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Introduction Both public and academic libraries across the United States are facing lean budgets in...

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Introduction Introduction Both public and academic libraries Both public and academic libraries across the United States are across the United States are facing lean budgets in tough facing lean budgets in tough economic times while public demand economic times while public demand for library services is rising. for library services is rising. Librarians are struggling to meet Librarians are struggling to meet increased public demand with increased public demand with reduced budgets. (OBVIOUS) reduced budgets. (OBVIOUS)
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Page 1: Introduction Both public and academic libraries across the United States are facing lean budgets in tough economic times while public demand for library.

IntroductionIntroduction

Both public and academic libraries Both public and academic libraries across the United States are facing across the United States are facing lean budgets in tough economic lean budgets in tough economic times while public demand for library times while public demand for library services is rising.services is rising.

Librarians are struggling to meet Librarians are struggling to meet increased public demand with increased public demand with reduced budgets. (OBVIOUS)reduced budgets. (OBVIOUS)

Page 2: Introduction Both public and academic libraries across the United States are facing lean budgets in tough economic times while public demand for library.

Does Mobile Technology $ave Does Mobile Technology $ave Money?Money?

Can libraries reduce costs using Can libraries reduce costs using technology (including mobile reference) technology (including mobile reference) wisely while providing improved wisely while providing improved services?services?

Survey resultsSurvey results This presentation examines and identifies This presentation examines and identifies

a number of low-cost, high-quality a number of low-cost, high-quality resources to help libraries with their resources to help libraries with their technology (especially mobile) needstechnology (especially mobile) needs

Page 3: Introduction Both public and academic libraries across the United States are facing lean budgets in tough economic times while public demand for library.

QuestionsQuestions Poll: How many libraries here are Poll: How many libraries here are

new to mobile reference?new to mobile reference? Does your library have statistics Does your library have statistics

whether mobile technology whether mobile technology (especially mobile reference) has (especially mobile reference) has saved money?  How has mobile saved money?  How has mobile reference revamped traditional reference revamped traditional services? (if any) services? (if any)

Page 4: Introduction Both public and academic libraries across the United States are facing lean budgets in tough economic times while public demand for library.

Survey AnswersSurvey Answers Only 6 responsesOnly 6 responses Many respondents reported that they did not Many respondents reported that they did not

have statistics on budget savings or that mobile have statistics on budget savings or that mobile reference had not saved any moneyreference had not saved any money

One library: “We do not have specific statistics or One library: “We do not have specific statistics or $$ amounts but we definitely would not be able $$ amounts but we definitely would not be able to provide mobile reference on our own if it were to provide mobile reference on our own if it were not for the My InfoQuest cooperative. It would not for the My InfoQuest cooperative. It would take more staff to monitor and answer text take more staff to monitor and answer text reference questions if we were doing it on our reference questions if we were doing it on our own.  We have saved the amount of money it own.  We have saved the amount of money it would cost to purchase text-a-librarian or would cost to purchase text-a-librarian or Altarama.” Altarama.”

Page 5: Introduction Both public and academic libraries across the United States are facing lean budgets in tough economic times while public demand for library.

Survey AnswersSurvey Answers

Overall, mobile reference has revamped Overall, mobile reference has revamped traditional library services.traditional library services.

Response 1: “It’s just another channel of Response 1: “It’s just another channel of communication that we offer in addition to our communication that we offer in addition to our other types of reference.” other types of reference.”

Response 2: “As far as revamping, I think mobile Response 2: “As far as revamping, I think mobile technology has changed service for patrons more technology has changed service for patrons more than it changed what we do. It is freeing up some than it changed what we do. It is freeing up some staff from the telephones. We don’t have to make staff from the telephones. We don’t have to make as many calls to patrons about materials because as many calls to patrons about materials because they get the info by email or text message.”they get the info by email or text message.”

Page 6: Introduction Both public and academic libraries across the United States are facing lean budgets in tough economic times while public demand for library.

Survey AnswersSurvey Answers Response 3: “We have been able to extend our Response 3: “We have been able to extend our

reference services through this technology.” reference services through this technology.”

