ResourceBlog Article: Mobile: Los Angeles Public Library Gets iPhone App; U. of Colorado's Norlin Library Using Smart Tags to Put Info in the Hands of Users

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Thursday, 26th August 2010

Mobile: Los Angeles Public Library Gets iPhone App; U. of Colorado's Norlin Library Using Smart Tags to Put Info in the Hands of Users

Two items today.

1) Now available in the iTunes Store, LAPL to GO
Just released by Los Angeles Public Library. Powered by Boopsie. Free to download and use. Includes searchable access to database of LAPL's historic photo collection. Wonderful content. Btw, if you visit LAPL.boopsie.com, you should be automatically redirected to a version optimized for that type of device. You can also demo the app from the web page. Note how results begin appearing and then changing as you type letters into the search box. Boopsie calls this "Smart Prefix" search. You can also use Smart Prefix to type with fewer letters. For example, Lib o cong will return Library of Congress material.

2) U. of Colorado's Norlin Library Is Using Smart Tags (aka Microsoft's Tag Product) To Help Users Navigate the Library

It's interesting to note that the reporter calls them barcodes. Perhaps? that's a term others should use vs. QR codes and other variations. Yes, the technology might be a bit different but does the end user really care? Barcodes is understood by the masses so it likely requires less explanation and is a much more (at least as of today) marketable term to use in advertising.

For some University of Colorado students, learning how to use the Norlin Library is one of the most overwhelming experiences of their college career.

[Clip]

CU junior Marissa Smith attempted to do research at Norlin her freshman year and after hours of searching for relevant material she gave up.

"I just got confused and decided electronic sources were easier," Smith said.

But a new bar code information program started at Norlin in July will help alleviate the frustration of students like Smith who find themselves lost in the library.

The bar code program uses the Microsoft Tag Reader mobile application to scan bar codes located on wall posters throughout Norlin, to send topical information to students' smartphones. The app takes a photo of the bar code and then pulls up a link to the library's Web site with information regarding a specific topic.

[Clip]

"It's a way to get info about using the libraries on the spot without needing to ask or even go to a computer," said Deborah Fink, planning and promotions librarian for Norlin.

Most of the posters are currently located in the Norlin stacks and the research area, though they hope to expand the posters to other locations across campus to give students access to information about the library in the University Memorial Center and the residence halls.

Alison Hicks and Caroline Sinkinson of the library administration started the pilot program after they saw the bar codes used in the Boulder Camera.

"First we thought it would be great to use them to link to the library's calendar events and information sessions," Hicks said. "Then we decided to start the pilot program and see what kind of information students want from the posters."

The program will track students' use of the bar codes, allowing the library to evaluate statistics about which information students are using most frequently and at which poster location.

Source: Colorado Daily

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