Library Services for Mobile Devices: The NIE Library Experience

Jacky WongNIE Library and Information Services Centre (LIBRIS)

Librarians for Tomorrow Seminar 2012Tuesday, 25th Sep 2012

Biopolis Auditorium

Overview

• Introduction• Strategies• Outcomes• Conclusion

Presentation Date

Presentation Date

“Global mobile data traffic grew 2.3 fold in 2011”

“Singapore mobile penetration rate – 145%”

“Projected to grow by 18-fold between 2011 and 2016” – Cisco Systems Inc

“72% are smartphones, 3rd highest smartphone penetration rate in the world” – IDA Singapore

Access Library Services & Resources:•Anywhere•Anytime•24x7

March 2011 - Launched Bookmyne iPhone Application

Feature-rich but costs nothing (almost) !!!

Strategies

Bookmyne:No customizations=No new mobile services

October 2011 – Mobile Services Task Force formed to review Library Mobile strategy

FeaturesWeb Application

• Reaches different mobile devices easily

• Content can be retrieved from search engine results

• Content can be easily updated

• Enhancements can be deployed immediately

Native Application

• More responsive

• Excellent user interface

• Take advantage of features in mobile devices, e.g. camera

• More expensive – needs more effort to develop, maintain, update & enhance

• Requires more skillsets

• Need to develop multiple versions for different platforms

FeaturesWeb Application

Unable to interface with BookMyne and other native applications

Native Application

Able to interface with BookMyne and other native applications

Strategies

Hybrid Approach Adopted:•First Page is Native Application•Subsequent Pages are part of web applications

Advantages:•Best of both worlds – Native & Web•Ability to link to BookMyne, NIE Mobile

Outsource Application Development

Strategies

Faster time to market Address issue of lack of

internal skill sets Proper knowledge transfer Retain source codes

Technical Considerations

Strategies

Retrieve data from Library Portal via RSS

Avoid maintaining contents from multiple platform

Integration

• Engage student to develop Android version of LibGO!

• Development completed in a mere 6 weeks!

• June 2012 - Launched Android version of LibGO!

Outcome

•Greater convenience for users•Increased usage of Library services & resources•Higher visibility of NIE

Objectives achieved without adding too much administrative pressure on staff workload

Conclusion

What’s Next for LibGO!Analyze usage patterns through statisticsConduct focus group survey to gather user feedbacksMonitor developments and trends in the use of mobile devicesGather ideas to enhance LibGO!