Four apps that will make your life easier
There are four apps that I use every day, and I can’t imagine staying organized with out them! They are:
Apple Watch first impressions, pt 1: Glances, Apps, Notifications
The reason I got an Apple Watch (besides that I enjoy being an “early adopter”) is that I teach courses about mobile apps for librarians and educators. So I’m interested in the future of wearable technologies, how they might be used for education, and how they could make computing more accessible.
Unboxing my Apple Watch. Comes with an extra band.
The watch taps you.
I’m also very interested in what’s happening with “haptic” technology — Apple’s “force touch” is an example of this and it’s explained on their website: (more…)
50 ideas for creative uses of mobile apps in library services
There are many possibilities for using apps in creative ways in libraries. In my online course, “The Book as iPad App,” one of the assignments is to participate in a virtual brainstorming activity about this topic.
Librarians in my course are from school, academic, and public libraries, and this list is based on the many creative ideas they came up with. Since this course was focused on interactive book apps, the ideas are mostly about those. Feel free to imagine using these ideas for all types of apps.
The list is grouped into these categories: (more…)
Get a free copy of Apps for Librarians in my Goodreads giveaway
Goodreads Book Giveaway
Apps for Librarians
by Nicole Hennig
Giveaway ends April 22, 2015.
See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.
I recently learned that Goodreads has a feature where authors can give away free copies of their books in “giveaways” managed by Goodreads. So I signed up. I have 10 copies of Apps for Librarians to give away.
The contest begins on Monday, March 23 and lasts for a month. On April 22 Goodreads will randomly pick 10 entries from all who entered and send me your name and address so I can mail you your free copy. (USA & Canada only)
They don’t have giveaways for ebooks yet, so this is for a print copy. (list price: $45)
It’s not required to review the book, but if you’re a winner Goodreads will encourage it, and I would appreciate your ratings and reviews!
Enter here (or use the button above) — between March 23 and April 22.
Librarians writing app reviews
I’ve got an article in American Libraries encouraging librarians to write app reviews. Take a look at Writing App Reviews and learn why librarians are a great fit for becoming app experts for their community.
Why everyone who evaluates mobile apps should read Apple’s iOS Human Interface Guidelines
In my online course, Apps for Librarians and Educators, one of the assignments is to read some of Apple’s iOS Human Interface Guidelines.
These guidelines are for app developers, but it’s also very useful and eye-opening for app users to become familiar with them — especially if you are an information professional or educator who helps others with mobile apps and writes reviews of them.
These are the sections I ask my students to read: (more…)