Comments on: BlackBerry in the Liberry http://acrlog.org/2008/05/06/blackberry-in-the-liberry/ Blogging by and for academic and research librarians Fri, 19 Mar 2010 15:43:31 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Columbia University Libraries FYI » BlackBerry in the Liberry http://acrlog.org/2008/05/06/blackberry-in-the-liberry/comment-page-1/#comment-90042 Columbia University Libraries FYI » BlackBerry in the Liberry Tue, 15 Jul 2008 15:28:12 +0000 http://acrlog.org/?p=798#comment-90042 [...] http://acrlog.org/2008/05/06/blackberry-in-the-liberry/ [...] [...] http://acrlog.org/2008/05/06/blackberry-in-the-liberry/ [...]

]]> By: Dan http://acrlog.org/2008/05/06/blackberry-in-the-liberry/comment-page-1/#comment-83516 Dan Thu, 12 Jun 2008 22:14:54 +0000 http://acrlog.org/?p=798#comment-83516 "I have installed del.icio.us onto the BlackBerry and it is quite painless to cut and paste links into emails to students. " I should correct this: I have not downloaded the del.icio.us application to the device, but have only bookmarked my page. I apologize for any inconvenience. “I have installed del.icio.us onto the BlackBerry and it is quite painless to cut and paste links into emails to students. ”

I should correct this: I have not downloaded the del.icio.us application to the device, but have only bookmarked my page. I apologize for any inconvenience.

]]> By: theanalogdivide » Blog Archive » Adventures in Ubiquitous Technology http://acrlog.org/2008/05/06/blackberry-in-the-liberry/comment-page-1/#comment-80946 theanalogdivide » Blog Archive » Adventures in Ubiquitous Technology Tue, 27 May 2008 16:55:12 +0000 http://acrlog.org/?p=798#comment-80946 [...] Quite a few people have been discussing the potential for mobile phone-friendly services in the library. I’ve got a project going on at MPOW (mum’s the word, for the time being), but it really seems like a no-brainer. Take a tool everyone a) uses, b) understands, and c) prefers over other technologies, and find a way to deliver service and content over it. And it’s still novel enough that people take notice when something works for them. [...] [...] Quite a few people have been discussing the potential for mobile phone-friendly services in the library. I’ve got a project going on at MPOW (mum’s the word, for the time being), but it really seems like a no-brainer. Take a tool everyone a) uses, b) understands, and c) prefers over other technologies, and find a way to deliver service and content over it. And it’s still novel enough that people take notice when something works for them. [...]

]]> By: Adventures in Ubiquitous Technology « theanalogdivide http://acrlog.org/2008/05/06/blackberry-in-the-liberry/comment-page-1/#comment-80090 Adventures in Ubiquitous Technology « theanalogdivide Wed, 21 May 2008 17:39:06 +0000 http://acrlog.org/?p=798#comment-80090 [...] 21, 2008 · No Comments Quite a few people have been discussing the potential for mobile phone-friendly services in the library. [...] [...] 21, 2008 · No Comments Quite a few people have been discussing the potential for mobile phone-friendly services in the library. [...]

]]> By: saines http://acrlog.org/2008/05/06/blackberry-in-the-liberry/comment-page-1/#comment-79147 saines Tue, 13 May 2008 16:49:41 +0000 http://acrlog.org/?p=798#comment-79147 I think it's important to be available to students, but I'm not a doctor -- your question can go to someone else when I'm not here. I love mobile communication when I need it; I love it when it lets me work from home; I like the idea of being where the students are. On the other hand, I chose to be a librarian partly because I can go home at night and not worry about my work! So at the risk of seeming undedicated, I'm saying, sure I'm all into an IPhone for work during work hours, but I'm turning it off / passing it on / twittering my unavailability otherwise. I think it’s important to be available to students, but I’m not a doctor — your question can go to someone else when I’m not here. I love mobile communication when I need it; I love it when it lets me work from home; I like the idea of being where the students are. On the other hand, I chose to be a librarian partly because I can go home at night and not worry about my work! So at the risk of seeming undedicated, I’m saying, sure I’m all into an IPhone for work during work hours, but I’m turning it off / passing it on / twittering my unavailability otherwise.

