HANDHELD LIBRARY V: Summing Up

Here is a summary of what I learned in the rest of the Handheld Librarian sessions.


The popularity of smart phones & tablets has changed patrons' expectations of the library. Mobile information seeking is quick --"info-snacking". Many patrons text on their phones, so some libraries have instituted SMS reference--it's easier than email, but more private for embarrassing questions or if the patron is afraid of feeling stupid for asking. Patrons expect web sites to be mobile-friendly. They like to search using what's in their pocket rather than walking to their computer even if it's harder to search on the mobile device.


Top trends:

• Location-based services: They can promote the library as a fun thing to do. The problem is what to give as incentives to check-in--an extra hour of internet? Take off fines? Patron gets to choose a book display theme?
• QR Codes--Can be used for library tours--to publicized databases and online resources that relate to a call number area--can put on a flyer and it links to your web site--can have one next to the bibliographic record in the catalog so it sends the call number to the patron's phone.
• Augmented reality--Can be used for a historical tour of a neighborhood--can translate signs into other languages--in the future, we might us it to show how to do something or use something when you point your device at it (the technology's not quite there yet).

Recommended apps for librarians:

• Evernote
• Dropbox
• Google Docs
• Jotnot-it can scan documents onto your mobile device.
  
• Goodreads

Issues:

The patron has to inform the applications where they are located in order to use them, so privacy is an issue. Use of mobile services could widen the digital divide when patrons without smart phones are unable to access information. QR codes and augmented reality require an always-on Internet connection. Libraries may have policies that discourage phone use.


All the individual webinars are archived here (requires latest version of Flash).

--Andrea @C

HANDHELD LIBRARIAN IV: Books on the Web

Presented by Peter Brantley

"No one is in charge of the preservation of our growing cultural heritage in digital books." -P. Brantley

Good, reliable archives are increasingly important and libraries need to be involved in preserving digital books in the future. We need to convince publishers to help us by reminding them that the loss of their assets would affect them negatively. There needs to be a national policy on digital preservation. Current US law privileges print as the best format for preservation--what if something only exists in digital form?


Challenges of digital preservation:

• Many ebook formats: ePub is becoming a major player, but Amazon has its own format for the Kindle. Also, each company adds its own digital rights management software.
• A book is complex: contains text, maps, illustrations, a forward, even video.
• Items can be lost: misplaced, staff member retires and no one knows how to access it.
• Digital databases require complex systems which increase danger of loss (cascading errors): e.g. Tumblr's recent big database failure, Flickr deleting the wrong account and having no way to get it back. What if that happened to your ebook?
• Format obsolescence: The British Library saved a digital census on an obsolete laserdisc format and it was almost lost.
  

Advantages of library involvement in digital preservation:

• Practice: Libraries have preserved things for 1,000s of years using redundancy- lots of copies keep stuff safe.
• Low storage costs: We can preserve in redundant formats more easily now.
• Standing: Libraries are answerable to the public, not stockholders as in the case of Google and its Book Search. Also, Google Book Search is not preservation-quality.

Players to look at in digital preservation:

• Internet Archive
• Smashwords
• Europeana Library
• Portico

Copyright needs to move forward in a digital age. We need to record copyright information for the whole world and make it an easy database query. The Copyright Office says electronic transmission is making an illegal copy, even for preservation purposes. Instead, we should require a digital copy for copyright--if you want full copyright assertions, you have to deposit a copy in a national repository.



Slides are available here and the archived webinar is here (requires latest version of Flash)

--Andrea @Central

HANDHELD LIBRARIAN III: The State of Mobile Connectivity

Lee Rainie is the Director of the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project, a non-profit, non–partisan “fact tank” that studies the social impact of the internet. Since December 1999, the Washington D.C. research center has examined how people’s internet use affects their families, communities, health care, education, civic and political life, and work places. Pew is not about "fixing", "promoting" or "thwarting" the Internet, it just looks at its impact.

Due to the Internet, access to information has changed in four main ways:

1. Volume: information is much easier to find than in the past, but sometimes it's more than you want.
2. Velocity: information comes faster than when waiting for the evening news or the daily newspaper. Also, you can find out stories that are important to you, not just the big news.
3. Vibrancy: information is multimedia and interactive.
4. Relevance: information seeking can be tailored to your interests.

In addition to changing information-seeking behavior, the Internet encourages people to become content creators. 2/3 of adults have created content to share online (3/4 of teenagers):

• 62% belong to social networking sites
• 50% share photos
• 33% create tags
• 32% rank & rate things
• 30% share personal creations
• 14% are bloggers
• 12% use Twitter--mostly young people
• 4% use location-sharing services

85% of Americans have cellphones. It is the fastest-growing technology in history of the world. 57% connect to the internet wirelessly, either by laptop or cellphone or both. Interestingly, African-Americans and Latinos are more likely to access Internet wirelessly and use more functions of the cell phone. 1/3 of Americans don't have broadband Internet-- usually people who are poor, speak English as a second language, rural, or less educated--so the digital divide is still a big issue.


