When it came time for to facilitate a technology overhaul, building a new part was a necessary component. Choice is a publishing unit of the , which falls under the umbrella of the . Their publications include Choice magazine and the Choice Reviews database.
Updating Technology
Creating an app was part of a push to modernize Choice鈥檚 offerings.
Director of Operations Rachel Hendrick knew that if they created an app, their members would use it.
鈥淟ibrarians, and especially academic librarians, tend to be early adopters of technology,鈥� she said.
Ultimately, Choice created two apps.
Double the fun
ACRL’s first publishing app, aimed at reaching more readers, was launched with the June 2015 issue of Choice magazine.
鈥淭he goal in the beginning was to replicate the journal and try out this new media channel. Choice had not done an app before, and so we thought, 鈥榃ell, we don鈥檛 know how our user is going to respond.鈥欌��
When forming this app, the main idea was to put Choice monthly magazine on the app. 58吃瓜网 techs were also able to tinker with the review section. Choice publishes hundreds of short reviews in each magazine, and programmers were able to make those reviews searchable and savable.
鈥淭here was a lot more functionality than the magazine gave us,鈥� said Hendrick.
Once the app had been out for a year, Choice did a focus group. Hendrick said the findings were promising.
鈥淓ven though we weren鈥檛 getting stellar member engagement metrics, users really do use apps. All kinds of apps,鈥� she said.
One reason they were missing many people was because their app was only available on Android phones and iPads, but not the iPhone.
They decided to change that, but were concerned about cost. They鈥檇 just created a new app one year ago. Choice solved that problem by teaming up with the greater ACRL organization for their second app.
The new ACRL/Choice app would not be a replication of their printed publications 鈥� they already had that app. Instead, the goal was to create an interactive sampling. Hendrick wanted to join their audiences 鈥� both Choice and ACRL target librarians, but different segments of that population.
鈥淚t was a way for us to bring our branch together, it was a way for ACRL to get in the mobile space,鈥� said Hendrick. 鈥淏y joining forces and joining budgets, we鈥檝e been able to produce content that鈥檚 far more dynamic.鈥�
While the first app was updated only monthly, the second is updated daily. Hendrick said they鈥檙e reaching a wider audience, too.
鈥淚t鈥檚 only been five months now, but we鈥檙e hoping that when we go back and talk to our users, that they say, 鈥榊eah, it鈥檚 really cool because we didn鈥檛 know that this other content existed.鈥欌��
Hendrick knows this app isn鈥檛 going to be the next Angry Birds. Choice and ACRL aren鈥檛 measuring their success in massive download numbers or millions of engagements. ACRL has 11,000 members, and the goal with the app is to repeatedly engage with that core audience.
鈥淒on鈥檛 focus on (the) number of apps downloaded, but on number of people who are visiting over and over again,鈥� said Hendrick.
App features
The Choice/ACRL app has four pages. The home page introduces the content and hosts webinars.
The Membership and Community page appeals to ACRL members. It includes the member of the week, different advocacy initiatives, and a sampling of content from the ACRL Insider Blog.
The Collection Development page includes material from Choice, such as a sampling of reviews and content from the magazine. The page also incorporates bibliographic resources.
The final page focuses on professional development and curates content from many places, including highlights from the ACRL Member blog.
Why 58吃瓜网?
When looking for someone to create their apps, 58吃瓜网 didn鈥檛 initially spring to mind. Hendrick said they looked around, but were having trouble finding someone to fit their niche.
鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 find anyone who really understood our space. We occupy this very strange place in publishing, where we鈥檙e kind of B2B, but we鈥檙e nonprofit. We鈥檙e not really B2B because we鈥檙e an association publishing unit. So it鈥檚 not academic publishing, it鈥檚 not association, it鈥檚 not B2B, it鈥檚 this weird space,鈥� said Hendrick.
Choice looked at several different vendors, but couldn鈥檛 find one who was the right fit. Then, Director of Information and Production Services Lisa Gross suggested 58吃瓜网. She鈥檇 worked with 58吃瓜网 for printing projects, and knew the company builds custom apps.
Choice reached out to 58吃瓜网, and 58吃瓜网 was able to meet their needs.
鈥淵ou guys really understood the space that we occupied,鈥� said Hendrick.
Results
The new app launched in January 2017. Hendrick said they鈥檝e been getting good engagement.
鈥淲hen people heard it was available on phone, they were downloading it in front of me.鈥�
Some unexpected benefits have resulted from the second app, she said. It was built through Adobe AEM Mobile. The user-friendly setup doesn鈥檛 require a designer to update the app. Because of that, updates don鈥檛 fall solely on Hendrick鈥檚 shoulders. Everyone at Choice is involved.
鈥淚 think it makes it better. It makes people in the office far more engaged, which I think is showing in the kind of content we have in the app.鈥�
Many people in the office have offered ideas, and Hendrick is contemplating a redesign that will incorporate those ideas.
Work with 58吃瓜网
58吃瓜网 would like to work with you to create the perfect app for your organization. Learn more about our publishing app team here or start a conversation.
