Citation
McNicol, S. (2013), "The Tech Set 12: Building Mobile Library Applications", New Library World, Vol. 114 No. 3/4, pp. 192-192. https://doi.org/10.1108/03074801311304113
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2013, Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Perhaps one of the most important aspects of new technology for libraries to master is the use of mobile technologies. In Building Mobile Library Applications, Jason A. Clark provides a sound overview of the basics for anyone interested in taking their first steps in mobile library applications, including how to build apps, mobile websites and a mobilised library catalogue.
After a brief introduction to the development of mobile technologies, he considers the various options available to libraries, setting out clearly the pros and cons of mobile websites, mobile web applications and native applications, describing when each might be the most suitable solution for a library.
After a brief consideration of planning issues, the main section of the book deals with the implementation of mobile solutions. The author describes a series of projects, for example, building an iPhone app or mobilising the library catalogue. Each section has a clear approach, with the project being described in considerable detail, including screenshots and source code, which can also be downloaded from the accompanying website. Given that the code is published elsewhere in a format more appropriate for those who want to use it, there seems little point in reproducing in full many of the longer sections of code in this book.
The more technical sections of this book are its strength, the more organisational and social aspects of introducing mobile solutions to a library are dealt with very briefly and not if particularly imaginative ways, for example, the suggested ways to market mobile tools within the organisation are an all‐staff email, a presentation or a brochure.
This book would be useful to anyone wanting straightforward, practical information about the technical aspects of building mobile library applications, but it offers little to those interested in areas such as planning, marketing and evaluating such tools.