Over the last few years, mobile devices such as cell phones
and personal digital assistants (PDAs) have transformed the way
individuals communicate and access information. Cell phones,
in particular, have become not only omnipresent--75 percent of
all Americans own at least one such device, with higher adoption
rates in many European and Asian countries--but also more powerful.
People can now use their cell phones to exchange text and electronic-mail
messages; play games, videos, and audio files; and view textual
documents and data spreadsheets. Many phones come equipped with
photo and video cameras, satellite navigation systems, and many
other tools.
MobiLIB is the NCSU Libraries' first service designed
to exploit the capabilities of Internet-enabled mobile devices.
Modeled after existing services from major Internet content and
service providers such as Google, Yahoo, and Facebook, MobiLIB
provides quick and easy access to a core set of library services
specially designed for small-screen mobile devices. This offers
a particularly convenient method for university faculty, students,
and staff to access several key library services without being
tied to a computer.
MobiLIB currently offers seven services:
1. "Catalog Search" offers a basic search interface
for the library catalog that allows users to limit searches to
currently available items.
2. "Computers" shows where there are available computers in
the D. H. Hill Library.
3. "Library Hours" lists the operating hours for all NC State
libraries and core library services.
4. "Campus Directory" allows anyone to use a mobile device
to search the Campus Directory to find contact information on NCSU faculty,
staff, and students.
5. "Contact Us" allows users to contact various library departments
and services.
6. "Links" contains a selection of links to external content
providers, such as mobile search engines, news pages, and other service providers.
7. "Wolfline Status" links to a text-only version of the university’s
"Wolfline" map. This map is provided by TransLoc, Inc., and it
shows the current position of all of the university’s "Wolfline" buses.
To learn more about MobiLIB, visit the Web at http://www.lib.ncsu.edu/m/about.html.
To use MobiLIB, point a mobile device's browser at http://www.lib.ncsu.edu/m.
Questions or feedback on this new service should be directed
to either Markus Wust (markus_wust@ncsu.edu)
or Tito Sierra (tito_sierra@ncsu.edu)
in Digital Library Initiatives.
