Talking with Doyle Friskney about how mobility is
challenging academic libraries
New pamphlet is now available
Go mobile: Use these strategies and increase your mobile literacy and your patrons’ satisfaction
Lisa Carlucci Thomas and Joe Murphy
Today's patrons expect information in the palm of the hand. Using cell phones as their primary interface, patrons expect university libraries to seamlessly meet their information needs on the go. Based on a poster we presented at the 2009 ALA Annual Conference, this article discusses leading strategies that innovative academic libraries are using to deliver services through mobile devices. As an example of how we walk the talk, through posting messages, images and slides to Twitter, Facebook and Flickr, we made our ALA poster mobile-accessible in real time.
We need to think forward, and think mobile, about library services. The strategies recommended here can help promote the relevance of traditional library service models in the modern mobile environment and advance the ability of librarians to embrace new mobile services. The future of information, and libraries, will be shaped by our ability to guide emerging communication trends. Thus, librarians need to see the value and roles of mobile technology and gain the skills, the mobile literacy, to create effective mobile services.
So, go mobile: Learn, adapt, prepare, expand and develop. Meet
the tide of mobile devices, and take advantage of them as central
access points to library information your patrons need. 
lisa.thomas@yale.edu
lisacarlucci
joseph.murphy@yale.edu
libraryfuture
Reference
Thomas, L. C., & Murphy, J. (2009). Go mobile: Top 5 mobile services
for libraries. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the American
Library Association, Chicago, IL.
www.flickr.com/photos/joeydigits/3695207552/
PRACTICAL ASSISTANCE: Top five mobile strategies for academic libraries
1. Text Message (SMS) Reference
Make your answer and assistance services available through SMS.
Short Message Service, or text messaging, is the keystone of mobile
information and crosses the divide between complex smartphones
and basic cell phones. Interacting with patrons through text messaging
now ranks among core competencies for librarians because SMS
increasingly comprises a central channel for communicating library
information. Mastering this competency entails understanding
user expectations and making informed decisions about service
considerations and technology choices.
2. Electronic Collections
Promote access to library collections via mobile devices and
consider the evolving best practices for developing new digital
projects with mobile interfaces. Smartphone technology provides
people with the ability to read, search, save and excerpt articles at
the point of need. News agencies such as the New York Times and
NPR have created iPhone applications to facilitate access to content,
and e-book distributors Kindle and Safari have also created mobile
apps. The drive for mobile access will not be limited by hardware
concerns, e.g., small screens or digital keyboards. Librarians must
become familiar with mobile technologies, and work with vendors
and IT experts to ensure that e-collections are mobile-friendly.
3. Access Services
Ensure that patrons can use cell phones to interact with their
library accounts. It’s time for libraries to make all of their functions
accessible via mobile devices by providing interactive account
information. Patrons need to be able to access and manipulate their
full library accounts from smartphone by mobile applications or
SMS. This includes renewing checked-out items, making requests,
checking blocks and paying fines.
4. Online Social Networks
Build community by providing services and resources on the
leading social networking sites Facebook and Twitter. Social
media is no longer a fringe effort; it’s a central medium for mobile
communication and exchange. These sites are now the first places
many of us go to connect with each other and with information. It is
imperative that libraries engage in these growing social media.
Traditional library services, especially reference and instruction, are
enhanced when delivered through online social networks with mobile
platforms. Librarians need to keep Twitter and Facebook in mind when
planning all new services.
5. Mobile Applications
Create mobile apps that serve as customizable interfaces and
ensure full and seamless access to all library resources and
services. The best bet for a powerful mobile gateway to information
lies in mobile applications, downloadable software programs for
iPhones and other smartphones.
By Lisa Carlucci Thomas and Joe Murphy