]]> By: Dan http://acrlog.org/2008/05/06/blackberry-in-the-liberry/comment-page-1/#comment-78767 Dan Wed, 07 May 2008 14:11:11 +0000 http://acrlog.org/?p=798#comment-78767 The question of whether or not our immediate accessibility to students is a benefit or a liability is indeed very important. For me, the emails that I might answer in the mid to late evening are usually follow ups from people I had met with earlier that day or from patrons with whom I have a developed sense of camaraderie. This concern is still very valid, and deserves consideration. In my opinion, the more we can impress our students with quality professional research assistance the better. They find the interaction helpful, share their successes with their peers, who in turn will seek and receive the same treatment and librarians, therefore, regain / retain relevance and value on their campuses. You have prompted me to add a line to my email signature reminding patrons what to expect in terms of response time. The concern over issues stemming from increased efficiency and service provisions should be extended to late night in person reference hours, 24 chat services (both in house and via a consortium) and perhaps even last minute requests for research assistance. I am sure that most, if not all, librarians would help a last minute student if at all possible, but the issue mentioned above remains whether or not we use a blackberry or are sitting at the reference desk. The question of whether or not our immediate accessibility to students is a benefit or a liability is indeed very important. For me, the emails that I might answer in the mid to late evening are usually follow ups from people I had met with earlier that day or from patrons with whom I have a developed sense of camaraderie. This concern is still very valid, and deserves consideration. In my opinion, the more we can impress our students with quality professional research assistance the better. They find the interaction helpful, share their successes with their peers, who in turn will seek and receive the same treatment and librarians, therefore, regain / retain relevance and value on their campuses. You have prompted me to add a line to my email signature reminding patrons what to expect in terms of response time.

The concern over issues stemming from increased efficiency and service provisions should be extended to late night in person reference hours, 24 chat services (both in house and via a consortium) and perhaps even last minute requests for research assistance.

I am sure that most, if not all, librarians would help a last minute student if at all possible, but the issue mentioned above remains whether or not we use a blackberry or are sitting at the reference desk.

]]> By: Barbara http://acrlog.org/2008/05/06/blackberry-in-the-liberry/comment-page-1/#comment-78739 Barbara Wed, 07 May 2008 01:37:03 +0000 http://acrlog.org/?p=798#comment-78739 I have to admit that my first thought on reading this was "what's the hurry?" I can see OB-Gyns being accessible. When babies want to be born, they aren't very patient. But do we really have to answer most reference questions this instant while we race through an airport? Do we have to respond to every e-mail the moment it's received? Must we find the call number or GSP location of that book right now? It'll take a few minutes at least to read the damned thing. I like the idea of being able to pull something out of my pocket and check a call number when I'm lost in the stacks (though RFID kind of creeps me out). But I'm beginning to think our emphasis on speed and efficiency and access may encourage students (as they often already are inclined) to think that research should be fast and efficient and any time spent reading carefully or thinking abstractly or pondering or doodling ideas that don't end up on the page is time wasted. Maybe I'm just getting old. I have to admit that my first thought on reading this was “what’s the hurry?”

I can see OB-Gyns being accessible. When babies want to be born, they aren’t very patient. But do we really have to answer most reference questions this instant while we race through an airport? Do we have to respond to every e-mail the moment it’s received? Must we find the call number or GSP location of that book right now? It’ll take a few minutes at least to read the damned thing.

I like the idea of being able to pull something out of my pocket and check a call number when I’m lost in the stacks (though RFID kind of creeps me out). But I’m beginning to think our emphasis on speed and efficiency and access may encourage students (as they often already are inclined) to think that research should be fast and efficient and any time spent reading carefully or thinking abstractly or pondering or doodling ideas that don’t end up on the page is time wasted.

