This summer, The Bodleian Libraries will launch the first in their series of apps for Apple and Android mobile devices.
The apps will ‘highlight items from the Bodleian’s world-famous collections as part of the Libraries’ aim to share their manuscripts, books, maps and periodicals with a worldwide audience’.
The first app will be centred on The Bodleian’s summer exhibition ‘Manifold Greatness: Oxford and the Making of the King James Bible’, which will run from 22 April – 4 September 2011.
The exhibition ‘tells the story of the most frequently printed book in English language, the King James Bible…[and] looks at the events and conditions that led to and shaped this translation enterprise.’
Bodleian spokesperson Sarah Henderson said, ‘Apps offer another format for sharing content and we think it is complementary to our existing publishing programme. This exhibition app will be paid-for with the intention that, similar to the books we publish, it will generate funds to support exhibitions and other outreach opportunities.
‘We hope it will appeal to anyone who is interested in the subject or in visiting the exhibition. This is very much a trial project but we hope it will be the first in a series of Bodleian apps.’
The Bodleian Libraries emailed all students this week asking them to take part in a survey about naming the app. The choices given are ‘Mobile Bodleian’, ‘Bod Mobile’, ‘Bodleian Gallery’ or ‘Bodleian Apps’. There is also a suggestion box for students to add their own ideas. Henderson said they ‘have been very pleased with the interest in the project’.
iPhone user and Masters student Alix Huk said, ‘it seems like a great way for The Bodleian to move into the 21st Century and open itself up to a whole new audience’, but also added, ‘I’d definitely download it if it was free but I’d think twice about paying for it’.
First year Human Scientist Fi Johnston commented, ‘it’s probably not for me, but I can imagine that a lot of people visiting Oxford would want to use it’.
Bodleian spokesperson Sarah Henderson said, ‘Apps offer another format for sharing content and we think it is complementary to our existing publishing programme. This exhibition app will be paid-for with the intention that, similar to the books we publish, it will generate funds to support exhibitions and other outreach opportunities.
‘We hope it will appeal to anyone who is interested in the subject or in visiting the exhibition. This is very much a trial project but we hope it will be the first in a series of Bodleian apps.’
The Bodleian Libraries emailed all students this week asking them to take part in a survey about naming the app. The choices given are ‘Mobile Bodleian’, ‘Bod Mobile’, ‘Bodleian Gallery’ or ‘Bodleian Apps’. There is also a suggestion box for students to add their own ideas. Henderson said they ‘have been very pleased with the interest in the project’.
iPhone user and Masters student Alix Huk said, ‘it seems like a great way for The Bodleian to move into the 21st Century and open itself up to a whole new audience’, but also added, ‘I’d definitely download it if it was free but I’d think twice about paying for it’.
First year Human Scientist Fi Johnston commented, ‘it’s probably not for me, but I can imagine that a lot of people visiting Oxford would want to use it’.
