Mobile technology has become essential to academic libraries as more and more users take advantage of materials and databases available online via mobile devices. Creating links to mobile websites and adding mobile versions of databases and catalogs to academic library websites provide additional access points for users both on and off campus. Developing, testing, releasing and collecting usage statistics are all important parts of building the best mobile site possible. This presentation will discuss how mobile technology has taken on a role in the academic library today and how it is effecting and changing research and library instruction. Presenter: Kathryn Johns-Masten, State University of New York at Oswego

1. Kathryn Johns-Masten
NASIG Conference, Nashville, TN
June 9, 2012
Accompanying handout: http://www.slideshare.net/NASIG/mobile-websites-
and-apps-in-academic-libraries-harmony-on-a-small-scalehandouties-
handout
http://www.countrymusicislove.com/wp-
content/uploads/2010/04/Music-CountryMusicIsLove.jpg

2.  46% of American adults are smartphone owners as of Feb
2012
 35% use Android device
 24% use iPhone or Blackberry device
 68% of smartphone owners go online on a typical day
Numbers based on Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project Spring Tracking Survey April 26 –
May 22, 2011

5. Timeline
 Campus Considering Mobile site
 Library uses iWebKit (MIT framework)
 Web team worked with Coor. of Tech
 Links, look & feel and testing on various phones
 Live Summer 2011
 Library beta test for Campus
 ITS required feedback button
http://www.clipart.dk.co.uk/1176/subject/Music/Musical_scale

6. Current/Future
 Campus using different framework
 Rethink library website – who are our customers
 Include all/some databases/APPs
 Improvements, wording/consistency, maintain mobile
 Library icon on campus site
http://www.thehealingatelier.com/images/music2.jpg

8. http://library.rit.edu/sites/default/files/imagecache/large_news/news/mobil
ewebsite.png
http://parklibrary.jomc.unc.edu/sites/parklibrary.jomc.unc.edu/files/mobile.
jpg
http://news.lib.ncsu.edu/files/2011/05/mobile2.png

9. http://business.illinois.edu/iphone/images/screen_shot_library.png
http://a1.mzstatic.com/us/r1000/120/Purple/v4/40/39/93/40399346-7920-23d1-
e2cd-4920a1b05328/AjhyTpSDvAa0ASEdZkKCk0-temp-upload.yalbhkaj.320x480-
75.jpg

10. Mobile Services (Boston College Libraries)
Library Hours
Contact Us
My Services
Mobile Research
Technology & Computing
New Acquisitions
News & Events
Digital Collection Highlights
Other BC Mobile Service
http://media.convergemag.com/images/BCMobileScreenshot1CV_110706.PNG

11. Developing a Mobile Website
 Determine who your users are and type of smartphones
they use
 Started small (just the basics) then enhance
 Test functionality, review stats, talk with users
 Links/Icons – hours, location, maps, directions, contact
info./Ask a
Librarian, eResources, catalog, subject/research guides
 Digitized content from archives/special collections
 Link to the full library site

12. Design a Mobile Website
 iPhone, Android, Blackber
ry, Windows 7…
 Use MobiReady to test your
current website
 Transcoded – auto converts
standard web pages to
display on mobile ex.
Oswego site using
Skweezer
 Create from scratch or
framework
http://www.right2blog.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/gu1.jpg

13. Winksite
Google Mobile Site Builder
dotMobi
Mofuse
Wordpress Mobile Themes
iWebKit
Boopsie
Zinadoo
Springshare Mobile Site Builder

14. iWebKit
 Knowing basic HTML is helpful
 User guide makes it simple to understand
 Compatible with all devices
 Free
 Demo site http://snippetspace.com/iwebkit/demo/

15. Springshare Mobile Site Builder
 No HTML or programming knowledge is needed
 Simple javascript code provided to automatically
redirect visitors to the mobile version
 Tech support
 “The Mobile Site Builder costs only $299/year when
paired with your LibGuides or CampusGuides system”

16. Google Mobile Site Builder
 Adding text like creating a word document
 No HTML coding required
 Not able to customize
 Free
 Geared more toward businesses than libraries

17. Databases
 APP’s and Mobile most vendors have them
 Elsevier, Gale, ProQuest, EBSCO, PubMed, WestLaw, F
activa, Hoovers, WorldCat …
 Boston College
 Rutgers University

18. OPACs and Research Guides
 Most ILS vendors have mobile versions
 Aleph, III, Voyager, Sirsi Dynix
 Ex. Aleph users group
 LibGuides
 Other Research Guides

19. Testing/Reviewing
 Usage stats
 Highest to lowest use links --
Hours, databases, AskaLib, contact, chat, map
 Use stats increased when included campus mobile site
 Device focus group (Libraries and the Mobile Web by
Cody Hanson)
 Surveys, forms, instruction sessions

20. Foursquare
http://foursquare.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/University-of-
Missouri.jpg

21. Google Maps
http://www.tularosapubliclibrary.org/images/map.jpg

22. QR Codes
Posted throughout library ask@librarian, book displays
to reviews, social media, events, scavenger hunts…
http://www.708media.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/QR-Code-
Disney.jpg
http://cleverclogs.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/grieg_with_qr.jpg
http://4.mshcdn.com/wp-content/gallery/creative-qr-codes/the-filmore-
silver-spring-qr-code.jpg

23. PewResearchCenter Publications Smartphone demographics

24. Thanks
Kathryn Johns-Masten
Electronic Resources/Serials Librarian
State University of New York at Oswego
kathryn.johnsmasten@oswego.edu

25. References
The handout contains several references to further reading
and websites helpful for creating mobile sites.
Travis, Tiffini and Tay, Aaron. Designing Low-Cost Mobile Websites for Libraries. Bulletin of
the American Society for Information Science and Technology, v. 38, no. 1, Oct./Nov. 2011.
(contains Heuristic Checklist for Library Mobile Design)
Hanson, Cody. Library Technology Reports – Libraries and Mobile Services. Feb/March 2011.
(specifically Chapter 3 Mobile Solutions for Your Library)
Yelton, Andromeda. Library Technology Reports – Bridging the Digital Divide with Mobile
Services. January 2012. (specifically Chapter 1 Who are smartphone users?)