1. Exploiting mobile communications for library service development: technical possibilities and cultural implications William Foster (National Genetics Education & Development Centre Cain Evans (Birmingham City University) 14th November 2007

2. Introduction “Public Libraries in the 21st century should be open when people want to use them, including evenings and weekends … library users should be able to get easy access to any book … getting expert help … on setting up their own community websites and taking part in the ICT revolution.” Baronness Blackstone Framework for the future, 2003

3. Issues for public libraries (1) “Striking a balance between the traditional and the new is a difficult task and trying to provide something for everyone, irrespective of age or social group, is a hard task”. Penny Garrod 2004

4. Issues for public libraries (2) Visited a public library in person 96 % Hold a library card (all libraries) 72 % Have never heard of online databases 30 % Visited the PL website 27 % Visited the PL website (UK) 9 % Have used instant messaging 51 % OCLC 2005

5. Overview of presentation Public libraries and IT The potential for new technologies Implications for service provision

6. Issues for public libraries (3) Construction Cost Content Culture (from Cole 2006)

7. Infrastructure “ functional mobile digital library systems will inevitably be built around robust and stable technical infrastructure ” Jones et al HCI Group, Cornell University, 2000

8. Supplier/Library Cooperation Sharing and community over duplication and isolation Reuse over reinvention Openness and interoperability over exclusivity Experimentation over certainty Leavesley Project Silkworm 2005

10. Ubiquitous computing “… represents the most explicit attempt yet to move computing beyond the confines of tool usage towards a pervasive penetration of human activities, with potentially far-reaching effects” but needs to be “based on non-intrusive availability”. Arya 1995

11. Potential for new technologies RFID E-books WiFi GPS

12. PerLS Pervasive Library System Library 2.0 Pervasive Library Services

15. System Design Human Behaviour Social Attributions Interaction Outcome Jones et al IBM 2000

16. Issues for public libraries (4) The expected user experience All encompassing Without walls Immediate Rich Participative Personalised Fulfilling Leavesley, Project Silkworm 2005

19. THE END! Thank you for your attention