Use of mobile devices:

• 35% have apps, 24% use apps
• 76% take pictures
• 74% text (more text than talk in 2009--frequency)
• 42% browse Internet
• 38% email
• 35% IM

Ownership of devices:

• 55% laptops
• 50% DVR
• 45% Mp3 players
• 42% game consoles
• 7% ebook readers
• 6% tablets

People are stressed by volume of info in their lives--social networks are "sentries" that tell them what is important in the world, evaluate information for them, and give them forums for action. Librarians can be "nodes" in social networks and provide help & information.


What libraries can offer:

• Navigation literacy--as the volume grows
• Connections & context literacy--finding sources and making connections
• Skepticism
• Showing value of contemplative time--multitasking isn't as effective as some people think
• Instruction in how to create content
• Instruction in how to be a good online citizen
• Content for patrons' devices
• Curating information online, not just their own collections

In short, librarians can be digital life/citizenship coaches.


Slides are here and an archived version of the webinar is here (requires latest version of Flash).

--Andrea @Central

HANDHELD LIBRARIAN II: Augmented Reality 101 for Libraries

Presented by Sarah Houghton-Jan and Nate Hill

Augmented reality is like the robot's vision in the Terminator movies or like the future of Minority Report. You point an AR-enabled device at something in reality, and obtain digital information about it. AR requires GPS, a camera and an accelerometer (which tells if you are pointing up or down). iPads and tablets can use Augmented Reality applications, but smart phones are the most common devices.

Some Augmented Reality apps:

• Layar
• Wikitude
• Google Goggles
• Monocle (part of Yelp)

Layar is currently the most popular app. Libraries can make their own apps within Layar. It includes such things as a Beatles tour of Liverpool.

Wikitude connects real world locations to Wikipedia--it gives you historical facts about an area and points to potential areas of interest in the background.

Google Goggles lets you scan books, CD covers, artwork etc. --you can look at an object online or even buy it.

Monocle lets you find local bars and restaurants when you shake your phone 3 times.


Houghton-Jan and Hill decided to create a local history walking tour of San Jose with Layar. They created it as a web app because they couldn't find an iOS or Android developer to help them. The tour itinerary was created by special collections librarians. I especially like the links to old photographs of the locations.

Their tips for Augmented Reality apps:

• Make sure there's documentation so someone else can come in --they used regular html/css code for more sustainability.
• Use low-resolution photos so they load fast.
• You can do almost all the same things in a browser than an app, and it's also cross-platform.
• It helps to have a couple of devices with different OS so you can see what they look like on different operating systems and test them.
• You can do down to a couple of meters, but GPS can't do smaller than that yet--you can't do each floor of a building.
  

Possibilities for the future of Augmented Reality:

• Recognize any object--e.g. point it at an apple and it tells you it's nutritional qualities.
• See who lives in the houses in a neighborhood.
• Hold it up to a person to find their social networks.

Augmented reality assumes being always connected to the Internet. A lot of people still aren't, so it could be a digital divide issue. As you can imagine, their could be privacy issues, so librarians need to provide patrons with information so they can decide what information to share.



Slides are available here and the archived webinar is here (requires latest version of Flash).



--Andrea @Central

HANDHELD LIBRARIAN I: Next Trends in Mobile Technology

Next Mobile trends HHLIB

Click above to view slides. Archived version of webinar is here (requires latest version of Flash).

The presenter, Joe Murphy, says keeping current with mobile trends helps libraries stay relevant. According to this article, smart phones are now outselling PCs. There were 10 billion downloads in Apple's app store, and the iPad is now the most successful mobile device of all time.

He discussed four major trends:

1. Mobile Photos (Instagram, Hipstamatic, Photoshop Express)
2. Location Services (Foursquare, Gowalla, SCVNGR, Mytown, Loopt)
3. Entertainment Check-in (Miso, Getglue, Philo)
4. Social Recommendation Services (Google Hotpot, Bizzy, Foodspotting)
   

Mobile photos involve taking pictures on your mobile devices, editing them on the same device, then sharing them with others. Libraries could use these services to publicize themselves by showing photos of events. Instagram has 2 millions users, but has only been around for 2 months. These services also make it really easy to share to other social media such as Facebook, Flickr or Twitter.

Location services are a form of mobile social gaming--users check in and gain in-world & real-world benefits such as a free coffee. At root, they are a marketing tool--the more users follow, the more they gain rewards. They can also be used to meet friends or even find a lost wallet. Foursquare is the largest, at 7 million users.

Check-in services are similar, except they are about what you are doing rather than where you are going, combining digital and real-world engagement. Getglue lets you "check in" to movies, video games, thinking about a topic, chatting, and reading a book. You can share easily to Facebook and Twitter. The thinking about a topic could apply to the library. Getglue is definitely one to keep our eye on, according to Murphy. Miso and Philo are similar, but only cover television.

Social recommendation services such as Google Hotpot and Bizzy have you rate local business and they will recommend others to you based on your preferences. Foodspotting is specific to restaurants and you can post photos of meals.

Murphy also mentioned an attachment to the iPhone that lets you swipe credit cards and make payments. While not a trend yet, it could become one in the future.

These trends change patrons' expectations, so flexibility is key. For example, don't be too strict with patrons taking photos if it becomes an important discovery tool that can promote the library.



--Andrea @Central