USE OF MOBILE TECHNOLOGY IN LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SERVICES

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AMERICAN RESEARCH THOUGHTS ISSN: 2392 – 876X Available online at: www.researchthoughts.us

http://dx.doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.1425154

Volume 1 │ Issue 7 │ May 2015

Impact Factor: 2.0178 (UIF)

USE OF MOBILE TECHNOLOGY IN LIBRARY

AND INFORMATION SERVICES

Dr. Shail Shrivastav

Dept. of Library and Information Science

Govt. Gitanjali Girl’s (Auto) PG College Bhopal, India

Abstract: Implementation of Information & Communication Technology has changed the way people

access and communication information. Users want easy and instant access to relevant information.

So putting pressure on library professionals to think out of the box for meeting their information

needs. Application of mobile phones to provide library and information services are significant step in

this direction. The development of mobile technology has resulted in shifting the academic

environment from traditional to mobile learning setting. This paper high-light the assumption of

mobile technology in library services, its purpose, literature review various devices, advantages,

disadvantages and prerequisites for implementing mobile based services etc.

Key Words: Mobile technology, communication technology, library services, mobile library

services Mobile phones

INTRODUCTION

Society may be on the verge of revolutionary phase of mobile device use in high

education generally and in libraries in particular. Information and communication

technology provided faster access to information and it is challenging libraries to

rethink and remodel their services adopting the technological changes. The traditional

library services are now moving to mobile library information services. There are the

challenges in providing the necessary in information to users at the right time. Mobile

technologies have made communication and information access very convenient and

timely to users. The adaption of mobile technology alerts the traditional relationships

between libraries and their users and introduces novel challenges to reader privacy.

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Shail Shrivastav- USE OF MOBILE TECHNOLOGY IN LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SERVICES

1533 AMERICAN RESEARCH THOUGHTS- Volume 1 │ Issue 7 │2015

There is the shift from ‘d-learning’(distance learning) to ‘electronic-learning’ and now

from ‘electronic-learning’ to mobile-learning will be the next big wave, which will

reform education in India. Invention of mobile phones is a vital achievement of

technological departments. The plugging prices of handsets and nominal call charges

have put mobile phones in the pocket of common people in India. The ease of use and

affordability has consequence the application of mobile phones for various purposes in

different sectors beyond merely talking and texting.

Nowadays, libraries are functioning in a user centered, technology based

atmosphere, providing individualized value added services. The internet and

networking of libraries and information centers have facilitated information access 24x7

at one’s fingertips. Library and Information Science (LIS) professionals are no more

merely care takers of books. They do the challenging, non-commercial business of

satisfying information needs of users.

Universities and colleges in various countries are successfully providing library

and information services through mobile phone. The Oxford University library 1

provides access to the online library catalogue, maps, contacts, news, travel information

podcasts through mobile phones. Similarly, libraries of Athabasca University, Alberta,

Canada, American University, Boston College, and Duke University, Texas Christian

University etc. offer mobile interfaces, application and services over mobile phones. (Dr.

K. Kumar)

In India it is at its initial stage, It is shown through the survey of Bala and Others

(2010). The findings of their survey have shown the positive attitude of the medical

respondents from Chandigarh towards the provision of library and information

services on mobile devices. Choudhary et. all (2011) discussed the various application of

mobile technologies for providing library services. Khare (2009) focused on how

libraries and librarians are responding with services tailored for mobile devices and

what can be done by libraries in future in this respect. Vimal Kumar V. and Chitra S.

(2008) mentioned the examples of deployment of SMS technology in Government sector

Kerala IT Mission, DC Suit Project in Palakkad district, etc. Moreover, they provided the

prerequisites of library SMS Services.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

1. Encourage librarians and library users in the use of library operations.



2. Examine the benefits derived from the use of mobile technology.

3. To identify the services that could be delivered through mobile phones.

4. To disclose the obstacles that library may face in providing information and

services through mobile phones. (Dr. K. Kumar)

LITERATURE REVIEW

Mobile technology can be applied in libraries for providing variety of services. The

libraries of developing countries are adopting this technology gradually. In developing

country like India, it is at its initial stage, it shown through the survey conducted by

Bala and Others (2010). The findings of their survey show the positive attitude of the

medical respondents from Chandigarh towards the provision of library and

information services on mobile device. Choudhary and Others discussed (2011) the

various application of mobile technology for providing library services. Khare (2009)

focused on how libraries and librarians are responding with services tailored for mobile

devices and what can be done by libraries in future in this respect.

In developed countries, studies in this area are quite advanced. For example, the

commendable study conducted by Gerrity, Bob and Bruxvoort, Diane (2010) shows that

the ARL, Libraries use mobile for providing frequent services such as Hours, as a

Librarian / Chat, search, news, locations, databases, etc.

MOBILE TECHNOLOGY DEVICES

Mobile Information Technology includes:

Laptop and computers

Mobile phones and ‚Smart phones‛.

Global positioning system (GPS) devices.

Wireless debit/credit card payment terminals.

Mobile devices can be enabled to use a variety of communication technologies such as:

1. Wi-Fi (wireless fidelity): It is a type of wireless local area network technology.

2. Bluetooth: It is connect mobile devices wirelessly.

3. 3G (Third Generation): Global system for mobile communication (GSM) and

general packet radio service (GPRS).

