Presentation given on 16th July at Jisc Collections mobile workshop.

1. JISC Mobile Workshop:
Mobile Apps: What do libraries want?
Claire Gill
&
Claire Gravely

2. Background
• Queries about apps being
advertised on publisher sites
• Queries about how to use
certain apps
• Increased use of mobile devices
around the library

3. Criteria for usability
• Full text
• Login only once – not login again
outside of app
• Authentication and pairing, ease of
access, mobile site vs app

4. Investigating useful apps
• 170 Providers checked:
• 17 had mobile optimised sites only
• 28 had apps
• 14 had usable/useful apps

5. EBSCOhost
• Easy to pair the device
• Full text available in pdf OR
• via link to library full text
link resolver if not available
to us via EBSCO
• Can email citation and/or
pdf
BUT
• Attempts to save pdf crash
the app

6. Lexis Nexis
• Multiple apps – why?
• Request login by
email
• One log in for both
apps
• App easy to
use/search but
viewing cases leads
to fuzzy version of
website

7. SpringerLink
• Log in easily via
Athens/Shibboleth
• Unclear whether
logged in or not
• Easy to search
• Full text as pdf
• Can’t export pdf or
email

8. Ebrary
• Relatively easy to set up authentication
• But quite convoluted
• Instructions very unclear
• Search doesn’t appear to work off
campus
• Have not yet managed to download a
book – get hung up on the loading
screen

9. Nature
• Can see Preview and
some free access
articles
• Requests personal
account to access full
text articles
• Can access full text by
clicking a tiny link to
Open in Safari (and
then logging in as
normal) – this is
unclear

10. PubMed on Tap
• Full app costs £1.99
• Lite app limits to 20 results
• Only auth. Via EZProxy
• Shows if full text free or
available
• Full text displays as html in
narrow pane
• Can download/email/export
pdf
• Some publications within
allow ‘Mobile Vouchers’ – not
clear/consistent

11. Nineteenth Century Collections Online
• Takes a long time
to load
• Unclear navigation
• Not sure if login
required
• Can login with
social media only

12. Summary
Main issues are:
• Unclear and inconsistent authentication
options
• Wifi for pairing less desirable for distance
students
• Apps that crash, don’t provide full text, or
are too difficult to log in to
• Students less interested in access on
phones, prefer tablets
• Students want full text with minimal login

13. Thank you!
Claire Gill
Virtual Support & eServices Developer
c.j.gill@surrey.ac.uk
@claire_joanne
Claire Gravely
Information Resources Advisor
c.gravely@surrey.ac.uk
@library_claire