USE OF MOBILE APPS: HARNESSING E-RESOURCE AND SERVICES IN LIBRARIES AND INFORMATION CENTERS

CHITO N. ANGELES

What are Mobile Applications?Mobile applications, or apps, are pieces of software that can run over the internet or on your computer, smartphone, or other handheld devices.

They work much like any other computer program.

Mobile apps are tailored to the smaller screens of mobile devices (smartphones, tablets).

What is a Mobile Device?A handheld computing device, typically having a touch-screen display.

Has an operating system and can run various types of application software.

Popular examples: Apple’s iPhone, iPad, Ipod Touch Amazon Kindle, Kindle Fire Barnes & Noble’s Nook Sony Reader Android tablets and smartphones

What is a Mobile PlatformA mobile operating systemCombines the features of a personal computer operating system with other features, including a touch screen, cellular, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS mobile navigation, camera, speech recognition, etc.

Popular Mobile PlatformsApple iOS,AndroidBlackberry OSWindows 8, Windows Mobile, Windows Phone 8

WebOSFirefox OS

Why Mobile?We are in the so called “Age of SmartPhones and Tablets”.

2013 Report by Forward Solutions Philippines on the State of Philippine Internet Usage 2013:

Demographics: Of the 92,337,852 population, 33.6M are

active Internet users.

Why Mobile?Mobile Use: 40% of Filipino Smartphone owners browse

the internet using their device 80% of Filipino Internet Users have

downloaded at least 1 mobile app or game in the last month

Why Mobile?Survey done by TNS, a global customized research company, from November 2012-January 2013 and published in www.philstar.com, July 2, 2013

Of the 38,000 respondents in Metro Manila, 89 percent (33,820) are mobile phone users;

53 percent (20,140) are Smartphone users; The TNS study also revealed that most

Filipinos living in Metro Manila own "multiple screens" or more than just one device.

WHAT MOBILE SOLUTIONS ARE AVAILABLE?

Mobile SolutionsNative Mobile AppMobile WebsiteHybrids

Mobile SolutionsNative Mobile App

Native apps are designed for each and every device and platform from the ground up (platform-specific).

they are developed and coded with a specific operating system in mind.

Examples: Facebook, Twitter, Skype icons on your smarthphones that are made for one click use.

Mobile SolutionsMobile Website

a Mobile Website is simply a modified version of your website so that it fits on tiny (mobile) screens.

They live on a web server, not on the device itself.

While they need to be designed and optimized for mobile use, they are developed using an infrastructure and languages that are already familiar in most libraries.

Mobile SolutionsMobile Website

Example: http://worldcatmobile.org/

Mobile SolutionsHybrids

Hybrid apps are a cross between mobile web and native apps.

Hybrid apps are installed on the mobile device, like native apps. But unlike native apps, they are developed using web languages that are more familiar to libraries than those used to code native apps.

Mobile SolutionsHybrids

The app, developed using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, is then “wrapped” in a native app wrapper so that it can be installed to a mobile device like a true native app.

What Should you choose?One of the most common concerns for web developers new to the mobile app world is the learning curve required to build native apps, or the lack of education on what a hybrid app is.

Before choosing a solution, consider the user experience and what each option provides you.

What Should you choose?Native apps will always provide the fastest performance, at the cost of being more complex to code when compared to a hybrid app, while a hybrid app will be easier to build, using HTML5 and JavaScript, at the cost of giving up a little bit of speed.

What Should you choose?Native apps will always require more investment because they are written with more complex languages, designs and structures.

They also need to be written/rewritten for each mobile platform you are targeting.

Hybrid apps will always enable you to build for more platforms faster, if you are willing to sacrifice small amounts of performance

Choosing Mobile Web Solution: Things to Consider

Is your website mobile-friendly? Is your online catalog mobile-friendly?

Find out using W3Cs mobile OK checker.

http://validator.w3.org/mobile/ If not, create a mobile version of your website and/or online catalog.

Choosing Mobile Web Solution: Things to Consider

Does your online database provider have mobile apps?

Does your library have ebook subscription?

Some publishers provide free mobile apps for their products:

EBSCOHost SpringerLink

EBSCOHost Mobile App

SpringerLink Mobile App

Choosing Native Apps/Hybrid Solution: Things to Consider

Know what you want to accomplish with the app. Plan it out precisely with staff input

Find people who are skilled at app creation.

Give the people working on the app enough time to create it. Have a timeline in place.

Choosing Native Apps/Hybrid Solution: Things to ConsiderWork on the app should be ongoing, and the library’s commitment to the mobile app should be continuous.

Look at other library mobile apps. What are they doing well? What doesn’t work? What might work for your clientele?

Be creative and innovative. Provide the services in your mobile apps that your clientele want the most.

Tips on Developing Successful Mobile AppsDon’t make users read lots of tiny print on tiny screens or scroll right and left—because they won’t.

