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

Have Technology, Will Travel

Mobile Technology for Library StaffJeff SteelyAssistant Director for Client ServicesBaylor University Libraries

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.

Why Work at a Desk?

● Available resources○ Books○ Desk space○ Quiet

● Client needs○ Staffed service point

Why Work at a Desk?

● The computer sitting on the desk

● The network cable to which the computer is attached

Mobile technology as an answer?

Portable devices + wireless network = Freedom?

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?

Laptops

Laptops –Individual Productivity

● Conference

presentations/participation● Meetings● Committee work● Work at home● Work on the road

Laptops –Departmental Uses

● Student Orientation

Laptops –Departmental Uses

● Road Shows for Faculty

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

Laptops –Departmental Uses

● Database Cleanup

Laptops –Departmental Uses

● Inventory

Laptops –Departmental Uses

● Inventory

Laptops –Departmental Uses

● Scanning in the stacks○ Prototype:

● Cyril Oberlander – Portland State University

Laptops –Departmental Uses

● Scanning in the stacks○ Prototype:

● Cyril Oberlander – Portland State University

○ Commercial version● DLSG

PDA’s

PDA’s –Individual Productivity

● Calendar● Address Book● Email● Web● Solitaire anyone?

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?

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

PDA’s –Departmental Uses

● Understand user questions/needs

PDA’s –Departmental Uses

● Pull Lists○ Interlibrary Services○ Reserves

● Circulation Searches○ Lost○ Missing○ New Holds

PDA’s –Departmental Uses

● Carrel Checks

PDA’s –Departmental Uses

● Carrel Checks

PATRN NAME Carrel inventory.CALL #(ITEM) BARCODE TITLE DUE DATE CALL #(ITEM)Baylor, Judge LD1061.C72 W4 31263014492695 Colby college, 1820-1925, an account of its beginnings, progress and service, by Edwin Carey Whittemore.01-06-2005 2015-DBaylor, Judge D387 .R4285x 2000 31263015131300 The revolutions in Europe, 1848-1849 : from reform to reaction / edited by R.J.W. Evans and Hartmut Pogge von Strandmann.06-22-2004 2015-DBaylor, Judge BX4931.L51958 31263002669981 The Anabaptist view of the church; a study in the origins of sectarian Protestantism.01-04-2005 2015-DDoe, Jane PN3448.D4 H55 1990 31263008327873 The crime novel : a deviant genre / by Tony Hilfer.09-13-2004 2019-WDoe, Jane JC599.C5 V5 1997 31263008831585 Polφtica cultural de la memoria hist≤rica : derechos humanos y discursos culturales en Chile / Hernßn Vidal.09-13-2004 2019-WDoe, Jane PQ8498.32.A65 Z625 1994 31263013085441 Vargas Llosa among the Postmodernists / M. Keith Booker.09-13-2004 2019-W

PDA’s –Departmental Uses

● Inventory/shelf reading○ Laptops – 2 person

operation○ Next phase – PDA’s –

1 person

PDA’s –Departmental Uses

● Inventory○ Future – ILS interface

designed for PDA’s?○ Innovative’s “Wireless

Workstation” in development

Other Hardware

Tablet PC’s

● Roving reference○ Bigger screen allows

client to follow along○ Heavier, so more

difficult to carry around

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?

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”

Every staff member a service point?

Every staff member a service point?

● 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

Contact Information

Jeff A. SteelyAssistant Director for Client ServicesBaylor University LibrariesOne Bear Place, #971461301 S 2nd StWaco TX 76798-7146

Email: [email protected]: 254.710.2464Fax: 254.710.1710