Joe Murphy, Science Librarian, Coordinator of Instruction & Technology, Yale University
Chanitra Bishop, Instruction & Emerging Technologies Librarian, Indiana University
Jason Clark, Head, Digital Access & Web Services, Montana State University

Foursquare and Libraries - Chanitra Bishop

Location-based mobile apps use your device's GPS data to locate information about what is going on around you. The advantage is the potential for targeted marketing to users in a specific geographic location
Examples: Foursquare, Brightkite, Yelp, Gowalla, Google Places

People like them because they are fun, almost like games, and can earn points and badges for their activity.

Foursquare allows you to

• check in to different location
• create a to-do list for locations
• find out what frineds are doing
• learn about events, restaurants, etc in a location

Notes of caution: you are broadcasting where you are, so people could follow up, or know where you are not (ie, your house)

Foursquare and Libraries

Libraries can claim your location and/or add new locations

• give each feature of your library a location (cafe, DVD collection, reference desk, etc) to promote those services to people on Foursquare
• gives you the opportunity to run promotions
• engage with patrons, award the mayor
• use tips, descriptions, photos, and tags to share information
• update incorrect user-generated information

Where are You? Locations and Library Applications - Jason Clark

How does location matter for libraries?
Content isn't just enough anymore - now the context is also important (about 50% of Google searches have some geographic component). Neat mashup: Wildlife near you (plotting flickr photos on a map to show animals in your area)

Library applications

• Mapping (give context in a snapshot)
• Check-in like Foursquare - Darien Library gives a totebag to patrons who check in
• Crowdsourcing geo information - maps.nypl.org allows people to overlay historical infomration on current city maps, and also allow people to correct errors
• Local interest apps - San Jose WolfWalk historical walking tour of campus

Getting Started - Tools

• w3c geolocation api
• Yahoo Query language
• diveintohtml5.org/geolocation.html
• locationawhere.com
• pinboard.in/u:jasonclark/t:libgeoapp

Posted under Uncategorized on Wednesday, March 23rd, 2011 at 2:56 pm, by Brian Herzog. Post and comments available via the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.