Research. The Mobile Way

Presented by Dana Hettich & Susan Smith

IT’S COMPLICATED

• Many points of access

• Many formats

• Many providers

• Many devices

Apps vs. Mobile Website vs. Browser

Browser (website not optimized for mobile)Application Mobile Web Site

Mobile Campus Information Portals

Many Formats

• Books as e-books• Journals as e-journals• Databases as apps & mobile sites• Catalogs as apps, mobile sites, & embedded in

third-party apps• Mobile magazines websites vs. apps (Ex:

Chronicle of Higher Education & Education Quarterly)

Many Devices• Nook

– Simple– Color

• Kindle– 1st and 2nd Gen– Touch– DX– Keyboard

• Kobo– Touch– Vox

• Sony eReader/Reader– Reader w/ Wi-Fi– Daily Edition– Touch– Pocket – Digital Book

• iPad/iPhone• Android• Iriver Story/HD• enTourage• Literati• NextBook• PocketBook• Skytecx• Aluratek LIBRE

– Air– Color– Touch

• Pandigital– Novel– Novel Color

• Ematic• Augen

• Sungale• Hip Street• XO Vision• Archos• Astak• Alex• Cool-er• Franklin• RCA REB• Sharper Image• NuvoMedia Rocket• Ectaco jetBook• ViewSonic• Springboard• Pantech Element• Samsung Galax• Asus Transformer

Good News?

More Good News?

http://www.mhsl.uab.edu/2009/guides/pdf/ebooks.pdf

The Mobile Trend

• During last holiday season (Dec 2011-Jan 2012), a Pew Internet Study reported 10% increase (11%-29%) in number of Americans (18+) who own either e-reader or tablet.

• EDUCAUSE Center for Applied Research marks a 15% increase in undergrad ownership of mobile device, between 2009-2011.

www.pewinternet.org/Infographics/2012/A-Snapshot-of-Ereader-and-Tablet-Owners.aspxhttp://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ERS1103/ERS1103W.pdf

2011 ECAR Study of Undergraduate Students & Information Technology: http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ERS1103/ERS1103W.pdf

What types of technology do undergrads own?

2011 ECAR Study of Undergraduate Students & Information Technology: http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ERS1103/ERS1103W.pdf

What are students doing with their mobile devices?

Mobile Trends in Academic Libraries

• In 2009, a Library Journal survey revealed that 65% of academic libraries already offered or planned to offer unique services to mobile users.

• Mobile services was identified as a top trend in academic libraries in 2010 ACRL report

http://www.libraryjournal.com/lj/ljinprintcurrentissue/886987-403/gone_mobile_mobile_libraries_survey.html.csphttp://crln.acrl.org/content/71/6/286.full

Mobile Trends in Academic Libraries

Fairly Common

• Mobile websites• Mobile catalog interface• Mobile versions of e-

resources• Text-A-Librarian• Mobile subject guides• QR codes

Less Prevalent• iPad loaning services• Patron account access• Mobile library tours• Text message notifications

What do academic library users want?

• Patron account access• Search catalog• Request interlibrary loans• Reserve study rooms• Text message notifications• More than just static information (hours,

contact info, etc.)• They don’t want/expect (yet?) to do intense

research from mobile device

A FEW MOBILE “SUCCESSES” AMONG ACADEMIC LIBRARIES

• Georgia State University Library

• Yale University’s Medical Library

• North Carolina State Libraries

Georgia State University Library

• Mobile-optimized website

• Check computer availability

• Reserve study room• Library Catalog: – Search– See what items you have

checked out & due dates

Yale University’s Medical Library

• Librarians offer extensive mobile technical support

• Mobile support website• Classes on what device to buy & how to use

them

North Carolina State University

• Long history of lending technology

Future Possibilities

• Mobile self check-out• EPub3 & HTML5• Augmented reality

http://www.instantreality.org/exhibition/

Future Possibilities (cont.)

• Changes in libraries’ physical space to meet needs of mobile users

• “Contactless” mobile payments

http://tinyurl.com/47kbksa

Challenges 1

• Tech Savvy-ish Users• $$$$ Equipment/Service Fees

http://www.mhsl.uab.edu/2009/guides/pdf/ebooks.pdf

Device Cost Device Cost Device Cost

Literati 45 iPhone 4 100 Nook Color 150

iPhone 3GS 50 Iriver Story 100 Kindle Touch 3G 150

Astak 60 Augen 100 Sony Touch 185

HipStreet 67 Sony Pocket 105 NextBook 185

Nook Simple 75 enTourage 113 Kindle Fire 200

Kindle 80 Aluratek LIBRE Color 115 Sony Digital book 200

Aluratek LIBRE Touch 80 Skytex 120 iPhone 4S 200

Franklin 80 Pandigital Novel 123 Archos 200

Ematic 90 Sony Wi-Fi 129 ViewSonic 220

Sungale Hip Street 90 Aluratek LIBRE Air 135 PocketBook 280

XO Vision 90Nook Simple w/ Glowlight 140 Sony Daily Edition 304

Ecatco jetBook 90 Kindle Keyboard 140 Kindle DX 380

Kindle Touch 100 Kobo Vox 140 iPad 4 400

Kobo touch 100 Pandigital Novel Color 145 iPad 3 500

Challenges 2

• Reception• Restrictions

Sample Project: What can we do?

• Searching using apps, browsers, and mobile websites

• Sharing folders • Emailing documents to self and others.• Using services like Dropbox via desktop.• Downloading to devices• Citation management• Persistent URLS via Social Media like Twitter

EBSCO Sharing via Browser

EBSCO Books via Browser

EBSCO Articles via App

Viewing Articles from EBSCO

EndNote Web’s Mobile Website

Twitter as a Research Tool?

• #mobilelibs• bridges platforms• Uses PURLS already

available• Takes advantage of

proxies for login

We had high hopes! But alas…

• How will order be brought to all of this madness?

• For now:– Great tools for quick tasks– Trial & error + experimentation– Focus on what’s affordable

• Exciting possibilities for the future