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
