Mobile Technology & Libraries
by Jenaliza Mendoza
Image retrieved via http://www.vcloudsolution.com/services-solutions/mobile-technologies/.
Most of us know that it is important to keep our phones silenced to help maintain the quiet environment expected of a library, but as technology continues to evolve, there have been a few proposals on how mobile devices can be integrated into this field. Dresselhaus and Shrode (2012) conducted several surveys on how often students use electronic library resources, how often they use mobile devices both in general and for academic purposes, and how much more likely they would be to use library services if there were mobile counterparts. The results showed that there was much interest in keeping digital library services up to speed with what students were becoming acclimated to elsewhere. As this study was conducted over a decade ago now, it emphasizes how much advancement has been made towards integrating mobile options for accessing library resources and services.
Since 2012, mobile websites and applications have improved significantly and become more widespread. A good example of this is the Libby app for smartphones and other similar devices, which allows patrons to link multiple library cards to a Libby account to manage digital holds and borrows. Kanopy is another service with a mobile version that can be accessed by linking a library card to an account, although this service offers videos rather than text-based media. As for other academic uses of mobile technology, Google now has widely used apps for its various services, with Google Docs and Google Drive being the most relevant examples.
It is also worth noting that while it is possible to sign up for digital library cards nowadays, applications such as Libby and Kanopy may have different or broader catalogues available depending on the location of the branch where you obtain a physical card.
Source
Dresselhaus, A., & Shrode, F. (2012). Mobile technologies & academics: Do students use mobile technologies in their academic lives and are librarians ready to meet this challenge? Information Technology and Libraries (Online), 31(2), 82-101. Retrieved from https://login.palomar.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/scholarly-journals/mobile-technologies-amp-academics-do-students-use/docview/1022030098/se-2
No comments:
Post a Comment