Maybe I’m just getting old.

]]> By: StevenB http://acrlog.org/2008/05/06/blackberry-in-the-liberry/comment-page-1/#comment-78733 StevenB Tue, 06 May 2008 23:26:48 +0000 http://acrlog.org/?p=798#comment-78733 As I attend meetings I see more and more librarians with blackberries and treos - and it does make it easier to get back to folks quickly who send an email question. Our librarians wanted to get iPhones for reference but the cost was prohibitive. But one of our librarians, David Murray, does use his personal iPhone for in and out of library reference to good advantage. The iPhone overcomes the problem of searching library resources - which works poorly on the blackberry or treo. David wrote about this for my "Pencils Never Crash" column in The Reference Librarian, but it hasn't come out yet. I think when the price for the iPhone drops - or as competitor iPhones come out - it will really make mobile reference much easier to do. As I attend meetings I see more and more librarians with blackberries and treos – and it does make it easier to get back to folks quickly who send an email question. Our librarians wanted to get iPhones for reference but the cost was prohibitive. But one of our librarians, David Murray, does use his personal iPhone for in and out of library reference to good advantage. The iPhone overcomes the problem of searching library resources – which works poorly on the blackberry or treo. David wrote about this for my “Pencils Never Crash” column in The Reference Librarian, but it hasn’t come out yet. I think when the price for the iPhone drops – or as competitor iPhones come out – it will really make mobile reference much easier to do.

]]> By: Ameet Doshi http://acrlog.org/2008/05/06/blackberry-in-the-liberry/comment-page-1/#comment-78719 Ameet Doshi Tue, 06 May 2008 17:53:47 +0000 http://acrlog.org/?p=798#comment-78719 I just traded in my cellphone for a blackberry and am already addicted. One of the first things I tried was searching our catalog for a book. Unfortunately, our system doesn't allow this type of mobile functionality, and after a few inquiries, it turns out that the catalog upgrade required to search our resources via mobile device is prohibitively expensive. I wonder if other libraries have invested in the technology to allow mobile phone access to library resources (catalog/databases) and what the usage and usability is like. One of the cool features of the Blackberry 3810 is the GPS capability. Perhaps if libraries begin using RFID, the potential nexus between hand-held devices (like Blackberries), GPS and RFID could make it easier for patrons to find books and other materials in a large library. Just brainstorming here: RFID tags are mounted on shelves throughout the library corresponding to all the call number ranges. There would be a link (something like "find using GPS") in the mobile version of the catalog. The Blackberry (or other GPS-enabled device) then searches for the corresponding RFID signal indicating the correct shelf and guides the patron to the correct area. Is this possible? I just traded in my cellphone for a blackberry and am already addicted. One of the first things I tried was searching our catalog for a book. Unfortunately, our system doesn’t allow this type of mobile functionality, and after a few inquiries, it turns out that the catalog upgrade required to search our resources via mobile device is prohibitively expensive.

I wonder if other libraries have invested in the technology to allow mobile phone access to library resources (catalog/databases) and what the usage and usability is like.

One of the cool features of the Blackberry 3810 is the GPS capability. Perhaps if libraries begin using RFID, the potential nexus between hand-held devices (like Blackberries), GPS and RFID could make it easier for patrons to find books and other materials in a large library.

Just brainstorming here: RFID tags are mounted on shelves throughout the library corresponding to all the call number ranges. There would be a link (something like “find using GPS”) in the mobile version of the catalog. The Blackberry (or other GPS-enabled device) then searches for the corresponding RFID signal indicating the correct shelf and guides the patron to the correct area. Is this possible?

]]> By: Steven http://acrlog.org/2008/05/06/blackberry-in-the-liberry/comment-page-1/#comment-78718 Steven Tue, 06 May 2008 17:16:38 +0000 http://acrlog.org/?p=798#comment-78718 So interesting... I never thought about Blackberries for librarians before. So interesting… I never thought about Blackberries for librarians before.

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