“Because of our participation in My Info Quest, we are “Because of our participation in My Info Quest, we are able to offer extended hours for text reference and able to offer extended hours for text reference and have not had to pursue an alternative service (saving have not had to pursue an alternative service (saving us money). Our Virtual Library Staff provides a chat us money). Our Virtual Library Staff provides a chat reference service Monday - Fridays from 8:30-5:00. reference service Monday - Fridays from 8:30-5:00. We also use Library Answers for our FAQ and also We also use Library Answers for our FAQ and also answer email questions that come in through that answer email questions that come in through that service. The Library Answers knowledge base is service. The Library Answers knowledge base is populated by our Virtual Library Staff.  In addition, we populated by our Virtual Library Staff.  In addition, we provide email responses to people coming into us provide email responses to people coming into us through our ‘Contact Us’ form.” through our ‘Contact Us’ form.”

Page 7: Introduction Both public and academic libraries across the United States are facing lean budgets in tough economic times while public demand for library.

Examples and Sources for Examples and Sources for $aving Money$aving Money

ALA TechSource ALA TechSource Sarah Houghton-Jan, aka “Librarian Sarah Houghton-Jan, aka “Librarian

in Black” in Black” Contra Costa County Library Contra Costa County Library

Page 8: Introduction Both public and academic libraries across the United States are facing lean budgets in tough economic times while public demand for library.

Sarah Houghton-JanSarah Houghton-Jan“Librarian in Black”“Librarian in Black”

http://librarianinblack.net/librarianinblack/

Page 9: Introduction Both public and academic libraries across the United States are facing lean budgets in tough economic times while public demand for library.

Librarian in Black Librarian in Black (continued)(continued)

Digital futures manager of the San Digital futures manager of the San Jose Public Library (CA)Jose Public Library (CA)

Named a 2009 Named a 2009 Library JournalLibrary Journal Mover Mover & Shaker as a Trendspotter & Shaker as a Trendspotter

She has given many presentations She has given many presentations about technology and saving money about technology and saving money in librariesin libraries

Page 10: Introduction Both public and academic libraries across the United States are facing lean budgets in tough economic times while public demand for library.

Librarian in Black Librarian in Black (continued)(continued)

Recently at the Handheld Librarian 3 Recently at the Handheld Librarian 3 (July 2010) she presented “Mobile (July 2010) she presented “Mobile Services on a Shoestring (aka for Broke Services on a Shoestring (aka for Broke @$$ Libraries).” You can access it here: @$$ Libraries).” You can access it here: (http://librarianinblack.net/librarianinbla(http://librarianinblack.net/librarianinblack/2010/08/mobile-3.html)ck/2010/08/mobile-3.html)

10 ways to save money: website, 10 ways to save money: website, catalog, databases, etc. catalog, databases, etc.

Page 11: Introduction Both public and academic libraries across the United States are facing lean budgets in tough economic times while public demand for library.

Librarian in Black Librarian in Black (continued)(continued)

Mobile reference services are not the Mobile reference services are not the ONLY way to save money. Examples:ONLY way to save money. Examples:

Open source software (OpenAccess) Open source software (OpenAccess) Online book club tools Online book club tools See posts “New Technologies that Save See posts “New Technologies that Save

Money, Time, and Service” (2009) and “13 Money, Time, and Service” (2009) and “13 Ways (and 147 Tools) to Help Your Library Ways (and 147 Tools) to Help Your Library Save Money on Technology” (January 24, Save Money on Technology” (January 24, 2010)2010)

Page 12: Introduction Both public and academic libraries across the United States are facing lean budgets in tough economic times while public demand for library.

Librarian in Black Librarian in Black (continued)(continued)

Contact her:Contact her: E-mail: [email protected]: [email protected] Facebook: LibrarianInBlackFacebook: LibrarianInBlack Twitter: TheLibTwitter: TheLib

Page 13: Introduction Both public and academic libraries across the United States are facing lean budgets in tough economic times while public demand for library.

