Library automation company SirsiDynix unveiled the newest version of its BookMyne mobile app (3.0) yesterday, adding Android device support. The company also announced BookMyne+, a version of the app that can be customized for a fee.
As in previous versions, BookMyne 3.0 and BookMyne+ will only work with libraries that use SirsiDynix integrated library systems (ILSs). Both the free and custom apps sync in real time with the ILSs.
Additional features available with BookMyne+ customization include the ability to push event notifications, links, reading lists, or Facebook and Twitter alerts via the app, as well as customized visual elements, such as color schemes, app and library icons, and “virtual bookshelf” design, according to Nathan Guinn, SirsiDynix’s director of product management. The package also includes SirsiDynix managing the availability of the app on the Apple and Android app stores, he said.
Guinn did not provide pricing information for BookMyne+, but did say that SirsiDynix would be “running some incentives for early adopters.” The free version of BookMyne is currently used by some 1300 libraries, and many have shown interest in the custom option, he said.
Though the app runs on both Android phones and tablets, it is not yet optimized for tablet displays; that optimization will come in a future release, Guinn said.
Both the free and custom version of the app currently support customer-loaded public-domain Project Gutenberg ebooks, though more ebook support is upcoming. Guinn told LJ that SirsiDynix will soon launch eResource Central, which will make “a number of e-resource vendors’ content” available via BookMyne. Partners for eResource Central will be announced in early 2012, he said.
The first version of the BookMyne app, for iPhone only, was released at the American Library Association Midwinter Meeting in January 2010.
BookMyne isn’t the only new Android app for libraries released lately: last week, EBSCO released an Android version of its EBSCOhost app, as LJ reported, which allows users to access EBSCOhost content on both Android phones and tablets.
About David Rapp
On Android, there are some glitches in getting it to recognize libraries. I hope they can work through these issues. Disclaimer: I was a beta tester.
Best,
DrWeb