Minimize the amount of typing users have to do.

Most users of mobile sites are on-the-go and just want a quick answer.

Tips on Developing Successful Mobile AppsDon’t reinvent the wheel—borrow and repurpose mobile site coding.

Test your mobile site on simulators, actual devices, and—most importantly—actual users.

Give the mobile user a choice between mobile and full-size.

MOBILE APPS FOR LIBRARIES

Mobile eBook Readers iBooksKindleNookSony ReaderKobo ReaderOverdrive – also reads audiobooks and streams video (cross-platform)

Mobile Reference AppEBSCOHost (subscription required; free access to greenfile database)

Springer (includes open access eresources)

ebrary (subscription-based)Merriam-Webster Dictionary (Free)

Cataloging / Library Management System Tools

ibookshelf (iPhone/iPad only)Worldcat Mobile – Browser-basedDestiny Quest - Follet SoftwareLibraryAnywhere/LibraryThing

Search, discover and interact with participating libraries

Cataloging / Library Management System Tools

Overdrive Media Console Read eBooks, listen to audiobooks, and

watch videos from your library on the go or at home with OverDrive Media Console.

The app is available for every major desktop and mobile platform, including Windows, Mac, iPad, iPhone, Android phones and tablets, Kindle, NOOK, Windows 8 PC and tablet, and Windows Phone.

Cataloging / Library Management System Tools

Boopsie's Mobile App Platform Catalog Search - Provide patrons with real-

time access to your library’s collection via their smartphones and tablets

Library Locator - GPS-aware technology shares branch locations, hours of operation and contact information.

Additional eContent Integration - Deliver eBook, eAudioBook and video content to your patrons and students via a Boopsie Native Mobile App (EBSCOhost)

Cataloging / Library Management System Tools

Boopsie's Mobile App Platform ILS Integration - Gives patrons the ability to

manage their accounts including placing holds and renewals (self-service options)

Ask a Librarian - With direct connection to reference services via text, email or phone, your patrons can reach you from any location

Social Tools - Help patrons stay up-to-date with your library’s latest news via your Twitter, Facebook, YouTube or blog posts.

Mobile Apps for EventsApps4Events

mobile applications for events, conferences, and tradeshows

EventMobi Event manager/planner Create custom conference app

Collaborative Mobile AppsDropbox - premier file backup, sync and sharing solution

Zoho Corp’s Zoho Docs - Web office and collaborative software

Google Drive – Web office and collaborative software

Microsoft OneDrive – Web office and collaborative software

Providing Mobile Services in Your Library: Things to ConsiderEnsure mobile access is available in all areas of the library; WiFi access should be available.

Train staff on mobile access/use of mobile apps.

Encourage staff to use mobile to do work.

Providing Mobile Services in Your Library: Things to ConsiderAcquire mobile devices for staff to use/train on.

Know how to market your mobile services (advertise).

Provide Mobile charging stations.

MOBILE DEVELOPMENT TOOLS

Infinite MonkeysA free DIY mobile apps creation service that lets you create iPhone apps and Android apps quickly through a simple drag-and-drop tool.

Cross-PlatformURL:

http://www.infinitemonkeys.mobi/ http://www.appmakr.com/

AppsGeyserfree web platform that allows converting any web content into an Android App in 2 easy steps.

the fastest-growing Do-It-Yourself App generator for Android

URL: http://www.appsgeyser.com

Sweb AppsSwebApps is a build-your-own-app platform.

Allows creation of web apps and native apps for iPhone, Android, and more!

URL: http://swebapps.com/

MyAppBuilderuses PhoneGap frameworkPhoneGap framework allows you to create apps using standardized web APIs for the platforms you care about.

Allows you to build your own or let MyAppBuilder build the app for you for a fee.

URL: http://myappbuilder.com/

goMobiThis service translates existing websites into mobile-ready websites, more easily viewed on the small screen

URL: http://gomobi.info/

Other Mobile App Dev’t Tools iWebKit - snippetspace.comAppcellerator - www.appcellerator.com

PhoneGap - app.phonegap.comMyMobileLibrary: App, powered by Boopsie - www.librarytechnology.org/ltg-displaytext.pl?RC=15821

DCPL Connect - ChiliFresh.com

SAMPLE MOBILE APPUP Integrated Library System Mobile App (MyLib)

MOBILE APPS FOR LIBRARIES YOU CAN DEVELOP / EXPLORE

Mobile Apps you can developMOPAC (Mobile OPAC)

catalog search Place a hold on the item (reservation) verify item by ISBN

eBook ReaderReadings materials (Lists), bookmarksSMS App (alerts for overdue, reservation info)

Calendar of eventsAsk-a-Librarian

Mobile Apps you can develop Library News Other Local Databases Research guides Libraries locations (Map) Account information (Electronic Library Card) Check-out and renew materials Contact Info Library Service Hours Feedback Forms