ALA TechSourceALA TechSource

www.alatechsource.org www.alatechsource.org ““We're always looking to explore how We're always looking to explore how

libraries around the world are using libraries around the world are using new technologies to their improve new technologies to their improve access and services.” access and services.”

Page 14: Introduction Both public and academic libraries across the United States are facing lean budgets in tough economic times while public demand for library.

Mary Ann Hodel (Orange Mary Ann Hodel (Orange County Library, FL)County Library, FL)

Since 2003, the Library has used Since 2003, the Library has used Vocera, a voice communication Vocera, a voice communication platform that provides instant voice platform that provides instant voice communication between library staff. communication between library staff. The small badge-like device, worn The small badge-like device, worn around the neck on a lanyard, is a around the neck on a lanyard, is a voice transmitter and receiver that voice transmitter and receiver that connects to the wi-fi system for connects to the wi-fi system for immediate voice communication with immediate voice communication with key personnel. key personnel.

Page 15: Introduction Both public and academic libraries across the United States are facing lean budgets in tough economic times while public demand for library.

Mary Ann Hodel (continued)Mary Ann Hodel (continued) OC has saved money by reducing the OC has saved money by reducing the

number of telephone outlets in the number of telephone outlets in the public part of the building, and public part of the building, and maximized its staff by allowing them to maximized its staff by allowing them to rove the building to provide assistance rove the building to provide assistance to the customers.to the customers.

The Library also used iPods for reference The Library also used iPods for reference service and a cell-phone service for self-service and a cell-phone service for self-guided library tours.guided library tours.

Page 16: Introduction Both public and academic libraries across the United States are facing lean budgets in tough economic times while public demand for library.

Contra Costa County Library Contra Costa County Library (CA)(CA)

Page 17: Introduction Both public and academic libraries across the United States are facing lean budgets in tough economic times while public demand for library.

Snap & Go ProjectSnap & Go Project

A mobile platform using Quick Response (QR) codes pushing “new and existing library content and services into the hands of cell phone users.”

Designed to improve services and reduce costs Goal: “Bring a number of new services to Contra

Costa County Library customers through their mobile devices to support self-directed use of the library and change the way libraries do business.”

Objective: “Create mobile-friendly web pages and utilize content from other online resources, such as Syndetics, to develop pages.”

Page 18: Introduction Both public and academic libraries across the United States are facing lean budgets in tough economic times while public demand for library.

Snap & Go (continued)Snap & Go (continued)

Check out library mobile website: Check out library mobile website: http://snapngo.ccclib.org http://snapngo.ccclib.org

Objective: Develop a Mobile Patron Objective: Develop a Mobile Patron Support System (MPSS) linking Support System (MPSS) linking customers with cell phones to library customers with cell phones to library services. The MPSS including a 2D services. The MPSS including a 2D Barcode Generator, a server that Barcode Generator, a server that handles requests from mobile devices. handles requests from mobile devices.

Page 19: Introduction Both public and academic libraries across the United States are facing lean budgets in tough economic times while public demand for library.

Snap & Go Project Snap & Go Project (continued)(continued)

Objective: “Create QR codes to link patrons to information relating specifically to the item and location of the originating barcode and pointing people to the library’s Facebook page, accessing the library’s SMS reference service, or checking out a book.”

Example: QR codes are attached to library materials for readers advisory services. Codes on the Teens’ Top Ten nominations links readers to http://guides.ccclib.org/top10, where they can access reviews, view other nominees, place holds, and directly participate in choosing the winners by casting their vote for their favorites. They can simply snap the QR code on the front of the book they just read, without having to ask a question, visit the library, get on a computer, or type a URL.

Page 20: Introduction Both public and academic libraries across the United States are facing lean budgets in tough economic times while public demand for library.

ConclusionsConclusions Unclear whether mobile reference and Unclear whether mobile reference and

technologies have saved libraries moneytechnologies have saved libraries money There are resources and examples out There are resources and examples out

there for saving moneythere for saving money Overall, mobile reference has revamped Overall, mobile reference has revamped

traditional library services, allowing some traditional library services, allowing some libraries more space for mobile referencelibraries more space for mobile reference


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