Author Archives: Kathryn Barwick

Welcome

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Welcome to the 23 Mobile Things course website!

The course is self paced, you can work through each lesson at your own speed and share what you’ve learned via Twitter using the #23mobilethings hashtag. Everyone works at their own pace, you may be familiar with some topics already while others may take longer. We suggest that you allocate approximately an hour per week to explore a “Thing”.

The course is freely available to anyone who has access to a mobile device (tablet or smartphone) to participate. The best way to ask for help is to use Twitter and tweet your question with the #23mobilethings hashtag.

The 23 Mobile Things are:

  1. Twitter
  2. Taking a photo with a mobile device:  Instagram / Flickr app / Snapchat
  3. eMail on the move
  4. Maps and checking in
  5. Photos + Maps + Apps: Historypin / What was there / Sepia Town
  6. Video: YouTube and screencasts
  7. Communicate: Skype / Google+ Hangout
  8. Calendar
  9. QR codes
  10. Social reading: RSS / Flipboard / Feedly / Goodreads / Pocket
  11. Augmented reality: Layar / Aurasma / Google Glass / etc.
  12. Recreation and some Angry Birds
  13. Online identity
  14. Curating: Pinterest / Tumblr
  15. Adobe ID
  16. eBooks and eBook apps: Project Gutenberg / Kindle / Overdrive / Bluefire / Kobo, etc.
  17. Evernote and Zotero
  18. Productivity tools: Doodle / Remember the Milk / 30/30
  19. File sharing: Dropbox
  20. Mobile music: last.fm / Spotify / Soundcloud / Rdio
  21. Voice interaction and recording
  22. eResources vendor apps
  23. Digital storytelling

Thing 15: Adobe ID

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What is Adobe Digital Editions and why do I need an Adobe ID?

Adobe Digital Editions is free software that is frequently used to display eBooks (ePUB and PDF) on your PC or mobile device.  See the list of the Digital Editions Supported Devices.  If you want to download library eBooks you will often need to use Bluefire Reader and it works with Adobe Digital Editions, to access this program you will need an Adobe ID which is typically your email address and password for authentication and to sign in to your Adobe account.  Adobe ID is also used for other Adobe products eg Photoshop, etc.

DISCOVER

  • Where can I get Adobe Digital Editions software for a mobile device?
  • How do I sign up for an Adobe ID? If you already have other Adobe software, you may have an Adobe ID already. See the Adobe ID FAQs
  • Where do I get Bluefire Reader apps for my mobile device? (iPad and Android)
  • How do I use Bluefire Reader? Here’s a demonstration on Slideshare.

EXPLORE

THINKING POINTS

  • Do you provide information to guide your library clients in downloading eBooks and reader apps? Cranston Library have published instructions on Slideshare
  • What about different guides for specific devices? Waukegan Public Library have a guide.
  • Adobe Digital Editions allows ebooks to be transferred between multiple computers and mobile devices, do your customers read books on only one device or do you need to give them tips on switching between devices?
  • Adobe Digital Editions is compatible with screen reading software JAWS, NVDA or Window-Eyes on Windows and VoiceOver on Mac. Do you promote your ebook collections to clients with visual disabilities?
  • How does the user experience of downloading eBooks from your library compare to other experiences your library clients may have (eg. Kindle books, iTunes, Google books etc.)?

Thing 14: Curating

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Libraries and museums (and the people working in them) have a fascination with collecting, but using technology the potential for individuals to draw together their own collections of online resources is enormous.  In this Thing we are looking at online curation, using tools like Pinterest and Tumblr. We’d like to look at two aspects: (1) the way that institutions and members of the public can use various websites and tools to curate collections around their chosen topics and, using mobile apps, do this anytime and anywhere, and (2) how library workers can use these tools to curate a collection of links and resources relevant to their work and professional development.

DISCOVER

Pinterest allows users to create virtual pinboards of images and videos according to their interests.

  • Libraries are using Pinterest for many purposes, here’s just a few examples:
  • Library workers can use Pinterest to collect resources relevant to their work. See the Pinterest boards we’re using to develop and support 23 mobile things  as an example

Tumblr, a microblogging platform, allows users to post their own content or “reblog” content posted by other users. Posts can be tagged with hashtags (e.g. #libraries. )

  • Libraries are using Tumblr in many different ways – here’s just a few examples:
    • New York Public Library is using Tumblr to promote and share information about their LIVE from the NYPL program
    • Boroondara Library (Victoria, Australia) uses Tumblr to share links to library resources, news and events, and relevant news and quotes
  • How are library workers using Tumblr for professional development?

EXPLORE

  • New York Public Library use their Tumblr to post highlights from their collection, join in with Tumblr-wide conversations and themes (e.g. Mustache Monday , or Caturday), give updates on library events and services, and share updates about news and topics impacting on the sector
  • There are some other tools you can try for curating text-based content (e.g. blog posts, tweets, etc.) Paper.li, and Storify
  • If you’re looking for tools to curate collections of links and websites you could try Symbaloo and Livebinders (with Android app and iOS app options)
  • Explore more links on our Pinterest boards (Curating and Tumblr)

THINKING POINTS

  • How easy is it for library clients to “pin” items from your collection (eg. do the catalogue entries for your digitised local history photographs include a “pin it” or “tumblr” button)?
  • Have you tried searching to see how much of your library’s content has already been added to Pinterest by members of the public? Just try searching for your library URL (eg. http://pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=sl.nsw.gov.au)
  • Could your library use Pinterest to keep clients up to date on building re-developments at the library? eg. City of Greater Bendigo Council Pinterest board for the redevelopment of Bendigo Library
  • Could you use a mobile device to take pictures of your library spaces, displays and events and post them to Pinterest or Tumblr?
  • Could you use a group board on Pinterest to invite library clients to share book recommendations, or colleagues to share resources?

Thing 12 : Recreation and some angry birds

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Libraries have always supported the information, recreation and education needs of their clients. In a mobile enabled world, library clients use their devices for all three of these purposes as well. In this Thing we’d like to explore some of the recreational aspects of mobile apps and the potential for gamification and games in some library activities.

DISCOVER

EXPLORE

  • Mobile devices have many recreational and lifestyle uses – here’s just a few:
    • Culinary inspiration, e.g. Epicurious or Allrecipes, and nutrition, e.g. Aisle Won
    • Interior design, e.g. Houzz Interior Design Ideas or ColorSmart by BEHR Mobile
    • Gardening and landscaping, e.g. Australian iPad garden app: The Garden Planner
    • Following sporting events or your favourite team, e.g. SBS Tour de France Skoda Tour Tracker, Cricbuzz or BBC Sports
  • Interactive gamification workshop at Next Library 2013 .
  • Find more links on our Pinterest board .

THINKING POINTS

  • Kids and mobile games – what’s popular? How can you find out? Could you integrate some of these games into your library’s programs for children?
  • If you could develop a game for mobile devices, what would it be? We’ve already encountered several apps that can be used to gamify aspects of your library service (eg. SCVNGR, geocaching)
  • National Parks New South Wales, Australia, has developed an iPad app as part of their Wilderquest program for children – could your library develop an app?
  • Could you use games in programs at your library?  eg. designing games using Game Salad