Going Mobile:The Impact of the Mobile Revolution on Libraries, Librarians, and Library Users

A presentation made by Tom Peters

at the MSU Student Library Science Association’s

Spring ColloquiumSpringfield, MOApril 25, 2013

I’m Going Mobile!

[Insert Rock Album Cover Art and Song Lyrics Here]

This Slide Set is Online

A Shameless Plug

TOC: Intro and Part 1

• Introduction: The Mobile Revolution and Libraries, Librarians, and Library Users– Lori Bell and Thomas A. Peters

• Part 1: Mobile Tech Trends in Libraries• Chapter 1: Serving Your Mobile Users: The Essentials– Robin Ashford and Alex Rolfe

• Chapter 2: Mobile Present, Mobile Future– Lisa Carlucci Thomas

• Chapter 3: The New York Public Library and the World of Tomorrow—Biblion: The Boundless Library– Deanna Lee

TOC Part 2: Mobile Library Users• Chapter 4: Mobile Learning: The Teacher in Your Pocket

– Meredith Farkas• Chapter 5: Going Mobile: Reaching the Younger Generations

– Bonnie Roalsen• Chapter 6: Bricks and Mortar and Wireless: The Impact of the Mobile

Revolution on the Use of Physical Libraries– Thomas A. Peters

• Chapter 7: Snap & Go: The Delivery and Marketing of Library Services through QR Codes and a Mobile Website– Susan Kantor-Horning

• Chapter 8: Mobile Tours for the Library with Historic Photos and Podcasts– Lori Bell

TOC Part 3: Mobile Access to Content• Chapter 9: Practical Mobile Web Design

– Chad Mairn• Chapter 10: Mobile Catalogs

– Chad Haefele• Chapter 11: Reading Transformed by the Mobility of E-books

– Andrew Revelle and Sue Polanka• Chapter 12: Electronic Resources in Medical Libraries

– Max Anderson• Chapter 13: Smartphones, QR Codes, and Augmented Reality in the

Library– Henry E. Pence

• Chapter 14: Mobile Technologies and Archives: Using the New to Preserve the Old– April Karlene Anderson

TOC Part 4: Mobile Reference

• Chapter 15: SMS-Based Reference – Rene J. Erlandson

• Chapter 16: Using Mobile-to-Mobile Messaging to Deliver Health Information at the Point of Need– Tammy A. Magid

• Chapter 17: Text a Librarian: Ideas for Best Practices– Lili Luo

TOC Part 5: Mobile Professional Development

• Chapter 18: Expanding a Community College Library’s Mobile Presence on a Shoestring Budget– Cate Kaufman and Brittany Osika

• Chapter 19: Mobile Empowerment: Lifelong Learning at Your Fingertips– Rebecca K. Miller

• Author Biographies• Index

Some Updated Key Points from the Intro and Chapter 6 (Bricks and Mortar)

Talkin’ About a Mobile Revolution• 7.1 Billion People• 6.8 Billion Active Mobile Phone Subscriptions

Source: http://www.itu.int/en/ITU-D/Statistics/Documents/facts/ICTFactsFigures2013.pdf

Is It All About Mobile Phones?

• Other mobile devices (iPad, other tablets, etc.) probably do not add much to this diffusion total.

A Tentative Definition“The mobile revolution involves the use of any mobile device (smartphone, tablet, laptop, ultrabook, dedicated e-reading device, gaming device, etc.) and any mobile network to engage in one or more of four fundamental activities: communicating, finding and using information, being entertained, and creating content. The mobile revolution is arguably one of the fastest, most pervasive diffusions of any technology in human history, rivaling things such as TV sets, toilets, cooking utensils, and clothing in terms of the breadth of diffusion, and outpacing just about everything in the rapidity of such a globally pervasive diffusion.”

Hot Mobile Sectors

• Banking and Financial Transactions• Health and Wellness• Agriculture

At Least Two Phases to Any Tech Revolution

1. The new technology is released into the wild and taken up by users.

2. Eventually the users begin to think differently about what they are doing and the affordances of the new technology.

A Short History of Mobile Tech

• Radio• TV• Ship-to-Shore• Detroit PD (1928)• UHF TV (not)• DynaTAC (1983)• PDA (1990s)• IBM Simon (1993)

It’s More than Gadgets and Apps

• Content• Gadgets and Apps• Distribution/Fulfillment• Human Participants• Process, with Outcomes

(short-term & long-term)

How Is the Mobile Revolution Affecting…

• Libraries• Librarians• Library Users

The Mobile Revolution as the Apotheosis of the “Library Without Walls” Idea

Long Live Physical Libraries

But the mobile revolution is affecting bricks and mortar libraries, too.

Other Effects of the Mobile Revolution on Bricks and Mortar Libraries

• “Parking lot” patrons

• More user space, less stacks space

• Before you reconfigure your space, consult with your wireless engineers

• Circulating gadgets should connect automatically to your wireless network

Facilitate Group Wireless Use

• Furniture Configurations

• Collaboration Stations

• Areas for creating and editing audio and video

What Students Want

• More Outlets

• Longer Hours

• Caffeine and Food

• (good wireless service is just assumed)

Lots of Free Wireless Hotspots

• Most restaurants• Most hotels• Most libraries

How to Beat McDonald’s at Wireless

• Make sure coverage is 100%, then work on capacity upgrades.

• Provide good documentation and tech support.

• No sales pitches or assumption of sale.• Brief, understandable, “as-end-user-

supportive-as-possible” user agreement• Serve healthy snacks.

But Are They Using Our Mobile Website, Digital Resources, and Digital Services?

• I think this is the wrong question to ask and agonize over.

• Remember the 4 basic activities of any mobile user (communicate; find and use info; create content; be entertained).

• They want and expect to mix these 4 activities anytime, anywhere.

When Tech Succeeds, It Recedes

What To Do?

• Find out who manages the wireless network.

• Ask to receive periodic (daily, weekly, monthly) usage statistical reports.

• Study those reports regularly.

• Think about and plan for the in-library wireless user experience.

Advice

• Wired is Withering• Plan for Growth• Develop Performance Measures

& Best Practices• Support Wireless Content Creators• Spikes Happen• Keep Everyone Informed and in the Loop• Work with Your Larger Organization

In Conclusion…

• Usage of the wireless network is increasing.

• Most people just expect free wireless connectivity in libraries, restaurants, and other public places.

• Wireless connectivity has become a core library service.

• Know your wireless network and usage of it.

Thank You for Your Time and Attention

Tom PetersDean of Library ServicesMissouri State UniversityTPeters@MissouriState.edu

309-660-3648 (my mobile phone number, but of course!)