UNICORN ON MOBILE LIBRARIES NOTTINGHAMSHIRES EXPERIENCE

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UNICORN ON MOBILE LIBRARIESNOTTINGHAMSHIRES
EXPERIENCE

• Nick London
• EUUG Conference 2005, Dublin

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Nottinghamshire background

• Mixture of rural, urban market towns
• Population 750k
• 60 static libraries
• Loans p.a. 5 million
• 7 mobile libraries

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About mobile libraries

• Wide range of types and sizes
• Large trailer lorries several hours in each
  location
• Small vans individual house visits
• Nottinghamshires mobile service
• Medium size traditional PSVs
• Average stop 10 minutes
• Total stops 1000
• Loans per year 500,000
• Stock per mobile 6,500 items
• Users mostly over 60s parents with pre-school
  children

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Kirkby Mobile Library
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Unicorn on mobiles the benefits

• NCC commitment to equal access
• General image impact of enhanced service in
  remote areas
• Public benefitsstock loans information
  supply of holds
• Service management benefitsfull stock circ
  mgt mgt information
• Final piece in the jigsaw for Nottinghamshire

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The Project Plan

• AIM - To install and run Workflows on 8 library
  mobile vehicles at a sensible cost7 public 1
  Education Library ServiceSTAGE 1
  ? feasibility study
• STAGE 2 ? technical testing
• STAGE 3 ? pilot project (1 vehicle)
• STAGE 4 ? roll-out to 7 more mobiles

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Feasibility Study The Options

• Offline only using Standalone
• Plug-in access to existing network
• Satellite Communications
• Mobile Phone Network/GPRS
• Mobile Phone/GPRS Citrix

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Plug-in to local network point (using wireless
comms e.g. bluetooth)For uses existing
infrastructure, low cost and high bandwidth
Against too many stops with no plug-in
points
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Satellite CommunicationFor robust, consistent
comms, OK for long stops Against high cost
re-direction time for each stop up to 8
minutes!
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Mobile phone/GPRS ( general packet radio
service)For low cost, widespread connection,
designed- for-data serviceAgainst low
bandwidth v. slow transactions
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GPRS CitrixFor widespread network, low cost
acceptable response timesAgainst Untried
technology (to NCC), complexity of set-up
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The chosen solutionGPRS Citrix

• 2 x laptop PCs per vehicle
• 2 x Convenience Base port replicators
• O2 mobile phone network
• GPRS Sierra 750 Aircard
• Citrix server based at County Hall (next to
  Unicorn server)
• Barcode scanners, printer
• 2 x external aerials for GPRS
• S/w Windows 2000, MS Office, citrix comms,
  Aircard watcher

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Standard hardware set-up
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Sierra Aircard Watcher
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Pilot Project

• Extensive testing period
• Citrix server set up
• GPRS performance bench tested
• Laptop image built (made simple to use)
• New vehicle chosen (based at West Bridgford)
• Good manager enthusiastic driver
• Good reception area for O2
• Went Live early May 2005 a success!!

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West Bridgford Mobile Library
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The Roll-Out Project

• 7 more mobile service vehicles June October
  2005
• O2 reception countywide survey showed some poor
  areas
• Vehicle adaptations
• Counters
• Power supply
• External aerials

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Laptop with internal aerial
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The Roll Out project challenges

• Non-availability of mobiles and staff
• On the road 9 days out of 10
• NCCs official mobile phone supplier lost its
  contract
• Delays or risk of lack of support/equipment
• Low-lying tree branches
• and their effects on external aerials

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Unicorn Applications (1)

• Importance of Standalone
• Needed regularly for poor reception areas
• New GUI version easier to use
• Problem of delayed uploads intermediate online
  charge may get overwritten
• All stock already added
• Mobiles already configured as Unicorn libraries
• User records added
• User cat 3 for stop no. - statistical information

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Unicorn Applications (2)

• Membership
• Single record for static mobile use
• Duplicate User ID barcodes kept on mobile
• Circ Rules Circ Map
• Same as for static libraries
• Loan Period
• 3 weeks for 2 week visit cycle
• Overdue notices sent a week before visit
• Citrix Client multiple profiles log-ins

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Lessons Learnt Problems Overcome

• Allow PLENTY of time for testing and bedding down
  new technology
• Dont let anyone change your network supplier in
  mid-project
• Engage the drivers interest in the project
• Install aerials well away from overhanging trees!

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Lessons Learnt Problems Overcome

• Practicalities of a moving service point
  blu-tak and velcro
• Expect to use Standalone on hot or humid days
• Support is more difficult
• Cant provide on-site fixes
• More complex more to go wrong
• Mobile phone support loss of reception at
  critical times