Using the iPhone and iPod Touch@Work

The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library is a joint co-managed library of the San Jose Public Library and the San Jose State University Library, located in San Jose, California, the capital of Silicon Valley. Working in this merged public and academic environment, the authors find that the uses of technology transcend the differences and enhance the collaboration and exchange of new concepts. One innovation that has impacted libraries and society in general has been the introduction of cell phones with expanded capabilities--the BlackBerry, the iPhone, the Nexus, the Palm Pre, and the Droid, to name a few. Several employees have adopted the iPhone in particular and are examining ways to adapt its capabilities for the library environment. Indeed, cell phones are playing a more important role in society in general. One of the most exciting innovations from Silicon Valley has been the introduction of Apple's iPhone and the burgeoning applications store available through iTunes. Apple introduced the iPhone and the iPod touch (a touchscreen iPod with wireless access) in 2007. In less than 2 years, more than 3 billion applications (apps) have been either downloaded for free or sold via the iTunes store. While it has the conventional features of a personal digital assistant (PDA), i.e., calendars, contact management, and a notes feature, the iPhone brings a new dynamic to a PDA environment. It functions more as a portable personal computer with Apple's sleek, intuitive interface. The iPhone and the iPod touch with their wireless/3G network capabilities can be used in the office, in public services areas, and in the stacks. Library service models changed dramatically with the proliferation of online resources. The rise of the mobile web and the ease of access afforded by smartphones, particularly the iPhone, have the potential to transform reference and customer service once again. Librarians as information professionals are in a unique position to use this technology not only to increase personal productivity, but also, and more importantly, to provide meaningful services and resources for their customers. In this article, the authors explore the different iPhone apps that can be adapted for use in library settings.