il2009 mobile services2
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Mobile Services: Tech Tools for Tough Times
Anne Behler
Binky Lush
Emily Rimland
The Handheld Project:
Exploring Handheld Devices for Roving Reference
The Situation:
giant library
many floors
many users
many service points
decreasing budget for staffing
Solutions:
Roving Reference with handheld devices
Roving Reference with iPod Touch
The Basic Idea:
Roving staff member equipped with device Able to answer reference questions Able to help patron at point-of-need Potential cost savings
(1 rover instead of many service desks)
Phase I: How did it work?
4 devices chosen for pilot Tested by PSUL faculty, staff, student
employees Testers completed multiple evaluations
Penn State Use Cases
Helping patron find physical item Helping patron find info & emailing it Reference outside of the library Faculty liaison activities Library instruction alongside a student in a
class
Devices Tested:
Sony VAIO UX-490Fujitsu Lifebook Nokia N-810 OQO Model 2
The Results: No clear winner, but Lifebook was closest
Roving model can work but voice communication is important
For some testers, devices too small to be efficient
Learned some other serendipitous things
What We Learned: Critical to collaborate with IT staff
Formalized testing & selection process
Exposed problems with wireless
Web site display and use on handheld
Portability of Lifebook good in other scenarios
White Paper & Report:
Full report (30+ pages) White Paper:
7 Things You Need to Know about Handheld Devices for Reference Services
t inyurl.com/psuhandhelddevices
Budgetary Constraints:
PSU cell phone policy Decreasing tech initiatives budget Cost of supporting multiple devices
Phase II: How did it work?
Testing iPod Touch only
Ongoing testing by faculty, staff and student employees
What we’re testing:
Earbuds with microphone
AIM Chat
Skype (voice)
Fring app (integrates AIM & Skype)
What we learned:
Wireless connectivity biggest barrier
Two-way communication is critical
More testing necessary
The Sony Reader Project:
Exploring E-Book Services on Campus
The Situation
Classrooms:
First-year Honors English Classes
Library Studies First Year Seminar
English Graduate Seminar
Lending & Disability Services
Sony eBook Store Content
A great way to test the technology
User feedback survey
Help for the visually or learning impaired?
Portability for a large library
Sleek, ergonomically friendly device
Easy on the eyes
Uni-function device
Battery life and charging difficulties
Slow page refresh time
Lack of interactive features
Uni-function device
On-demand service too cumbersome to offer
DRM
What does the future hold? Partnerships among educators, librarians,
vendors, and publishers are important
Content, regardless of device
Can’t forget accessibility
Format vs. function challenges
Sony Project:tinyurl.com/psulsony
White Paper:tinyurl.com/psulsony7things
Contact:
Anne Behler – [email protected]
Binky Lush – [email protected]
Emily Rimland – [email protected]