PROF. JUNIOR TIDALLIBRARY
[email protected]: @JUNIORTIDAL
HTTP://LIBRARY.CITYTECH.CUNY.EDU04.05.13
From Open Source to On Your Phone: Using Drupal to
Develop the Library’s Mobile Website
What Are We Talking About?
Mobile Device UsageOpen SourceHow the Library Uses Open SourceThe Library’s Open Source Based Mobile SiteWhy a Mobile Site Instead of an ApplicationeBooks, the Desktop Site and the Mobile SiteThe Future
Mobile Device Usage Has Increased
As of December, 201287% of all American own a cell phone45% own smartphones
As of January 201326% of Americans own an e-reader31% own a tablet computer
City Tech Students
Students are visiting the library website using:
iPhones iPadsiPod Touch and ClassicSony ArcOther Android Devices
Mobile Device Usage
Visits during the Fall 2011 semester2,547
Visits during the Fall 2012 semester3,920
Open Source
• Open source refers to freely available, community supported source code.
• Even though open source is freely available, there may not be a large enough community to support particular products
• Open source projects may cease without warning.
• The library uses a variety of open source products.
Open Source Software Used By the Library
RedHat Linux
Linux is an open source operating systemThe library’s web server is powered by the
Red Hat distribution
Apache Web Server
Apache allows users to connect to the library’s website.
This open-source program powers more than 100 million websites.
Drupal
Drupal is an open source web content management system or CMS
This CMS utilizes PHP and MySQL to present web pages.
The library’s website is based on Drupal 6.
Piwik
Piwik is a web analytics tool.
Clickheat
Clickheat is an analytics program that tracks the most clicked on areas of a web page.
MediaWiki
MediaWiki is the same platform that power Wikipedia.
The library utilizes it for internal communication.
WebMin
WebMin is an open source configuration tool.It allows server administration through a
GUI-based web browser.
WordPress
WordPress is a blogging platform.The library uses it as a blog.
PHPMyAdmin
PHPMyAdmin is another web-based GUI.We can administer MySQL over the web
instead of connecting to the server through the command line.
The Library’s Mobile Site
The library uses a separate installation of Drupal 7 to manage our mobile website.
Like the desktop version, we uses the Apache web server hosted by City Tech CIS
The mobile website uses jQuery Mobile, a touch-optimized web framework, through a Drupal theme
Drupal 7 was selected due to the large support community of librarians
Mobile Website Vs Mobile Application
Why use a mobile website?Using a library mobile website allows for
greater cross-platform compatibilityMobile applications require more
programmingA mobile website is more cost effective since
we do not have to develop a separate iOS (Apple) application and Android application
eBooks and PHP Parsing
eBook resources are becoming more popular.The mobile site uses a PHP script to harvest
eBook resources from the desktop site.This intended for mobile and tablet users.This is used so there isn’t redundant
maintained between the two sites.Once a new eBook resource is added, it is
automatically available on the mobile site.
The Future of the Library’s Mobile Site
More resources are moving towards mobile and tablet computing
Usability testingContinued hardware capabilityiPads used as catalog stationsCUNY Catalog Mobile readyUtilizing more mobile technology for library
services such as GPS, and SMS services.
Wrap Up
Mobile Device UsageOpen SourceHow the Library Uses Open SourceThe Library’s Open Source Based Mobile SiteWhy a Mobile Site Instead of an ApplicationeBooks, the Desktop Site and the Mobile SiteThe Future
Questions?
Thanks!
