Library in an App: Testing the Usability of Boopsie as a Mobile Library Application

Boopsie, Inc. develops mobile applications for libraries, universities, conferences, and businesses. The researchers in this study investigated the usability of the Boopsie mobile application for a medium-sized academic library. Based on data collected from a series of qualitative interviews with undergraduate students, this research captured the users' experiences finding several types of information using a mobile application created by Boopsie. Three thematic findings emerged from seven study participants: Libraries should carefully select resources and features for inclusion in mobile applications; the simplicity of the mobile application interface offers some advantages over a conventional library Web site; and users may find the application more compelling for in-depth research than for answering quick questions. As result of this research, one library made modifications to its Boopsie application to improve usability. The results offer librarians or libraries practical advice about the promises and pitfalls of implementing a mobile library application.