Service area

Prototype service

Description

Ease of development

Skills

Mobile Safari

Online information literacy tutorial. One module has already been developed by the the Open University Library.

Already exists

Mobile Library induction

Using audio and video recordings users could follow a self-guided library induction, which they could then retain on their mobile device for future reference.

Time consuming

Mobile Study Skills

For example the Open University's Student Services department developed a mobile study skills tutorial on Using Maths and Statistics. 

Difficult to prototype

Content

Mobile Quick reference services

Quick reference services using Credo Reference from Xreferplus. This will be easy to set up if both the Open University and the University of Cambridge have licences for this service. Alternatively a free service such as Wapedia could be used for the purposes of this project.

Easy to prototype

Mediated services

Mobile access to the Library helpdesk

This could be facilitated through phone calls, web chat, and in future, text messages. The Open University’s Knowledge Media Institute (KMI) has already developed and tested software for receiving and responding to text messages.

Easy to prototype

Information

Library opening hours, location and contact details

This could easily be provided using Auto-Detect and Reformat (ADR) software on existing library web pages, or an existing mobile site creation service such as wink.com.

Easy to produce

Library locator (ie Finding the nearest library you can use)

Mobile access to the SCONUL libraries database, combined with Worldcat and Google Maps, could help distance learners find the nearest library they can borrow from, the nearest library they can study at, or the nearest library that holds a particular item they need.

Difficult to prototype

Mobile access to Library Catalogue

Library users could search the library’s holdings before arriving at the building. Mobile access to both Voyager and Worldcat is already theoretically possible, but would require some developer time to implement.

Difficult to prototype

Audio guides to library services: “How to…”

Providing “How to”s about using library services as audio files would enable library users to listen to them on the mobile phones or other portable media players.

Easy to prototype

Administration

Borrowing record alerts by text message

Users could opt to receive alerts about items that are due back soon; overdue or awaiting collection by text message. Similarly they could receive alerts about temporary changes to opening hours.

Difficult to prototype

Renew books by text message

Users could renew books by sending a text message saying 'renew' to the library system, or 'renew book title'

Difficult to prototype