1. Have Technology, Will Travel Mobile Technology for Library Staff Jeff Steely Assistant Director for Client Services Baylor University Libraries

2. Context ● Baylor University ○ Located in Waco, TX ○ Largest Baptist university in the world ● 11,600 undergraduates ● 2,000 graduate/professional students ● BU Libraries ○ Central Libraries ○ Several special libraries and collections ○ ~2.2 million volumes ○ Academic technology personnel integrated into structure as “Electronic Library” Our Mission: Connecting people with ideas in support of learning, scholarship, research, and academic distinction.

3. Why Work at a Desk? ● Available resources ○ Books ○ Desk space ○ Quiet ● Client needs ○ Staffed service point

4. Why Work at a Desk? ● The computer sitting on the desk ● The network cable to which the computer is attached

5. Mobile technology as an answer? Portable devices+ wireless network= Freedom?

6. Why Work Away from the Desk? ● Connecting people with ideas… ○ Connect in new ways? ○ Better service for clients? ● Connecting people with ideas (with the staff available)… ○ More efficient use of staff time?

7. Laptops

8. Laptops – Individual Productivity ● Conference presentations/participation ● Meetings ● Committee work ● Work at home ● Work on the road

9. Laptops – Departmental Uses ● Student Orientation

10. Laptops – Departmental Uses ● Road Shows for Faculty

11. Laptops – Departmental Uses ● Remote “office hours” ○ Student life complexes ● Classroom in Honors College dorm? ○ Departmental offices ○ Departmental computer labs ○ Student union ○ Any place near where students study or faculty do research

12. Laptops – Departmental Uses ● Database Cleanup

13. Laptops – Departmental Uses ● Inventory

14. Laptops – Departmental Uses ● Inventory

15. Laptops – Departmental Uses ● Scanning in the stacks ○ Prototype: ● Cyril Oberlander – Portland State University

16. Laptops – Departmental Uses ● Scanning in the stacks ○ Prototype: ● Cyril Oberlander – Portland State University ○ Commercial version ● DLSG

17. PDA’s

18. PDA’s – Individual Productivity ● Calendar ● Address Book ● Email ● Web ● Solitaire anyone?

19. PDA’s – Departmental Uses ● Can you take the “P” out of “PDA”??? ○ Inhibits some useful functions (email) ○ Irritation of re-entering passwords for wireless connection ○ If it’s not personal, when do you find the time to learn the interfaces?

20. PDA’s – Departmental Uses ● Roving reference assistance? ○ Challenges: ● Wireless signal & log-in process ● Input mechanisms ● Staff familiarity and attitudes ● Trying to show client how to do something online ○ Kansas City Public Library ● “Planning for Wireless in Kansas City” ○ http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA286651

21. PDA’s – Departmental Uses ● Understand user questions/needs

22. PDA’s – Departmental Uses ● Pull Lists ○ Interlibrary Services ○ Reserves ● Circulation Searches ○ Lost ○ Missing ○ New Holds

23. PDA’s – Departmental Uses ● Carrel Checks

24. PDA’s – Departmental Uses ● Carrel Checks

25. PDA’s – Departmental Uses ● Inventory/shelf reading ○ Laptops – 2 person operation ○ Next phase – PDA’s – 1 person

26. PDA’s – Departmental Uses ● Inventory ○ Future – ILS interface designed for PDA’s? ○ Innovative’s “Wireless Workstation” in development

27. Other Hardware

28. Tablet PC’s ● Roving reference ○ Bigger screen allows client to follow along ○ Heavier, so more difficult to carry around

29. Specialized PDA’s ● In stacks processing of ILL requests ○ PDA with barcode reader, wireless, infrared (IR) ○ Bookstraps printed on portable, IR-capable printer ● Receipt and shelving of shelf-ready materials?

30. Wireless VoIP ● Staff always available ● Contact someone by: ○ Name ○ Location ○ Location and Skills ● Coverage area under our control ○ not dependent on cell phone tower signals ● Integrates with land line phones ● Not as bulky as 2-way radios ● Make referrals “cool,” not “failure”

31. Every staff member a service point?

32. ● See images used during presentation: ● http://dev-bywater.media.mit.edu/wiki- files/borglab/MIThril-vest-small.jpg ● http://www.media.mit.edu/Wearables/mithril/MIThril-diag- small.jpg ● http://www.media.mit.edu/Wearables/mithril/mithril.jpg

33. Contact Information Jeff A. Steely Assistant Director for Client Services Baylor University Libraries One Bear Place, #97146 1301 S 2nd St Waco TX 76798-7146 Email:Jeffrey_Steely@baylor.edu Phone:254.710.2464 Fax:254.710.1710