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!