Have Technology, Will Travel

Mobile Technology for Library StaffJeff SteelyAssistant Director for Client ServicesBaylor University Libraries

Context

● Baylor University○ Located in Waco, TX○ Largest Baptist university in the

world● 11,600 undergraduates● 2,000 graduate/professional

students● BU Libraries

○ Central Libraries○ Several special libraries and

collections○ ~2.2 million volumes○ Academic technology personnel

integrated into structure as “Electronic Library”

Our Mission:Connecting people

with ideas in support of learning, scholarship, research, and academic distinction.

Why Work at a Desk?

● Available resources○ Books○ Desk space○ Quiet

● Client needs○ Staffed service point

Why Work at a Desk?

● The computer sitting on the desk

● The network cable to which the computer is attached

Mobile technology as an answer?

Portable devices + wireless network = Freedom?

Why Work Away from the Desk?

● Connecting people with ideas…

○ Connect in new ways?○ Better service for clients?

● Connecting people with ideas (with the staff available)…

○ More efficient use of staff time?

Laptops

Laptops –Individual Productivity

● Conference

presentations/participation● Meetings● Committee work● Work at home● Work on the road

Laptops –Departmental Uses

● Student Orientation

Laptops –Departmental Uses

● Road Shows for Faculty

Laptops –Departmental Uses

● Remote “office hours”○ Student life complexes

● Classroom in Honors College dorm?

○ Departmental offices○ Departmental computer labs○ Student union○ Any place near where students study or

faculty do research

Laptops –Departmental Uses

● Database Cleanup

Laptops –Departmental Uses

● Inventory

Laptops –Departmental Uses

● Inventory

Laptops –Departmental Uses

● Scanning in the stacks○ Prototype:

● Cyril Oberlander – Portland State University

Laptops –Departmental Uses

● Scanning in the stacks○ Prototype:

● Cyril Oberlander – Portland State University

○ Commercial version● DLSG

PDA’s

PDA’s –Individual Productivity

● Calendar● Address Book● Email● Web● Solitaire anyone?

PDA’s –Departmental Uses

● Can you take the “P” out of “PDA”???○ Inhibits some useful functions (email)○ Irritation of re-entering passwords for wireless

connection○ If it’s not personal, when do you find the time

to learn the interfaces?

PDA’s –Departmental Uses

● Roving reference assistance?○ Challenges:

● Wireless signal & log-in process● Input mechanisms● Staff familiarity and attitudes● Trying to show client how to do something online

○ Kansas City Public Library● “Planning for Wireless in Kansas City”

○ http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA286651

PDA’s –Departmental Uses

● Understand user questions/needs

PDA’s –Departmental Uses

● Pull Lists○ Interlibrary Services○ Reserves

● Circulation Searches○ Lost○ Missing○ New Holds

PDA’s –Departmental Uses

● Carrel Checks

PDA’s –Departmental Uses

● Carrel Checks

PATRN NAME Carrel inventory.CALL #(ITEM) BARCODE TITLE DUE DATE CALL #(ITEM)Baylor, Judge LD1061.C72 W4 31263014492695 Colby college, 1820-1925, an account of its beginnings, progress and service, by Edwin Carey Whittemore.01-06-2005 2015-DBaylor, Judge D387 .R4285x 2000 31263015131300 The revolutions in Europe, 1848-1849 : from reform to reaction / edited by R.J.W. Evans and Hartmut Pogge von Strandmann.06-22-2004 2015-DBaylor, Judge BX4931.L51958 31263002669981 The Anabaptist view of the church; a study in the origins of sectarian Protestantism.01-04-2005 2015-DDoe, Jane PN3448.D4 H55 1990 31263008327873 The crime novel : a deviant genre / by Tony Hilfer.09-13-2004 2019-WDoe, Jane JC599.C5 V5 1997 31263008831585 Polφtica cultural de la memoria hist≤rica : derechos humanos y discursos culturales en Chile / Hernßn Vidal.09-13-2004 2019-WDoe, Jane PQ8498.32.A65 Z625 1994 31263013085441 Vargas Llosa among the Postmodernists / M. Keith Booker.09-13-2004 2019-W

PDA’s –Departmental Uses

● Inventory/shelf reading○ Laptops – 2 person

operation○ Next phase – PDA’s –

1 person

PDA’s –Departmental Uses

● Inventory○ Future – ILS interface

designed for PDA’s?○ Innovative’s “Wireless

Workstation” in development

Other Hardware

Tablet PC’s

● Roving reference○ Bigger screen allows

client to follow along○ Heavier, so more

difficult to carry around

Specialized PDA’s

● In stacks processing of ILL requests○ PDA with barcode

reader, wireless, infrared (IR)

○ Bookstraps printed on portable, IR-capable printer

● Receipt and shelving of shelf-ready materials?

Wireless VoIP

● Staff always available● Contact someone by:

○ Name○ Location○ Location and Skills

● Coverage area under our control

○ not dependent on cell phone tower signals

● Integrates with land line phones

● Not as bulky as 2-way radios● Make referrals “cool,” not

“failure”

Every staff member a service point?

Every staff member a service point?

● See images used during presentation:● http://dev-bywater.media.mit.edu/wiki-files/borglab/

MIThril-vest-small.jpg● http://www.media.mit.edu/Wearables/mithril/MIThril-diag-

small.jpg● http://www.media.mit.edu/Wearables/mithril/mithril.jpg

Contact Information

Jeff A. SteelyAssistant Director for Client ServicesBaylor University LibrariesOne Bear Place, #971461301 S 2nd StWaco TX 76798-7146

Email: Jeffrey_Steely@baylor.eduPhone: 254.710.2464Fax: 254.710.1710