4. Data services: data net-working services for mobile phones



5. Dial-up services: Data networking services for mobile phones.

Mobile technology extends computing the internet into the wireless medium, and

provides greater flexibility in communication, collaboration, and information sharing

VPN (Virtual Private Networks) Secure access to a private network. Conversely, this

technology provides unique learning opportunities and has advantage of portability

and mobility academic, public and special libraries could use mobile technology in

service innovations, m-learning, instruction in mobile device, web lectures, reference

service and catalogue searching.

MOBILE TECHNOLOGIES AND LIBRARY SERVICES

In the distance mode of learning mobile technology can be very efficiently used. As the

strength of libraries is in supporting self-directed and independent learning, libraries

could play an increasingly important role in this mode of learning libraries could

provide access to resources tailored to mobile devices and services to guide user in their

self-directed learning efforts. Thus, the increase in mobile learning in the future will

give rise to higher usage of library services. A list of possible mobile service is listed

below:

1. Mobile library site

2. Mobile On-line Public Access Catalogue (MOPAC)

3. Circulation services

4. Reference Enquiry services

5. Current Awareness Service and Selective Dissemination of Information Service

(CAS & SDI)

6. E-mail and SMS –Service

7. Distribution of E-Resources through Mobile site

8. Library Maps and floor plans

9. Library News, Events and Blogs

10. Library Hours and library tours

11. Mobile databases

12. Inter library loan service

13. List of new Arrivals

14. Books and Article’s search

15. Mobile apps for library



16. Library instructional program through mobile site

17. Subject guide, path-finders etc.

18. Photo/Video gallery

19. Library Surveys

20. SMS Services

21. Feedback / Comments / Suggestions

22. Contacting library staff for help

23. Mobile database - PubMed for Handhelds is a mobile web portal for the National

Library of Medicine.

ADVANTAGES

It is user friendly

It is a personalized service

Ability to Access Information

Time Saving

User Participation

Location Awareness

Limitless Access

DISADVANTAGES

The major draw backs are costs involved in setting up the equipment and training

required to make use of mobile devices. Mobile IT devices can expose valuable data to

unauthorized people if the proper precautions are not taken to ensure that the devices,

and the data they can access, are kept safe (Malathy S. and Kanthe P.).

PREREQUISITES FOR IMPLEMENTING MOBILE-BASED LIBRARY SERVICES

It is necessary to have a carefully planned requirement study to know the

practical situation like, the kind of services to be provided on mobile devices and

type of devices to be used.

Library need to acquire the required hardware and software after market survey.



Library most provide physical and virtual environment for using mobile devices

and accessories

One needs to ensure that the customers having mobile phones of different

network operators are in a position to avail the services.

Security and authentication is a matter of concern in mobile services particularly

due to availability of Web- contents on a 24x7 basis to prevent damage or less to

the data. (Malathy S. and Kantha)

CONCLUSIONS

Mobile learning is an advanced tool which is considered as the next progressive step to

e-learning, as we progress through the 21st century, life-long learning will be essential

for sustaining in a competitive global economy, for personal growth, and for simply

functioning efficiently in on increasingly technological environment. It provides

immediate access of learning, it allows more flexible, and immediate collaborative

options for teachers to observe and assist in independent learning.

REFERENCES

1. University of Oxford (2009). Oxford Libraries go mobile, Accessed from

http://www.bodleean.ox.ac.uk/news/2009-oct-23.

2. Kumar K. (2010). Application of mobile technology among Engineering College

Library Users: A Study Journal of community of knowledge.

3. Clifton Dale Foster, ‚PDAs and the Library without a Roof‛, Journal of

Computing in higher education 7, No.1 (1995):85-93

4. Russell Smith, ‚Adapting a new Technology to the Academic Medical Library:

personal Digital Assistants‛, Journal of the Medical Library Association 90, No.1

(2002):93-94.

5. Andrea Jackson, ‚Wireless Technology Poised to Transform Health Care‛, Rudy

Business Journal 3, No.1 (2010):24-26.

6. Alan W. Aldrich, ‚Universities and Libraries Move to the Mobile Web ,‛

EDUCAUSE Quarterly 33, no.2(2010)

7. Larry Johnson, Alan Levine, R. Smith and S. Stone, The 2010 Horizon report

(Austin, TX: The New Media Consortium, 2010)



8. Sharma D. Smith and Caruso, The ECAR Study of Undergraduate students and

Information Technology, 2010 (Research Study, vol.6)

9. Smith and Caruso, The ECAR Study of Undergraduate students and Information

Technology, 2010

10. Bala, A. and Gupta, B. M. (2010). Perceptions of health professionals regarding

use and provision of LIS through mobile technologies, DESIDOC Journal of Library and

Information Technology, 30(3), 7-12

11. Choudhari, S. Chantal, G and Kumar, S. (2011), Rejuvenating of public Libraries

of Assam through mobile technologies an approach.

12. Khare, N. (2009).Libraries on move: library mobile application, International

CALIBAR, 25-27 February 2009, Pondicherry University, Pondicherry.

Education

USE OF MOBILE TECHNOLOGY IN LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SERVICES