Macprofessionals Public Library iPad Checkout Solution
Oscar DeLong · Journal of the Medical Library Association JMLA · 2015
Portable devices have become a hot topic lately with Apple, Google, and Microsoft all creating mobile operating systems for tablets. These devices are portable, fun, productive, and, in many cases, cheaper than full computers—and they are often highly desired by library users. As a result, more and more libraries are considering purchasing and circulating tablets. If that includes your library, the first thing to consider is whether circulating tablets makes sense for your library and its users and, if so, which device best meets your needs. To make these determinations, consider what your users might want to do with tablets. They could take notes, use some of the many available medical apps, create presentations, or use video calling to communicate with remote members of study or project groups. Many database and journal vendors are creating mobile apps for easy access to online content, making a tablet a portable research tool. Finally, a number of tablets could be designated for staff use in roaming reference, thereby extending the library's reach beyond offices and service desks. The next major consideration is the time and expertise required to manage the devices. To manage tablets for checkout, you have to select, purchase, and install apps; delete unwanted content after each use; reinstall apps that patrons may have deleted; and correct other issues that may arise. Performing these tasks in-house requires significant staff time as well as technical experience, both of which may be very limited in smaller libraries. In such cases, a vendor solution may be the best option. Turnkey solutions for circulating tablets are a new area in the library automation market, so choices are somewhat limited. This reviewer is aware of only one vendor offering a full-service solution for libraries wishing to circulate tablets: Macprofessionals, which offers a product called the Public Library iPad Checkout Solution. Despite the name, this product is not just for public libraries. It can work well in any library that wishes to circulate iPads.