Library resources and services for mobile devices in academic and related libraries

Pažur, Ivana (2019) Library resources and services for mobile devices in academic and related libraries. Vjesnik bibliotekara Hrvatske, 62 (2). pp. 1-32. ISSN 0507-1925

Preview

PDF - Published Version - article Available under License Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial No Derivatives. Download (742kB) | Preview

Abstract

Purpose. This paper establishes the availability of library resources and services adapted for access from mobile devices in academic and related libraries that support scientifi c work and higher education: The National and University Library in Zagreb and other university libraries, general scientifi c, and special libraries ˗ institutes. Approach/methodology/design. Three research questions were asked: 1) To what extent have the academic and related libraries adapted to users in terms of the availability of library resources and services on mobile devices? 2) What types of mobile library resources and services are represented to a greater extent and which ones are less represented in the researched academic and related libraries? 3) What are the similarities and differences between the different categories of the researched libraries with regard to the implementation of the analyzed library resources and services for mobile devices? The research was conducted on the sample of 97 library websites according to 10 content criteria, and each criteria with the presence less than or equal to 50% was considered underrepresented. Findings. The responsive web design is present on 43% library websites. It is most prevalent in university and general scientifi c libraries (both categories with 50% each), followed by institutes libraries (45%), and the least represented among academic libraries (42%). Only one library (1%) has a library mobile application. None of the researched libraries has a mobile catalog application, while 13% of library catalogs have a responsive Web interface. Libraries do not direct users to access online databases, e-books or e-journals from mobile devices. Communication with users via text messaging is not provided by any library. 23% of the libraries have Facebook profi les. The application of new technologies and services (QR, NFC, Beacon, AR) is not mentioned on most of the libraries’ websites and is represented in rare individual cases. A total of 29% of the researched libraries enable a discovery search of all e-sources: it is offered by all university libraries (100%), 28% of academic libraries, and 20% of special libraries. Education on the use of library mobile resources and services is not explicitly mentioned on any of the researched library websites. Out of the total number of the researched libraries, as many as 44% of libraries do not meet any of the content analysis criteria, and out of the 10 content criteria, the largest percentage of them (30%) is present in 8 libraries. The research fi ndings have shown that the resources and services for mobile devices are not suffi ciently represented (less than or equal to 50%) in the total number of the researched libraries nor in the individual libraries. Originality/value. For the fi rst time, an analysis of the Croatian mobile library resources and services has been made and discussed, which provided an insight into the current situation and can give an incentive to consider the user needs for such services in the future. Keywords: academic libraries, mobile library resources, mobile services, m-services

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	academic libraries ; mobile library resources ; mobile services ; m-services
Subjects:	SOCIAL SCIENCES > Information and Communication Sciences
Divisions:	Centre for scientific information
Depositing User:	Ivana Pažur
Date Deposited:	14 Feb 2020 13:50
URI:	http://fulir.irb.hr/id/eprint/5308

Actions (login required)

View Item