1. April Kelley
Mary Oberlies
Behind the Scenes
Tips +Taps: Integrating
iOS Apps into the
Research Process

2. Inspiration
I love my new
iPhone, what
can I do on
this thing?
iPad = Best
toy ever!
Kitten: http://wycd.cbslocal.com/2012/01/20/funny-video-animals-love-playing-with-iphones-too/
Monkey: http://www.ebaumsworld.com/video/watch/82457885/

3. Identified
• Looked up some apps of interest
• Research what other libraries are doing with mobile technology
Played
• Figured out what apps did, how they’d be helpful, easy of use, cost, shareable
First Round Decisions
• Identified winning apps from first selection
Surveyed
• Would people even take this workshop?
Step by Step

4. 24 apps selected for trial based on first sweep.
8 were cut for not meeting our criteria:
Ease of Use
Shareability
Cost
Functionality
Included Features
Synchronization
Reviews
Practicality
Playing Judge and Jury
Image from: http://d24w6bsrhbeh9d.cloudfront.net/photo/6213907_700b_v1.jpg

5. 12 question survey
• To determine the technology used for research purposes and how Mason
students and faculty interact with libraries via social media.
• Gauge student interest in an apps-focused workshop.
Primary focus on Arlington students and faculty
Survey ran from January 14 – February 28
53 respondents
Survey
Image from: http://vegworcester.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/survey_dude.jpg

6. Survey sent out on listservs, library blog, Twitter and
Facebook, S-CAR research portal, NING, andThis Week at
Arlington Newsletter
Signs and bookmarks around
the ACL, Hazel Hall,
Founder’s Hall
and the Truland Building
Getting the News Out
Image from: http://www.lyntonweb.com/Portals/74005/images/newsboy_megaphone.jpg

7. Image from: http://vivavisibilityblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/RichardDawson.jpg
Survey says….

8. 45
6
2 0
Arlington Fairfax Prince
William
Distance
Edu
Campus Location
32
9
4 4 4
0
MasonAffiliation
Demographics

9. Facebook
Twitter
Blogs
Tumblr
LinkedIn
NING Other
Social Media Site PreferencesSummary:
• Facebook: 48
• Twitter: 29
• Blogs: 23
• Tumblr: 6
• LinkedIN: 4
• NING: 3
• Pinterest: 2
• FourSquare: 1
• Instagram: 1
• Youtube: 1
• Sharepoint: 1
Social Hangouts

10. 0 1 2 3 4 5
eReaders Kindle
Kindle Fire
Nook HD
23
19
11
31
32
15
2
12
2
1
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
Tablets
Laptop
Desktop
Phone
Other Blackberry Droid Windows Apple
Devices Used for Research

11. 43
33
13
10
8
7
7
6
6
5
3
1
1
1
LibrariesWebsite
Email
Librarians
Professors
Signs/Posters
Word of Mouth
Phone
ACL Blog
Research Portals
Google
Twitter
Fen Facebook
IM Ref
None
I get library information from…

12. Demands of the People
Send
more
emails
I’m not
sureI have no
interest in the
Arlington
campus
A monthly ACL html email
newsletter would be
wonderful to keep us up to
date
I don’t know
I don’t differentiate
libraries by location at
GMU, therefore I’d like
to get all info from
library website
GMU library mobile
application or build a
section into the
mobile Mason Bb app
Redesign library
website, it’s
outdated and
complicated to use
Make an app that
sends out library
news, book due
dates, and account
information

13. All about workshops
Yes
53%
No
47%
Knowledge ofWorkshops
Yes
51%
No
49%
Know where to find workshop
schedule

14. Yes
68%
No
24%
N/A
8%
Would attend an App
Workshop
Yes
36%
No
64%
Have attended a workshop
More on Workshops

15. 34
26
43
3
1
Productivity
Sharing/Storage
Research
None
Zotero
Areas of App Interest

16. Explored
• Other options? Udemy course
Second Round Decisions
• Selected apps from Udemy course, located related apps from
reviews and added to first round draft.
Selecting the Winners
• Pared down list of apps to most useful
• Research, Read,Write categories
And then…

17. 54-lecture online course by Nicole Hennig.
Sections:
• E-Reading
• Productivity
• Research and Reference
• Multimedia
• Keeping Up
Apps4Librarians

18. Kindle Mobile apps
Library books on mobile devices
GoodReader app
Reading on E-Book devices: the user
experience
Dropbox
Evernote
Instapaper
QuickOffice, Google Docs, and Keynote
iPad Accessories – keyboard
Jotnot
Dragon Dictation and Dragon Go
Google Search, Duck Duck Go, Google Maps
Dictionary, Articles, Wolfram Alpha
Feedly
Pulse, Flipboard, BBC News, NPR, Life
Language learning, translations, flash cards
Barcode Scanning apps
Jailbreaking
Bamboo Paper
Sound Hound
Comic Book
Art, Art Envi Deluxe, Louvre
Thumbjam
BeBot
Kaleidoscope X
iTunes U
Apple’s Podcast app
Keeping up with apps and app reviews
Lectures we found useful

19. There are a lot of apps out there!
Image from: http://www.teachthought.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Apps-2.jpg
What we learned….

20. Many apps do the same thing, so reviews are vital.
Even fun apps can be useful for education.
• Thumbjam might help with a music project
• KaleidoscopeX could be useful for a graphic design student
Cost shouldn’t determine selection.
• Instapaper vs. Pocket
• Supernote Free vs. Supernote
What we really learned

21. Best in Show

22. Ease of Use
Shareability
Cost
Functionality
Included Features
Synchronization
Reviews
Practicality
Recap:What Makes a Good App

23. Research
Dictionary.com
SSRN
Worldcat Mobile
Flipboard
Honorable Mentions
RedLazer
m.gmu.edu
Congressional Record
Blackboard
Read
Pocket
BlueFire
GoodReader
Evernote
Write
Mindmeister
CloudOn
Final Cut
Image from: http://ih0.redbubble.net/image.9620672.9761/sticker,375x360.png

24. Be able to download and install apps to mobile device using
iTunes Store
Be able to identify iOS apps that are useful for
collaboration, brainstorming, and research.
Be able to locate resources that recommend and review iOS
apps that assist research and productivity
Learning Outcomes

25. Congressional Record more popular than we thought
High interest in eBooks
Other places to get app reviews
• MacLife, iLounge, Engadget,Appadvice
Learning: ATwo Way Street

26. Survey
• Launch sooner? Later in semester?
• More specific questions in regard to apps of interest, rather than broad categories
• Should have asked more demographic questions
• Needed to clarify some questions
Hindsight

27. It’s better to have the workshop focused on one
topic, rather than have broader coverage.
More workshops!
Professional Development Apps
eBooks Workshop
Social Media Campaign
Increase awareness of library presence
Udemy – courses to learn more about apps and iOS
stuff…
Host informal instruction sessions…. “Appy Hour”
Thoughts for the Future