Libraries2Go: Library Services for Handhelds
I was a little late getting to this session (as I will be for the next). I've found internet connection outside of the convention center to be very spotty. The convention center has slick wi-fi but everywhere else is not so good. All my sessions today are at hotels and I haven't found one to work yet! Ack!
Anyway, Mobile Sites for Libraries:
came in half way for Bradley Faust's presentation from Ball State U.
-sites to check out:
mobile site: www.bsu.edu/libraries/mobile
project info site: www.bsu.edu/library/mobile- (project info link available on this page)
Mobile sites - what works best:
-short pages
-easy to read fonts
-easy to navigate
-minimal images
-anywhere access
-offering BSU webmail client (through MicroSoft)
Card Cat Mobile - phase 1:
-custom gateway to card cat system designed for mobile devices
phase 2:
-going with z39.50
-developed using MicroSoft visual studio development
-adding mobile journals - make them searchable
-want to add mobile video - provide access to low bandwidth versions of library promotional videos
-found their mobile site works best with Pocket PC devices w wi-fi connection (2006)
-videos streamed in Windows Media format only - not compat. w Macs
-Google Co-op site search - added to mobile site - replaced mobile site map on the mobile site homepage (found it works better)
Future work:
-build out card cat mobile product
-build out mobile journals product
-build out library services - such as text messaging
-add blogs, rss, wikis, & other 2.0 solutions for mobile devices
North Carolina State U. w Markus Wust
urls:
-service: www.lib.ncsu.edu/m
-more info: www.lib.ncsu.edu.edu/dli/projects/mobilib
Why Mobile?
-growth of mobile phone industry
-spread of mobile phones - 2.7 billion mobile phones world wide
-educational institutions experiementing - ball state u & u. texas
-commercial content providers - yahoo/google/msn... - facebook, flickr, myspace
-Eric Schmidt, google ceo - "biggest growth area is in mobile"
No. Carolina State U doesn't have any data right now but going off of feedback in their libraries
-started w small set of services
-looked at what would be useful in mobile environment
Design:
considerations:
- variety of browsers/platforms
-small screens & input devices
-need for precise language (stay small)
-different usage scenarios
tech issues:
-xhtml
-access keys for easiest navigation
-phone numbers for keys
7 services focused on:
1.) catalog search
-basic search interface for the NCSU libraries online catalog
-default is keyword search, but users can also search by title, author, or isbn
-users can limit search to available items
2.) computers - availability of public access library computers
-shows pc's, macs or "web only" computers currently open for use in the library
3.) library hours
-today's and tomorrow's opening hours for all library locations and major service departments w/in library
4.) campus directory
-mobile version of the main ncsu campus directory
-searches whole campus or limits to students or faculty/staff
5.) contact us
-contact information for branch libraries and selected services at library
6.) links
-links to external mobile content providers
7.) wolfline status
-links to text-only version of transloc inc.'s transit visualization system map
-shows current location of buses in the university's transit system
found images and visual elements just didn't work - all text based
-very concise information provided and layed out well
Next steps:
-usability testing/focus groups
-implementation of feedback on current new services
-My MobiLIB - place holds, renew items
-exploring use of text messaging for lib. applications
-faceted browsing for catalog
Michelle Jacobs, U Cal - Merced
The Library in Your Pocket
-text messaging/SMS - short message service
-mobile applications
-mobile pages for your site
What to use
-smart phones & pocket pc's
-lib has cell phones only - no desk phones
How it was advertised:
-link on website
-mentioned in instruction classes
-word of mouth
Total transactions for spr. 07
-70 on a campus of 1300 fts - 2 faculty used the service!
simple steps:
-add text messaging to your plan (cell phone plan)
-list hours staffed
-add "My Text" for commonly asked questions - scripts
Favorites w students:
-facebook mobile
-social networking is going mobile - LIBRARIES SHOULD GO MOBILE
watch this:
-youtube vid: