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

c.j.gill@surrey.ac.uk@claire_joanne

Claire GravelyInformation Resources Advisor

c.gravely@surrey.ac.uk@library_claire