what do libraries want
DESCRIPTION
Presentation given on 16th July at Jisc Collections mobile workshop.TRANSCRIPT
JISC Mobile Workshop:
Mobile Apps: What do libraries want?
Claire Gill
&
Claire Gravely
Background
• Queries about apps being advertised on publisher sites
• Queries about how to use certain apps
• Increased use of mobile devices around the library
Criteria for usability
• Full text
• Login only once – not login again outside of app
• Authentication and pairing, ease of access, mobile site vs app
Investigating useful apps
• 170 Providers checked:
• 17 had mobile optimised sites only
• 28 had apps
• 14 had usable/useful apps
EBSCOhost
• Easy to pair the device
• Full text available in pdf OR
• via link to library full text link resolver if not available to us via EBSCO
• Can email citation and/or pdf
BUT
• Attempts to save pdf crash the app
Lexis Nexis
• Multiple apps – why?
• Request login by email
• One log in for both apps
• App easy to use/search but viewing cases leads to fuzzy version of website
SpringerLink
• Log in easily via Athens/Shibboleth
• Unclear whether logged in or not
• Easy to search
• Full text as pdf
• Can’t export pdf or email
Ebrary
• Relatively easy to set up authentication
• But quite convoluted
• Instructions very unclear
• Search doesn’t appear to work off campus
• Have not yet managed to download a book – get hung up on the loading screen
Nature
• Can see Preview and some free access articles
• Requests personal account to access full text articles
• Can access full text by clicking a tiny link to Open in Safari (and then logging in as normal) – this is unclear
PubMed on Tap
• Full app costs £1.99• Lite app limits to 20 results• Only auth. Via EZProxy• Shows if full text free or
available• Full text displays as html in
narrow pane• Can download/email/export
pdf• Some publications within
allow ‘Mobile Vouchers’ – not clear/consistent
Nineteenth Century Collections Online
• Takes a long time to load
• Unclear navigation
• Not sure if login required
• Can login with social media only
Summary
Main issues are: • Unclear and inconsistent authentication
options• Wifi for pairing less desirable for distance
students• Apps that crash, don’t provide full text, or
are too difficult to log in to • Students less interested in access on
phones, prefer tablets• Students want full text with minimal login
Thank you!
Claire GillVirtual Support & eServices Developer
[email protected]@claire_joanne
Claire GravelyInformation Resources Advisor
[email protected]@library_claire