David Lee King

social media | emerging trends | libraries

App Advisory at the Library

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my first screen of appsLibraries have recommended stuff to customers for years. Reader’s advisory. Video suggestions. New music to listen to. Ways to start a research project.

Why not app advisory?

Think about it. What do over half of your customers have? Smartphones. And easy access to the app store. What they don’t have is a trusted app “curator” – someone who can recommend the best apps.

What would that look like? I’ll start us off:

  • Best new apps of the month
  • Popular apps
  • Apps connected to a season (i.e., it’s summer, so apps with grilling suggestions. Yes, they exist).
  • Suggestions on how to use an app
  • And of course, you’d mention library-related apps. Ebook apps. Your ILS app, if you have one. etc.

This also means that we would need to have easy access to apps, and have a small app budget. And a variety of smartphones and tablets – both iOS and Android – to play with.

App recommendation for your community. Could be cool. What do you think?

Comments

  1. Sounds cool, but most app markets are already heavily curated and contain things like app of the week, editors choice, recommended apps, and other categories. Other than highlighting library-related apps I’m not sure how much more added value librarians can bring to app curation.

  2. “Heavily curated” – well, not really. All the app stores do is lump apps into loose categories, and tell you which ones are new, and which ones are the most popular (via a list).

    What those lists don’t do is tell you which ones are really the best. For example, there’s a Productivity category. But if a customer wants a text editor, would they know to look there? Do they know the differences between Google Docs, MS Word, Evernote, and Old Notepad, which will all meet their needs?

    Probably not. But perhaps we should? That’s what I’m talking about.

  3. I will be presenting a “Best Apps” talk in September at our Central Library, part of our monthly “Taming Technology” series of talks run by Sutherland Shire Libraries. Previously, I would recommend apps within my “iPad Tips & Tricks” talks, but best apps is a big enough topic to warrant a stand-alone talk. The first half will promote our 4 library apps – Overdrive, Freegal, Zinio and OneClick. The second half will recommend the best apps in travel, books & reading, productivity, games, etc.
    The “curated” aspect is important because I will be focusing on some local apps like TripView (for Sydney transport) and catch-up streaming apps for local TV stations. These local apps have a low profile on the big app sites.
    These talks also encourage customers to return to the library with their tablets where trained staff can help them install and manage their apps and give detailed instruction in particular in the use of the library apps.
    I like the idea of an app-of-the-month – we could post monthly app themes on the library blog and encourage people to visit with their devices should they need assistance.

  6. Yes! I’ve done “Essential Apps for Smartphones and Tablets” and “Apps for the Outdoors” demonstrations at my library. Essential Apps was especially well-received, and since it used free apps like Facebook, Evernote, Candy Crush Saga, and Mint Bills, the only expense was a cord to attach my smartphone to the projector. I think it really helps people to see how the apps actually work and have somebody there to explain the features and quirks. Most of the attendees were older adults who aren’t as apt to experiment with their technology. Lifehacker has excellent app reviews – and if you’re not sure you want to do apps, there’s tons of inspiration there for other tech-related programs.

  12. My local public library, Indian Prairie Public Library does this via their App Advisor web page. http://ippl.info/apps/ I think they share/highlight an app each month or so. I check ever so often to see if there are ideas new to me.

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