Creating tools for the mobile campus David Woodbury | October 14, 2010

NC State University Libraries We serve the largest higher education institution in the state 31,000 students & 8,000 faculty members Large focus on science, technology, engineering & mathematics Our main library is the busiest building on campus Up to 16,000 visitors a day Resources get maxed out

WHY MOBILE? “People expect to be able to work, learn, and study whenever and wherever they want to.”

Why mobile?

NC state Mobile Web

Our mobile services MobiLIB (2007)

Our mobile services Texting from the catalog

Our mobile services Text and Voice Reference Services

Our mobile services NCSU Libraries Mobile m.lib.ncsu.edu

Our mobile services WolfWalk

Project Team Jason Casden, Digital Technologies Development Librarian Developer David Woodbury, NCSU Libraries Fellow Project manager Markus Wust, Digital Collections and Preservation Librarian Developer & co-creator of MobiLIB

How we got started Three months from planning to launch September: Project planning, site wireframes (one project manager) October: Development and testing (two developers) November: Formal launch & promotion December: Main website redirect

Iterative development Enhancements added by other developers Bug fixes as needed for new devices new new new new

Ncsu Libraries mobile m.lib.ncsu.edu Direct access to dynamic library services Device detection to deliver 3 tiers of content (based on MIT Mobile Web framework)

Locations and Hours

Locations and Hours

Locations and Hours

Catalog Search

Catalog search

Catalog Search

Catalog Search

Computer Availability

Computer Availability

Room Reservations

Room Reservations

Room Reservations

Webcams

Webcams

Our mantra Reduce Reuse Keep the user in mind

REDUCE 

REDUCE

Reduce

REUSE Mobile tools use existing web applications

REUSE

Reuse

REUSE WolfWalk

Keep the user in mind Our site works better with fewer options Sometimes mobile context means different or special data Say no to projects missing a mobile use case

Native vs web-based Charging for it Creating a game Using cameras Using accelerometers Accessing the filesystems Offline users For publicity and discoverability

Tech tools NCSU Libraries Mobile MIT Mobile Web Open Source Project XHTML 1.0 transitional CSS non-essential JavaScript and AJAX MIT Mobile Web Open Source Project Leaned on pre-existing web services (JSON, RSS) Targeted higher-end devices

Testing CC BY-SA 2.0: http://www.flickr.com/photos/wfryer/3929189482/

Build it and they will come?

What services are used? Unique visits to services

What devices are used?

Where we go from here Add patron account information access Add additional reservation capabilities Promotion! SMS Integrate into instruction

Where we go from here Exploring interior location based information QR code test Enhancing Special Collections exhibits

Where we go from here Collaborate with other campus units Integrate user experience across channels (mobile, web, e-boards) Continue to steal from others and share back!

David Woodbury | david_woodbury@ncsu.edu THANK YOU David Woodbury | david_woodbury@ncsu.edu