432186135/

Mobile Websites• The Basics

– Hours

– Contact Info

– Link to map

– List of services

• Essential if– Site scales poorly

– You use Flash

http://www.flickr.com/photos/exlibris/2383688387/

Little site, less tech• Mobify

– Select pieces of your existing website to be “mobified”• Zinadoo

– Create a simple site from scratch by typing in a text box• WPTouch, Drupal Mobile Plugin

– Use plugins to provide a mobile site for your content management system

• Google Places– Edit your “place” with your hours and info, people see

results when they search for you on Google or Google Maps

Some easy steps in for the overwhelmed

http://www.flickr.com/photos/exlibris/2383688387/

Virtually, @ your Library

• Text a call number/location or electronic document from the computer to their device

• Make reservations for study/public spaces

• See which computers are currently available

• Use QR Codes to get patrons relevant information for the space that they are using

• Interactive exhibit tours

Opening Our Data, Ubiquitous Computing, and the Future

• Opening up– Not just our collections, but also data about events,

reservations for spaces/items, learning objects, recommendations, physical space

• Developing information feeds (like APIs) for all of this allows us to create new ways to use the library– It will allow us to interact with apps for now, and with

the “Internet of Things” tomorrow

LinksThis presentation: http://bit.ly/mobilealla11

• Pew Internet and American Life Project

• Facebook, Twitter

• Foursquare, Gowalla, Google Latitude, Facebook Places

• Mobify, Zinadoo, WPTouch, Drupal Mobile Plugin

• Text a call number, QR Codes Explanation

Andrea WrightTechnology Librarian

USA Biomedical Libraryawright@bbl.usouthal.edu

@alwright1