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Mobile medical technology discussion

1. krafty
   

   Editor
   Joined: Dec '11
   Posts: 24

   I recently attended the ALA Midwinter Tech Webinar http://bit.ly/zFic6Q which mentioned the company MediaSurfer which has a secure automated tower that can help circulate library configured iPads to people. However at $25,000 for just the tower (not even the iPads) it is really too pricey for any normal library to deal with.

   I know some libraries out there are circulationg iPads and I was wondering what the best methods were for doing this. Do you take deposits? Do you check them out on your ILS? Are they preconfigured and if so can people add anything on them while they have them because they will get reconfigured upon return? How do you do this?

   Basically what are your tips and tricks for those just starting to get into this. Also what are some problems and mistakes that you encountered that we should know about so we don't make the same ones.

   Follow me on Twitter http://twitter.com/krafty
   Android Motorola Triumph
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   Posted 3 months ago #

2. JNicholson81
   

   New around here
   Joined: Jan '12
   Posts: 2

   That MediaSurfer self check-out tower is very interesting, but definitely way too expensive.

   While we are not circulating iPads in our library, yet, we did embed them in the anatomy lab. There is a discrete population that goes in there, each group is assigned an iPad, the iPads are locked in a charging case when not in use. The students are responsible for pulling out and returning their own iPads. Since the students do not have the iTunes passwords, they cannot download or add anything from the store. They could add bookmarks to pages from Safari to the home screen, as there doesn't seem to be a way to lock that down. I have checked each one once a week or so, and there haven't been many configuration changes to the iPads. We do also have the iPad tracking turned on for all of them, just in case one walks off we might be able to track it down.

   Now that the students are using them in the lab, they are beginning to request that we have some to circulate much like we do with laptops in the library. We've discussed what our policy would be, and it would be similar to laptops where those who check them out are responsible for returning them in a timely and working manner. They would be stored behind the circulation desk and they would be checked out through our ILS. My thoughts on it, at least for students, were to have them pre-loaded with core textbooks and then create bookmarks on the iPad home screen to other highly used resources.

   Posted 3 months ago #

3. Amanda Chiplock
   

   Settling in
   Joined: Jun '11
   Posts: 14

   At Nova Southeastern University, Health Professions Division (HPD) Library, we began circulating iPads to HPD faculty & staff in August, 2011. We've had great success with the program thus far, and soon we will circulate to students as well. The circulation process was tricky to set up at first, but runs very smoothly now. We started this pilot project by developing a workflow for the initial set up of the iPads (we pre-load them with medical, production, news, education apps). Then, we created a Borrower Agreement, which everyone signs before checking out the iPads. Of course, our University Attorney checked over the document to make sure it was legal :) We also decided on circulation procedures specific to iPad check out and check in. The iPads were cataloged and received bar codes so they circulate via ILS.

   We used one computer as a designated iPad registration station. When iPads are checked in, they are restored to the backup on the designated computer via the iTunes Library we have set up on that computer. Users are able to download any apps they wish to use, with their own iTunes accounts, not the Library's (they do not know the Library's iTunes account info.). When the iPads are restored, all apps, docs, pics, etc. belonging to the user are erased (users are encouraged to save docs and pics on their computer before returning to us). In the Borrower Agreement, we make it clear that the Library is not responsible for any docs or pics lost during this process. As for the apps, they remain on the users account, just not on the iPad. At the time the iPads are restored (usually about 20 min.), apps are updated should they need it, and all apps requiring passwords are logged in so that everything is ready for use when checked out. We also have bookmarks for the library web pages that remain on the iPad. They are on the backup of the iPad so they are restored along with the apps during this process.

   iPads are held in a locked cabinet when not checked out. Liaison Librarians give a brief training on how to use the iPad and apps before the user gets to check out the iPad. The circulation desk checks iPads in and out. Users also complete pre-checkout & post-checkout surveys so that we can track how they are using the iPads, what they need out of the iPad and what apps they recommend.

   Posted 3 months ago #

4. Tom Lewis
   

   Features Editor
   Joined: Jun '11
   Posts: 60

   At Nova Southeastern University, Health Professions Division (HPD) Library, we began circulating iPads to HPD faculty & staff in August, 2011. We've had great success with the program thus far, and soon we will circulate to students as well. The circulation process was tricky to set up at first, but runs very smoothly now. We started this pilot project by developing a workflow for the initial set up of the iPads (we pre-load them with medical, production, news, education apps). Then, we created a Borrower Agreement, which everyone signs before checking out the iPads. Of course, our University Attorney checked over the document to make sure it was legal :) We also decided on circulation procedures specific to iPad check out and check in. The iPads were cataloged and received bar codes so they circulate via ILS.

   We used one computer as a designated iPad registration station. When iPads are checked in, they are restored to the backup on the designated computer via the iTunes Library we have set up on that computer. Users are able to download any apps they wish to use, with their own iTunes accounts, not the Library's (they do not know the Library's iTunes account info.). When the iPads are restored, all apps, docs, pics, etc. belonging to the user are erased (users are encouraged to save docs and pics on their computer before returning to us). In the Borrower Agreement, we make it clear that the Library is not responsible for any docs or pics lost during this process. As for the apps, they remain on the users account, just not on the iPad. At the time the iPads are restored (usually about 20 min.), apps are updated should they need it, and all apps requiring passwords are logged in so that everything is ready for use when checked out. We also have bookmarks for the library web pages that remain on the iPad. They are on the backup of the iPad so they are restored along with the apps during this process.

   iPads are held in a locked cabinet when not checked out. Liaison Librarians give a brief training on how to use the iPad and apps before the user gets to check out the iPad. The circulation desk checks iPads in and out. Users also complete pre-checkout & post-checkout surveys so that we can track how they are using the iPads, what they need out of the iPad and what apps they recommend.

   I am SO jealous. Your system (which you thoroughly explained) is clearly working well and I would be very interested in seeing how things go with this system.
   My only question is what is the turn around time for each iPad given that it has to be restored each time it is checked back in?

   Editor, iMedicalApps
   Follow Me on Twitter! @thomasllewis
   iPad 2, iPhone 4, Nexus S

   Posted 3 months ago #

5. Amanda Chiplock
   

   Settling in
   Joined: Jun '11
   Posts: 14

   Hi Tom,

   You bring up a good point. The system does work well because we have only 5 circulating iPads at the moment and we keep a manual wait list. Turn around time is anywhere from 30 min. - 1 day depending on how busy I am with other work. I try to make it less than 24 hours. This timing seems to work well at the moment; however, we are planning to purchase 10 more iPads for circulation. I'm not sure if our current system will hold up. We may have to modify it, even as far as purchasing something like the automated tower Krafty references above. Hopefully, our IT dept. will implement a mobile device management system soon. That may help us restore iPads and load new apps faster. I'm not really sure how it will all work at this point. It's an ongoing project - keeps us on our toes!

   Posted 3 months ago #

6. Amanda Chiplock
   

   Settling in
   Joined: Jun '11
   Posts: 14

   The new Configurator app looks like it will be a game changer for medical libraries circulating iPads. We had looked at the iPhone version, but we weren't sure it would work well with apps. Currently, our University IT Dept. is investigating Mobile Device Management solutions. Hopefully, they will allow us to implement the new Configurator as well. I think it will really help refine our circulating system, especially when we add more iPads to the program. Thanks, Tom for your article on the Configurator posted on iMedicalapps.com, 3/8/12.

   Posted 2 months ago #

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