Developing a mobile strategy for the library

Kay Munro & Rosemary Stenson – University of Glasgow Library

Why should we care about mobile?

“According to a recent report from mobile manufacturer Ericsson, studies show that by 2015, 80% of people accessing the Internet will be doing so from mobile devices. Perhaps more important for education, Internet- capable mobile devices will outnumber computers within the next year.”

Johnson, L., Smith, R., Willis, H., Levine, A., and Haywood, K., (2011). The 2011 Horizon Report. Austin, Texas: The New Media Consortium

Will people really want to use the Library on their mobile?

Yip – they already were!

Operating System

No of Visits to Library

homepage

No of visits to Classic Search

No of visits to QuickSearch

iPhone 5015 3560 1936

iPad 1817 1284 579

Android 1299 926 561

Blackberry 970 627 290

iPod Touch 719 689 247

Symbian OS 278 208 79

Sony 79 39 6

Samsung 20 13 4

Windows 17 12 3

Nokia 15 12 2

LG 5 1

Total number of visits

10235 7372 3708

Data from Google Analytics shows the number of hits to the Library homepage, Classic Search and QuickSearch pages by mobile devices for 2010 -11.

But what do our users want to do on their mobiles?

Establish a programme of regular surveys

of users to establish mobile device

ownership and use:

• What kind of devices do they have?

• What Library services do they currently access via their mobiles?

• What Library services do they want to be able to access via their mobiles?

Don’t assume – ask!

What Library services do you currently use on your mobile device?

Answer options Responses Mar 11

Responses

Jan 12

I didn’t know you could! 58.7% 51%

Search for books etc 29.4% 37%

Renew books 19.5% 22%

Check Library opening hours 19.5% 18%

Check account for fines 12.5% 24%

Watch Library videos 2.6% 1%

Library Mobile Survey

What other Library services would you like to access?

Answer options Mar 11 Jan 12

Read e-books 50.9% 51%

Search for articles 59.3% 59%

Contact a Librarian/get help 21.3% 23.1%

Check out books 56.3% 57%

Wouldn't use Library services on my mobile

12.9% 11.9%

Library Mobile Survey

What’s your story?

Are you measuring mobile traffic on your own sites?

Are your users asking for services for mobile devices ?

Your experiences / thoughts?

Getting started

Early decisions• Not apps (for now)• Catalogue search• Renew books• Need lots of phones, tablets and e-

readers to test• Need to do regular surveys of library

users

Started in June 2010 – Mobile Technologies Group set up

Confirmation of the trend to mobile

The pace quickens!

• Planning for the implementation of AirPAC began October 2010.

• Monthly data from Google Analytics showing a bigger than expected increase in mobile access to our website & search services

• Clear that we needed to think more widely and more imaginatively

JISC Strategy InfoKithttp://www.jiscinfonet.ac.uk/infokits/strategy

We identified eight key stages :

1. evaluate and monitor developments in mobile technology;

2. evaluate user requirements;

3. form and define our objectives;

4. formulate a strategy;

5. identify the resources required;

6. gain approval from senior management;

7. consult and obtain buy-in from other library groups;

8. manage effectively implementation.

InfoKit sets out “the most important tasks and processes required to successfully articulate, coordinate and manage Strategic activity” and defines certain key stages in strategy development and implementation

Strategy emerges

• Dec 2010• 10 areas• Project plan• Phased implementation• What problems are we

facing?

Strategy emerges

University of Glasgow Mobile Strategy: http://www.gla.ac.uk/media/media_203782_en.pdf

10 areas

• Library search• QR codes• Instant messaging for

enquiries• Access e-resources• SMS library notices

• Bluetooth• Infrastructure• Live Lab concept• User Education• Promotion and evaluation

How to manage an innovative strategy?

Do you have a strategy for mobile?

Is mobile part of a larger Library strategy?

Is mobile part of a larger Institutional initiative?

Your experiences / thoughts?

How we are delivering the strategy

Ten priority areas Eight Working GroupsModest targetsDeliverable services

Phase 1 Jan - Apr 2011

Phase 2 Jan 2012 – June 2012

Same ten prioritiesSix working groupsMore ambitious targetsCombination of deliverable and aspirational services

Phase 1: July 2011

• AirPAC

• Searching/requesting

• Library Account

• Renewals/fines

• Key Library information

Mobile Catalogue

Phase 2: May 2012

• Develop a mobile friendly website

• Using iWebKit5

• Incorporate features from AirPAC

• Still limited information but mobile specific

Mobile Web Site

Do you have a mobile version of your catalogue or mobile website / app?

Mobile Website or App?

Library initiative / IT initiative?

Your experiences / thoughts?

• For Library staff• Variety of devices• Familiarity & engagement • Application to current

operational processes?• Self-paced learning

The ‘Live Lab’ concept

Digital Media Skills

In the future, we must be able to teach

users about how to access information

from their mobile devices and show

them how to organise and use effectively

that information for coursework and

research.

(University of Glasgow Library Mobile

Strategy, 2010)

Digital Media Skills

… But what about the Library staff?

23 things mobile!

Communicating: bloggs, texts, tweets, messaging

Devices: phones, tablets, e-book readers

Networks: wifi, 3G, the cloud

Applications: apps, ebooks, qr codes

Sharing: share point, facebook, google +

Fun stuff: videos, gaming

23 things mobile is a self-directed course which will introduce Library staff to mobile technologies. The aim is for staff to spend an hour or so each week over 10 weeks exploring all things mobile – includes:

23 things mobile

What is the level of digital media skills among your staff?

Are your staff onboard withmobile initiatives

Your experiences / thoughts?

Top Tips and Lessons Learned

• Develop a strategy rather than just a number of ideas

• Ensure that your strategic framework is flexible and adaptable in this rapidly changing environment – don’t be afraid to make changes!

• Understand that not every initiative will be deliverable

• Get Library senior management buy-in • Get Library staff involved • Keep control of project • Understand your users:

– what devices they own – what they do with their devices – what they want to be able access from the

Library via their devices