Computers in Libraries 2009 Conference

Mobile Practices & Search: What’s Hot

This session made my head spin! There is so much stuff out there for mobile users. The speaker Megan Fox, Associate Director of Technology and Special Projects, Simmons College was very knowledgeable about all of this stuff.

Here is some of the notes I was able to jot down:

General facts
- iPod has over 30,000 apps
- Text/SMS 2:1 ratio (more people text than call)
- By 2011 all “smartphones” will have access to apps via mobile web

Mobile Search
- Customized searches provided by ChaCha (answer anything)
- Google Mobile phone lets you do a Voice Search (never have to type to search)

Mobile Search Engines
• Google Mobile Local
* Google SMS
* 4info - SMS search services
* Synfonic - Also offers SMS search services
* Vazu - Allows you to copy & paste text and send it as a SMS search
* YP - Offers yellow pages and white pages look up. Also, you can reverse phone and address look up, including neighbor lookup
* Yahoo Mobile
* MSN Mobile
* AOL Mobile
* Infospace Mobile
Plenty more….

From Computers in Libraries 2009 Conference

This session has made me an Mobile App Fan!

This one was for Reference Librarians. Towson University and Howard County Library (Maryland) are currently using these reference PDA style tablets for mobility and service at the point of need.

SharePoint and Mobile Tools
Speakers: David Dahl, Kay Kazinski, James Kelly, Donny Frank-Rice

SharePoint is a Microsoft Technology.

Why mobile reference?
- Improves customer service
- Provide faster service at time and point of need
- Incorporate pro-active approach to Reference

Details of Mobile Reference Model
- Based on Orange County Library Model
- Funding: State library and FCPL contribution
- Team: 9 Volunteers and various staff from branches and departments across system

Equipment
- Site survey
- Installation of signal coverage

Vocera Communications Badges (phone system)
- Weighs less than 2 ounces
- Wireless, hands-free
- Locate staff by name, location or title
- Voice activated

Samsung Q1 Mobile Computers (mobile reference computer)
- Networked to desk printers
- 7 inch displays
- Weighs less than 2 pounds

460 hours of Mobile Reference service

7,584 patrons reached during test pilot

Pros
- Staff had more floor time, which prevents security issues
- Staff can multi-task
- Desk time lessened
- Staff became more tech-saavy

Questions to consider
- Will your staff be interested?
- Can you secure funding?
- Is Mobile Reference just an additional service? A permanent fixture?

SharePoint

Reference Portal- Collaborating for Librarians

Centralized location for sharing information

Why SharePoint?
- Customizable
- High level IT experience not necessary, for end-users or designers
- Can offer training for SharePoint
- Free- if you own Windows Server 2003
- SQL server database is required

4 Features of Reference Portal

- Messaging system
- Issue Tracker (computer problems, facilities problem)
- Wiki Page
- Desk Tracker

You can create a new website in SharePoint particularly for Reference Librarian

You can track meetings, minutes, etc.

Tips and Suggestions

Get a beta site even keep it after production
- Access now
- Who needs access
- Be prepared for
- Make sure sites match
- Deploy early
- Make sure you have ample training

These are so neat. They look like little TV screens.

Here is the Samsung Q1 up close. It's cool.