[Michlib-l] Library app compilation

[Kelly Rembert]

Hi Library Land!

I asked the group about library apps and got a few great replies that I have compilied to share with the group!



Holly Kirsten - Chesterfield Township Library - Our cooperative got an app from Solus, and we despise it. It is so clunky.  Maybe it would work better for a single library than it does for a cooperative. The ebooks don't work with it. The calendar used to marginally work, but since our co-op forced us to switch to Local Hop it doesn't work at all.


Adrienne Breznau - Royal Oak Public Library - We use myLIBRO in addition to the TLN app.  myLIBRO is awesome because it allows patrons to search our holdings, place requests, and schedule a pick-up time all from the same app.  They also recently integrated out Overdrive items so patrons don't have to go to a separate app for those either.  It also allows us to let patrons book study rooms, and when we have programs again, it can do program registration too.  One feature we haven't turned on yet, but I want to, is self-check from the app as well.  The customer service is responsive and fast, and the stats website is much improved since they first launched it.  (MCLS also offers a discount on it.)


Larry P. Neal  - Clinton-Macomb Public Library - We currently use Capira, which was recently acquired by OCLC. We have been somewhat frustrated with their lack of support for a recent Android update. Also we have decided to switch to Communico because they appear to be the only app vendor that can allow users to read Overdrive ebooks within their app without having to use Libby. That said, we do not yet have the experience of actually providing Communico’s app although we have been pleased with their other products we use.


Jessie Schenk - Grosse Pointe Public Library - We’d definitely agree that the ability to link accounts would be a great feature—that’s probably the biggest downside of MyLibrary.  But overall we’ve generally gotten good feedback from patrons.  MyLibrary is a pretty bare bones little app, and in many ways that’s what makes it so user friendly. There’s not much to it from an admin standpoint now that it’s up and running.  It did take a bit of set up as we had to implement PINs in order to move forward with it.  Unfortunately, Innovative is no longer developing MyLibrary, and is putting all their focus on their newer ‘Innovative Mobile’ app.  So they will not be rolling out an upgrades or improvements to MyLibrary, which is frustrating.  We are not likely to change our app anytime soon since we haven’t had this one for very long--but if/when we do, we’ll definitely consider 3rd party options alongside the new Innovative product.   The new Innovative app does offer the option for multiple accounts, so that’s one thing on the plus side.


Thanks,

Kelly


Kelly Ireland Rembert
Outreach Librarian
Southfield Public Library
26300 Evergreen Rd.
Southfield, MI 48076

(248) 796-4367
krembert at southfieldlibrary.org<mailto:krembert at southfieldlibrary.org>
www.southfieldlibrary.org<http://www.southfieldlibrary.org/>
she/her/hers


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