Research databases in a mobile computing environment Ya Wang Electronic Collections Coordinator San Francisco State University San Diego, CA January 9,

Research databases in a mobile computing environment

Ya WangElectronic Collections Coordinator

San Francisco State UniversitySan Diego, CA

January 9, 2011

Table of Contents

Mobile computing environment

Database mobile interfaces from vendors

SFSU Xerxes database mobile interface

Discovery service products’ mobile interfaces

Statistics & discussion

Source: http://www.morganstanley.com/institutional/techresearch/pdfs/Internet_Trends_041210.pdf

State of the Internet…Mobile Will Be Bigger Than Desktop Internet in 5 Years

Source: http://www.morganstanley.com/institutional/techresearch/pdfs/MS_Internet_Trends_060710.pdf

Mobile Internet – Unprecedented Early Stage Growth

Mobile Browser Users

Source: http://www.morganstanley.com/institutional/techresearch/pdfs/MS_Internet_Trends_060710.pdf

Mobile learning on campuses2010 Horizon Report

The portability of mobile devices and their ability to connect to the Internet almost anywhere makes them ideal as a store of reference materials and learning experiences

2011 Horizon Report PreviewIt has become common practice to develop web content that seamlessly adjusts for optimal display on whichever of these devices is used to access it, increasing the proportion of Internet applications and information that is accessible to mobile users.

Source: http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/CSD5810.pdf http://horizon.wiki.nmc.org/2011+Mobiles

Library mobiles in practice

Hours & locations

Catalog search

Reference services

Computer and study room reservations

Library news

Research databases

Database vendors have started to provide mobile search interfaces

List of databases that have mobile interfaces (not complete)

Artstor

Cambridge Journals Online

EBSCO Databases

IEEE Xplore

JSTOR

PubMed

Wilson databases

SFSU is using Xerxes is an interface application.

It can serve as the user interface to Metalib, Worldcat, and a growing number of other discovery systems via an evolving plug-in architecture.

The latest version of Xerxes recognizes mobile devices and adjust its display, giving users slimmed-down versions of the search and results pages specifically designed for the smaller display.

Benefits of this method1. Consistent mobile search and display pages for all databases2. Our users are familiar with this interface3. Provide mobile presence for databases whose vendors don’t have

mobile interfaces

Source: http://code.google.com/p/xerxes-portal/

SFSU “Find Articles” mobile presence

SFSU “Find Articles” mobile presence

SFSU “Find Articles” mobile presence

SFSU “Find Articles” mobile presence

SFSU “Find Articles” mobile presence

SFSU “Find Articles” mobile presence

Discovery service products’ mobile interfaces examples

–Summon (Serials Solutions)

–Primo (Ex Libris)

Summon

Summon

Primo

Statistics & DiscussionAmong total mobile site clicks, 14% are database clicks. Patrons are using our mobile website to search databases. For the first semester, usage is roughly 8 to 9 clicks per day. This is still low usage.

Who are the possible users? - People in transit - People on breaks with no computer available - People with no time to go to the library

Need better authentication system, single sign on

If mobile computing is truly the wave of the future, we should start offering this service from the beginning. We need to keep mobile users connecting to the library to do research. Let’s be on top of it.