Category Archives: apps

Thing 4 : Maps and checking in

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Smartphones and mobile devices have a global positioning system (GPS) built into them.  This allows your mobile device to locate your position on a map.   This also allows library clients and staff to locate themselves on a map and to get directions to different locations. You can see this at work in “real time” tracking apps for bus and train timetables.

 

DISCOVER:

  • Try out the maps installed on your device.  You can also download map apps, try the Google Map app for example.
  • Try out the directions functions for different options (walk, drive, public transport).  What are the directions to your library like?
  • Google Maps also have indoor maps which include many cultural institutions including libraries

 

EXPLORE:

  • Foursquare  is a social media tool that uses GPS to check into locations, there are badges to be earned and the status of Mayor if you check in more times than anyone else  (see the Bookworm badge  and instructions )  NB: a number of other apps interact with Foursquare
  • LibraryThing has a free app called Readar (it was formerly Local Books), with more than 80,500  bookstores, libraries and bookish events listed it uses GPS to allow the user to locate nearby venues and literary events
  • Facebook also has a check in option
  • There are more useful links on our Pinterest Board

 

THINKING POINTS:

  • Do you use maps as wayfinding guides inside your library (eg. University of Virginia Library  )
  • If your library facility is large or spread over several locations does your website or app include maps?
  • Have you considered geocaching as a library program / allowing interaction with the library as a destination (eg. British Library  )
  • Could you use geocaching as an educational and outreach tool (eg. Andrew Spencer describes how it was used at Macquarie University Library)
  • Have you considered editing the information about your library in Librarything Readar, Google places and Foursquare, perhaps adding some photos?
  • Do you have any signs in your library to encourage people to “check in”?
  • Have you considered holding a competition with Foursquare check ins at your library?

Thing 3 : eMail on the move

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E-mail is an indispensable part of daily life.  For example, if you forget a password the most common fix is to have a new one emailed to you. So why not have it handy on your mobile device?   You can choose to use the email feature built into your device, or you can find an app that you prefer, there are many to choose from.

DISCOVER:

  • Look in your settings to enter the details of your Gmail or other email address. (Note: you may need some extra information to attach your work or home email eg. POP or IMAP Email server settings and ports)
  • View this online tutorial on Gmail for mobile devices
  • Try sending an email to the course authors at 23mobilethings@gmail.com or to a friend.
  • Take a photo and email it to yourself (note take the photo first and from the camera roll you will have an option to send it via email)

 

EXPLORE:

  • Try out an email app (eg. Aqua Mail  or K9-Mail  are popular choices for Android and Mailbox  is a popular iOS app as an alternative to the email feature built into your iPad / iPhone), your device may also have an app preloaded.
  • There are more useful Twitter links on our Pinterest Board 

 

THINKING POINTS:

  • How easy is it for your library clients to email a citation / catalogue entry / journal article to themselves?
  • Does your library system offer the option of email alerts to item due dates, reserved materials becoming available, event reminders?
  • Event booking systems like Eventbrite  use email reminders for people attending events.  You can also schedule extra emails and send out a feedback survey via email after an event.
  • Do you use email to alert staff to roster changes and library activities?

Thing 2 : Taking a photo with a mobile device

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DISCOVER:

All smartphones and tablet devices have a camera fitted.

  • Explore your device to take a photograph and then locate the  camera roll or gallery via the menu.
  • Mobile devices make it very easy to share photographs by email, messaging and twitter.   Take a photograph of a sign with the name of your library or museum, open your Twitter app, attach the photo and tweet it with a short message and the hashtag #23mobilethings
  • You can also take a screen shot on your device [iOS | Android]

EXPLORE:

There are many different types of photography apps you can add to your mobile device.  Some offer filters to enhance the look of your photos, most will interact with other social media tools (eg. sharing via Twitter or Facebook)  while others are part of their own social networks (eg. Instagram, Snapchat)

