We started this session by going around and "introducing" our favorite mobile access devices. In the room there were:

• 3 iPhones
• 1 Blackberry
• 1 HTC
• 1 Samsung slide-out phone
• 1 Acer Netbook

We then talked about ideas that we had for using our mobile access devices more effectively in libraries, as evidenced by these notes:

We discussed iPhone ready templates for library websites, showed the plugin for Wordpress that automagically converts your website/blog to an iPhone ready website with the activation of a single plugin.
We discussed the potential of SMS as a delivery method for library events. Consensus was that SMS may be a technology that is on the downswing due to the rapid adoption of Smartphones.
We discussed how certain platforms (Windows CE) don't show mobile websites well at all... and by example showed that looking at those platforms is beneficial to serving your patrons.
We tried to think of ways to use mobile devices and the access they allow as a tool for PR. A few of our ideas:

• Mobile accessible OPAC interfaces... easily search for items and place holds
• "Text me this call number" - KSU already does this.
• Mobile access to purchased databases for quick/easy information lookup
• Staff using mobile devices in the stacks to help patrons, discussion of camera scanning of barcodes for mobile checkout/lookup
  

We discussed the possibility of using the state purchased databases for specific uses, such as nursing reference. How to get the data to display well on a mobile device? (Patti will work on with Eric, hehehehehehe)

Here was our list of "Action Items," Ideas that could fairly easily and quickly be investigated and implemented:

We finished out our discussion of Mobile Access NOW!!! with a discussion of what we love and hate about our mobile devices of choice.

iPhone users loved:

• the GPS/google maps
  
• Shazam (music identification app)
• the fact that it's an iPod
• the App Store
• Websites don't look too funky most of the time, even if not mobile optimized.
• People seem to get a real sense of joy when using their iPhone. It really is an object of lust.
  

iPhone users hated:

• no copy/paste
• proprietary headphone jack (1st Gen)

Blackberry Users loved:

• Can easily check email and facebook
• is a pretty good phone
• is a lot cheaper than an iPhone

Blackberry Users hated:

• the keys are too small
• predictive text is kind of annoying.

Other device users loved:

• can easily check email and facebook
• is a pretty good phone
• is cheaper than iPhone

Other device users hated:

• that it doesn't do as much as some other mobile devices