Posted on by Andy Meyer

iPad apps for Libraries and Library People

Lots and lots of websites lists the “Best Apps” for libraries and librarians. So, to that deluge, I thought I would add another. My library is getting five iPads to circulate to current students, faculty, and staff, and I’ve been asked to help come up with a list of apps to add to them. The focus is on free and library specific.

The last section – Personal – lists apps that I use on my personal iPad but would have limited application (no pun intended) on a iPad that is loaned for a few hours. The rest of the apps should be good on a shared iPad – though some will require personal accounts to fully use them

(I hope to update this page frequently so as to stay current!)

Productivity

  • Dropbox – I personally use Dropbox all the time and think it’s wonderful. I’ve never compared it to other cloud based storage systems because I’ve never had any problems.
  • Evernote – I truthfully don’t use Evernote as much as I would like to – and have never really understood why. I use the Apple “Notes” app and this interchangeably to store short, mostly unimportant text. Evernote seems like a racecar that I’m content to idle in the driveway. But it’s nice to have in the driveway.
  • Gmail – If you use gmail you should use this app.
  • Google – Not essential, but makes googling things easier. And I google things like it’s my job.
  • Wikipanion – Wikipediaing things is my part-time job.
  • Paper – This drawing app is great for sketching out ideas and brainstorming. Though the app is free, the new brushes and colors are very tempting.

News and Information

  • NPR – Still my go to source for news.
  • PBS – A close number two.
  • TED – A smarter, more interesting youtube.

Reading

  • Kindle – I know they don’t play nicely with libraries, but this is my preferred ebook reader.
  • Poetry – This is an amazing app that really is perfectly suited and formatted for a tablet. Very fun.
  • Stanza – I don’t use this app personally, but it was highly recommended.
  • Hathitrust – Not an app, just a link to their mobile website.
  • WorldCat – Not an app, just a link to their mobile website. Truthfully, the standard WorldCat site works perfectly well on an iPad.

Social Media

  • Twitter – The official twitter app is still my favorite app. Call me old fashion, I guess.
  • Facebook – It’s a juggernaut.
  • Pinterest – Very nice app that makes pinning even easier.
  • Pandora – I usually listen to my own music, but this seems like a good app to include on loanable iPads.
  • Instagram – The Brandel library is surprisingly very popular on instagram.
  • Youtube – Everything from technology tutorials to funny dog videos.

Website Shortcuts

Personal

  •  [Coming Soon!]