  • Try out Instagram (you can also have fun with Instaweather, and Instastitch).   Instagram has its own ‘jargon / language’ for example people who use Istagram refer to themselves as #igers and they often share photographs of themselves known as #selfies .  Take a photograph and upload it with the #23mobilethings hashtag. Explore the other photographs that have the same hashtag.
  • Try out an app with filters eg Hipstamatic (or others like Snapseed, SquareReady Pro and ProCamera)
  • If you have a Flickr account you can upload photographs as you take them via the Flickr app (no iPad version is available use the iPhone version)
  • Snapchat is a very popular photography app with many teenagers  they use it as a social network to communicate with friends.  iOS and Android app that allows users to send photos among their contacts, which automatically delete after a short period of time (between 1 – 10 seconds)
  • There are more useful Photography links on our Pinterest Board.

 

THINKING POINTS:

  • How could your library use photographs to promote library services, events and activities?
  • Does your library Twitter account use Instaweather to provide a daily update?
  • Do you have a permission form available so that when you take photographs of clients or events you have their agreement for those images to be used and shared online?
  • How easy is it for clients to contribute digital photographs to your library collection (eg. local history)?
  • Could you use photography in library programming (eg. how-to classes or competitions)?
  • The Getty Museum celebrates the Instagram photographs taken by museum visitors by adding them to their Insta-Getty Pinterest board

    Instaweather image Guldborgsund-bibliotekerne

    Guldborgsund-bibliotekerne

Instaweather image State Library of New South Wales

State Library of NSW

Thing 1 : Twitter

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DISCOVER:

What is Twitter?
Twitter is a real-time information network sharing short messages called “tweets” that are just 140 characters long.  Twitter is a social network which allows people to choose which accounts they will follow and what information they wish to share with the people that follow them. This video from Commoncraft is a great overview of how Twitter works.     A lot of organisations, including libraries, also use Twitter.  Some examples include:  @britishlibrary, @librarycongress, @nlnz  and @PublicLibrarySG .

A lot of individuals also use Twitter, including astronauts, celebrities (eg. @wilw, @algore), authors (@maureenjohnson, @anitaheiss), sports people, royalty  and parody accounts.   There are also verified accounts as it is easy to imitate a person on Twitter (see the many accounts posing as Aung San Suu Kyi for example).  If you’re still not convinced that Twitter is for you, Ned Potter addresses some of the concerns people may have about Twitter in “7 reasons people don’t use twitter, and why ‘It’s a conversation’ is the answer to all of them“

What is a hashtag and how does it work?
One of the features of Twitter is the use of hashtags.  They act as hyperlinks connecting conversations.  The use of hashtags to link conversations together has also carried over into other social networking tools like Instagram, Google+, Pinterest and Tumblr.  Hashtags are particularly useful for regular conversations #kidlit, natural disasters #eqnz,  sporting events and teams #cricket, events #ifla #tedx and conferences #sxsw.

What is Twitter etiquette?
Just like any community, there are accepted ways of communicating and behaving.  Here is a guide to Twitter etiquette.

How are libraries using Twitter for online engagement?

How can library workers use it for professional development?

  • following conferences and seminars eg. #cyc4lib
  • building a personal learning network (PLN) of colleagues who share your professional interests (a new graduate librarian, Alisa Howlett, explored this idea in more detail)
  • keeping up with trends and industry news #npsig  #mtogo
  • sharing links to research and reports (eg Pew Internet)

 

EXPLORE:

  • Set up your Twitter account   (see the tips from Twitter)
  • You can use Twitter in the web browser, but it will be much easier to use an app
  • Explore the App Store or Google Play to find and install an app
  • Send a tweet: Using the #23mobilethings hashtag tweet the name of your favourite museum or library
  • Register your account for the course – if you would like us to add you to the list of people working on #23mobilethings please tweet a message to @23mobilethings
  • Using Twitter lists (you must be logged in to see lists) eg  Public Libraries in NSW
  • See what is trending on Twitter around the world
  • Storify to collect Tweets and links
  • There are more useful Twitter links on our Pinterest Board.

THINKING POINTS: