Presented at the Alberta Library Association 2012 Conference with Anne Marie Watson in Jasper, Alberta on April 28, 2012. Abstract: From text message reference services to QR codes and mobile-friendly resources and tools, both public and academic libraries are striving to integrate mobile technologies into currently offered services to better meet users’ needs. Although these initiatives are largely beneficial to users, they are not always easy to implement and maintain. This session will address a number of things library staff need to know about ‘going mobile’ in their libraries based on the experiences of presenters and a broad review of Canadian public and academic libraries’ mobile offerings. As presenters of this session, we will discuss in detail a number of successes and failures we have experienced at Red Deer College in our attempts to offer mobile-based services to our users, and speak to best practices we have learned from these experiences. We will also speak more broadly to trends in mobile technologies in North America as they relate to library services and user demand. A portion of this session will also be devoted to asking participants about their experiences integrating mobile technologies into their library services, both public and academic, and addressing any concerns they may have about "going mobile."

1. Going
Mobile:
7 Things You Should Know About
Mobile Service Provision in Libraries
Robyn Hall & Anne Marie Watson | RDC Library | April 2012

2. AGENDA
Going Mobile:




QR Codes
Text Reference
The Mobile Web
Productivity Software
Conclusions:
 7 Things…
rdc.libguides.com/GoingMobile

3. QR
Codes
Flickr: scott_bl8ke

4. Flickr: matiassingers

5. Flickr: Robin M. Ashford

6. Flickr: bmann

7. Flickr: Robin M. Ashford

9. QR Codes
PROs
CON(sideration)s
• Cost
• Accessibility
• Ease / Efficiency
• Digital Divide
• Value Added
• Standardization
• Adoption Rate

10. Text
Reference
http://www.alsc.ala.org/blog

19. Text Reference
PROs
CON(sideration)s
• Relevant
• Cost
• Accessible
• Training
• Value Added
• Quick Reference
• Privacy
• Format
• Stats

20. The Mobile
Web

22. rdc.libguides.com/m

23. rdc.libguides.com

25. apps

26. e-Books
Flickr: Lynn.Gardner

27. Productivity
Software

28. www.goodreads.com/mobile
https://developers.facebook.com/attachment/goodreads_showcase.jpg

29. www.evernote.com
Flickr: shinyai

30. www.dropbox.com
Flickr: Dekuwa

31. www.drive.google.com

32. 7 Things…

33. More than three-quarters (78%)
of Canadian households indicated
they had a cell phone in 2010, up
from 74% in 2008. - Statistics Canada (2011)

37. Flickr: nicolasnova

40. To: 37607
Message:
419940
EXAMPLE
Vote for QR Codes

42. http://www.epl.ca/digital-content/apps-mobility

44. Mobile Technologies
Application
• QR Code
Generators*/Readers
• Mobile Versions
LibGuides*, EBSCO*, Gale*, Goodreads
•
Productivity Software
Evernote* & Dropbox*
• Text Reference
LibAnswers*
Cost
• Free *
• Free *
• Free *
• $$$ *

46. Learn More
Visit
www.rdc.libguides.com/goingmobile