SMS Services for Libraries

Presenter Diana Silveira

Novare Library Services

slideshare.net/dee987delicious.com/dee987/SMS

Objectives

• What is SMS?

• SMS Facts

• Reference Questions

• Push Circulation Notices

• Send Catalog Records

• Promote Library Programming & Services

• Promotion

• Future of SMS

• Questions/Discussion

The Basics

• SMS - Short Message Service (i.e., text messaging)

• 160 character limit

• Shortcode

• Blast (one to many)

• Incoming/outgoing 

• Smart phone

• Clever phone

• Google Texting Lingo

The Facts• 72% of U.S. adult cellphone

users send and receive text messages 

• The U.S. mobile teen average of 2,899 text-messages per month compared to 191 calls

• Teen females, who send & receive an average of 4,050 texts per month.

• Recent Pew Research Center’s Internet and American Life Project reports:

• 73% of U.S. adults text

• One in three texters would rather text than talk

Uploaded to Flickr on November 8, 2007 by Travelin' Librarian/ Uploaded to Flickr on November 29, 2006 by Michael Casey

What’s your library’s policy?

Reference Questions

• Ask a Librarian's SMS 

• Twilio

• Mosio

• Google Voice

Create a simple ( & free) SMS Reference Service

1. Set up a free Google Voice number.

2. Promote number.

3. Optional: use free GVMax service to send notifications via Instant Messaging, emails, Prowl & Howl notifications, Twitter, HttpPost, and SMS.

4. Optional: use Twitter and go800corp.com so users can text your twitter name to 46800 and be connected to your phone.

Circulation NoticesExisting software that can help a library send hold, overdue, and other circulation-based notifications to users. 

Some examples:

• Mosio

• Shoutbomb

• Twilio

• ILS Vendors with functionality: Koha, Innovative, and Polaris.

Send Catalog Records

Other Ideas for SMS in your library

• Blast Announcements! 

• SMS Programming Ideas• Trivia Night

• Polls

• Registration for Programs

• Open Communication

• Contests

Promoting SMS• QR Codes

• Email

• Website

• Facebook and other Social Media

• Word of Mouth

Pros and Cons of SMS

Pros:

• Low Cost

• Easy to Implement

• Immediately available 

• Flexible

• Connects directly with users

• Statistics

• Platform ubiquitous 

Cons:• Leaves out non-SMS users• Standard texting rates may apply 

Future of SMS • Payments

• Group Messaging

• Geo-fencing marketing

• Voice (TTS, STT)

• App to Person Messaging

• Person to App Messaging

• Directions/Maps

• SPAM/Malicious apps!  

Image from http://www.tuvie.com/wp-content/uploads/window-phone4.jpg

NOW!

Questions/Discussion

What are your plans for SMS?

Contact Information

diana@novarelibrary.com

slideshare.net/dee987

Delicious.com/dee987/SMS

https://www.facebook.com/NovareLibraryServices

Novare Library Services 877-816-9638

Diana Silveira