My introduction to the Special Issue of The Reference Librarian (volume 53, 3) dedicated to papers from the 3rd Handheld Librarian conference.

1. HHLIB Special Issue Introduction of the Reference Librarian #3
Title: Practical Information About the Developing Mobile Experience
Joe Murphy
Librarian and Technology Trend Spotter
http://joemurphylibraryfuture.com/
libraryfuture@gmail.com
Libraries continue to narrow the gap between their future and the major technology
trends in the mobile sphere. This special issue features peer experts’ practical experiences in
creating the next generation of mobile services for libraries. Each paper in this Special issue of
The Reference Librarian is based on presentations originally given at the third online Hand held
Librarian conference held in July, 2010.
These articles reveal exactly how you can implement successful, and low cost, mobile
initiatives at your library. Michael DeMars tells us about creating a mobile presence for
academic libraries, Chad Mairn shares tips on preparing your library for the mobile experience,
Rachel Wexelbaum and P lamen Miltenhoff get us ready to face the challenges of eReader
adoption within the academic setting, John Cyrus and Mark Baggett explore the privacy
implications of mobile technology, Rachel Besara tells us about the use of mobile tools for
library advocacy endeavors and assessment, Bohyum Kim shares twenty tips for developing a
mobile web site for your library, Sarah Houghton shows how libraries can pursue mobile
services without large costs, Heather Williams and Anne Peters share how they used a
promotional video to help launch a library’s Summon mobile application, and Jamie Graham,
Stephen Maher, Dorothy Moore, and Emily Morton-Owens cover building mobile medical
library services.
These pieces cover a wide array of central tools and the strategies for their application.
While you are reading this volume, consider what even newer trends are beginning to impact
libraries and then start to think about how they ma y best be adopted in your library setting. Look
to other resources that may complement our exploration of this topic: your peer professional
network and what they are doing/thinking tracked via Twitter, the most current trends as
explored in talks at our professional conferences, new books that delve into these topics, and
news sources to help you stay up to date on this rapidly evolving trend. Make this an interactive
community by contributing and sharing your thoughts.
Handheld devices continue to solidify themselves as major portals for information
consumption and engagement. It is up to us to make sure the library is part of this revolutionary
shift. Start with this collection, add your contributions and thoughts, and continue to spread the
inspiration. It is a mobile world, but it won’t have as much value for our patrons without a strong
library.