using text messaging to enhance library services

Using Text Messaging to Enhance Library Services

Presented by: Diana Silveira & Chad Mairn

Novare Library Services

http://www.slideshare.net/chadmairn

http://www.delicious.com/dee987/SMS

Objectives

• What is SMS?• SMS Facts• Reference Questions • Push Circulation Notices• Send Catalog Records• Promote Library Programming & Services• Future of SMS• Promotion• Questions/Discussion

The Basics

• SMS means Short Message Service (i.e., text messaging)

• 160 character limit

Terms to know:

• Texting/SMS• Shortcode• Blast• Incoming/outgoing • Smart phone• Clever phone• Google Texting Lingo

Uploaded to Flickr on November 8, 2007 by Travelin' Librarian

Uploaded to Flickr on November 29, 2006 by Michael Casey

The Facts• 72% of U.S. adult cellphone users

send and receive text messages (68.1 percent of U.S. mobile subscribers used text messaging on their mobile device (Jan 2011))

• The average U.S. mobile teen now sends or receives an average of 2,899 text-messages per month compared to 191 calls

• Teen females, who send and receive an average of 4,050 texts per month.

Reference Questions

• Ask a Librarian's SMS • Twilio• Google Voice

Create a simple (and free) SMS Reference Service

1. Get a free Google Voice number.

2. Promote the number.

3. Optional: use free GVMax service to send notifications via Instant Messaging, emails, Prowl & Howl notifications, Twitter, HttpPost, and SMS.

4. Optional: use Twitter and go800corp.com so users can text your twitter name to 46800 and be connected to your phone.

Circulation Notices

Existing software that can help a library send hold, overdue, and other circulation-based notifications to users.

Some examples:• Mosio• Shoutbomb• Twilio• ILS Vendors with functionality:

Koha, Innovative, and Polaris.

Send Catalog Records

Other Ideas for SMS in your library

• Blast Announcements! • SMS Programming Ideas

– Trivia Night– Polls– Registration for Programs– Feedback from users– Contests

Promoting SMS

• QR (Quick Response) Codes• Email• Website

Pros and Cons of SMS for your library

Pros:• Low Cost• Easy to Implement• Immediately available • Flexible• Connects directly with users• Statistics• Platform ubiquitous

Cons:• Leaves out non-SMS users• Standard texting rates may apply

Future of SMS

• Payments• Geo-fencing marketing• Voice (TTS, STT)• App to Person Messaging• Person to App Messaging• Group Messaging (Beluga,

GroupMe) • Directions/Maps• SPAM/Malicious apps!

Questions/Discussion

What are your plans for SMS?

Contact Information

Contact Information

http://www.slideshare.net/chadmairn

http://www.delicious.com/dee987/SMS