Using Mobile Technology to Deliver Library Services A Handbook

This is an essential practical guide for all information professionals who want to get to grips with or improve their use of mobile services. Packed with easy to implement ideas, practical examples and international case studies, this provides you with the ultimate toolkit, exploring ideas as simple as renewals and reminders to the more complex such as access to e-books and virtual worlds. Jargon-free coverage of the background and context to mobile delivery will enable you to fully understand the challenges and embrace the opportunities, getting to grips with critical issues such as what sort of services users really want. Key topics covered include: context including market penetration, range and functionality of devices texting apps vs. mobile websites mobile information literacy vs. other information literacies mobiles in teaching linking the physical and virtual worlds via mobile devices E-books for mobiles the future of mobile delivery. Readership: This is an essential practical guide for all information professionals who want to get to grips with or improve their use of mobile services. It would also be invaluable for museum staff facing the same challenges. Library and information students and academics will find it a useful introduction to the topic.

Introduction and context Introduction Context Outline of this book References Further reading 1. What mobile services do students want? Introduction Context Details of the study Attitudes towards text messaging General feelings about mobile services and the Library Potential services Conclusion Acknowledgement Notes References Further reading 2. Modelling mobile information literacy Introduction Areas of variation between fixed information literacy and mobile information literacy, from the literature So what does this mean? Summary References Further reading 3. The mobile librarian Introduction Mobile support and reference Mobile productivity for librarians Keeping up to date and research tools Summary Notes Further reading 4. Texting in libraries Introduction Sending messages without a phone Messages from your library management system Text a librarian and more Teaching using SMS Other services Summary Notes Further reading 5. Apps vs mobile websites Introduction Meeting the needs of your users Apps Mobile websites Summary Further reading 6. Linking physical and virtual worlds via mobile devices Introduction QR codes Radio Frequency Identification and Near Field Communications Augmented Reality Linking physical and virtual worlds – summary Notes Reference Further reading 7. Mobiles in teaching Introduction Should we use students’ own devices, or provide class devices? Using text messages to teach Recording activities (video, audio and pictures) Shared activities Library trails A window to another world Summar Notes Further reading 8. E-books for mobiles Introduction Formats Licensing Ways of providing e-books for mobile devices Summary Notes References Further reading So what now? Consider what your users want … and what your staff can deliver Start steadily … but don’t pilot Nothing is final … review and assess as you go Keep an eye to the future … but there is no need to break new ground Summary