Mobile Tech in Libraries: m-libraries Project Publishes Ten “Pathways To Best Practice” Guides
The m-libraries project is part of the JISC Mobile Infrastructure for Libraries programme based in the UK. It began in November 2011 and ends next week.
The 10 Pathways to Best Practice Guides were introduced on the project blog today.
From an Introductory Blog Post:
This series of documents brings together the resources we’ve been collecting during the project as well as examples of initiatives and the lessons learned which should help you if you are thinking of implementing something similar.
From the Start Page:
This series of documents brings together the resources we’ve been collecting during the project as well as examples of initiatives and the lessons learned which should help you if you are thinking of implementing something similar.
Rather than focus on specific technologies, the guides focus on benefits for the library and present different ways to utilise mobile technologies to help achieve that benefit. Each one contains its state of maturity, an overview of options, some examples of projects, lessons learned from work so far, key contacts within the area, and additional resources and links.
Though the main focus of our research has been the UK Education sector (as the project is JISC-funded), they also include examples from other libraries and information centres and many of the lessons learned will be applicable to other sectors.
Direct Links to the Ten Guides
- Introducing users to the library
- Helping on-site users – roving support
- Helping users within the library – guides and signage
- Providing access to resources via mobile devices
- Developing a mobile strategy for the library
- Managing borrower accounts
- Bibliographic management
- Loaning mobile devices
- Supporting learning, teaching and research
- Collection management
At the bottom of each guide you’ll see a link if you would like to format/print each guide as a PDF.
Filed under: Libraries, Management and Leadership, News, Patrons and Users
About Gary Price
Gary Price (gprice@gmail.com) is a librarian, writer, consultant, and frequent conference speaker based in the Washington D.C. metro area. He earned his MLIS degree from Wayne State University in Detroit. Price has won several awards including the SLA Innovations in Technology Award and Alumnus of the Year from the Wayne St. University Library and Information Science Program. From 2006-2009 he was Director of Online Information Services at Ask.com.