scholarly journals The mobile future of university libraries and an analysis of the Turkish case

2017 ◽  
Vol 118 (3/4) ◽  
pp. 120-140 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gulcin Kubat

Purpose The purpose of this study is to search for any evidence for university libraries that are accessible by mobile technology in Turkey as relevant models of the future; having regard to the fact that smartphones will very soon become the standard means by which the internet is accessed, and the rates of connection from mobile devices will supersede those which are computer-based. Design/methodology/approach In the study, both domestic and foreign literature surveys were undertaken to determine which mobile library services are offered in university libraries. Thirty random central libraries of both private and state universities were selected from across the seven regions of Turkey. To gather data, a 26-question electronic survey was generated and e-mailed to the library managers. The questions were based on findings regarding the mobile library services provided by university libraries around the world. Findings By examining the survey results, it was determined that Turkish university libraries utilise a comparable level of mobile technology and demonstrate a similar level of care with regard to the services they offer. There are mobile sites (separate sites or mobile sites as applications), mobile library catalogues, short messaging services, chat rooms, consultations via instant messaging tools, mobile device-lending services, and augmented reality and QR code applications. Research limitations/implications In Turkey, the structures of university libraries operate under variable conditions because of the lack of established standards. This causes negative results for the delivery of library services. For this reason, university library standards should be set practicable as soonas reasonable, considering the social/economic and cultural structure of the country. Practical implications Owing to the transformative effect technology and the internet have had on services information and communication technologies, infrastructure has been added as a sixth element to the five traditional library items, namely, building budget personnel collection and users. Globalisation through the web has resulted in the individualisation of services and the slogan content is king has been changed to the customer experience is king. Fundamental library services are being adapted to allow mobile technology access, and this approach best reflects the new slogan. Therefore, the university library of the future may well be the one entirely based on mobile technology. Social implications Mobile devices lead to new forms of engagement with student learning; so academic libraries are expected to be strong partners in the teaching and learning processes of their institution. Originality/value The hypothesis of this study is that a university library accessible by mobile technology will be the model of the future, and its purpose is to search for any evidence for which the university libraries in Turkey are prepared to meet this challenge. This study is also meaningful because there have not been any study of Turkish university libraries in terms of mobile library services to users. This paper is the first time that a comprehensive study has been made of current mobile technology-based services, and is also the first comparison of the applications in Turkish university libraries. Additionally, paper synthesises developments and provides suggestions for the future.

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Arda Putri Winata ◽  
Raisa Fadelina ◽  
Sulistyo Basuki

Purpose This paper aims to share the activities of library services in the new-normal era. The paper describes libraries’ circumstances since their reopening in early June 2020. Furthermore, it provides details on how libraries have adopted several most appropriate practices changing physical to online services. Design/methodology/approach This paper describes various university library services in Indonesia in the new-normal era by using literature and documentary reviews as the approaches. The data were primarily collected from webpages, blogs, social media, newsletters and specific journals organized by university libraries. The survey was carried out by involving 126 university librarians incorporated in the University Libraries Forum. It highlighted the current conditions of university libraries and the most appropriate practices of library services in the new-normal era. Findings The most appropriate practices of university library services in the new-normal era are provided. Libraries in Indonesia have experienced a service transformation implementing the COVID-19 health protocols. Likewise, almost all university library services became virtual. Accordingly, there were several challenges faced by librarians and users in carrying out virtual activities in the library. Originality/value This paper provides a great value for libraries in responding to COVID-19 and those starting to reopen. It reveals the most appropriate library service practices and challenges in the new-normal era, which are useful for current and future insight development.


Author(s):  
Nataliia M. NIKOLAIENKO ◽  
Olena M. RYBALCHENKO

Objective. The article analyzes the new roles of librarians - facilitator, tutor, moderator, presents their introduction into the activities of the university library, reveals the impact of innovations on the effectiveness of the library and the university. Methods. The study was conducted by reviewing publications related to clarifying the new roles of librarians in the practice of modern university libraries, summarizing the experience of the Scientific Library of Kharkiv Petro Vasylenko National Technical University of Agriculture (SL KhNTUA) to introduce new activities. Results. During the study, the authors determined that the SL KhNTUA’ introduction of the innovative forms in terms of new roles of librarians (facilitator, tutor, moderator) contributes to the development and diversification of library services, increase in the role of SL as an active partner of the university in research, teaching and educational work; emphasizes and strengthens the role of the library in raising the ranking of the university. Conclusions. The originality of the work is to expand ideas about the new roles of librarians in the activities of the university library, which is an important factor in assessing the effectiveness of its management. Practical value. The obtained results are used to improve the management of human resources of university libraries.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Grace Wambui Kamau ◽  
Aggrey Luyiya Elegwa

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to investigate the factors influencing the collection development process at the University of Nairobi library and suggest ways for improvement.Design/methodology/approachA qualitative approach was employed to collect, analyze and interpret data from collection development librarians at the University of Nairobi purposively selected. Data were collected through structured interviews and documentary review. Data were analyzed using content analysis and descriptive statistics.FindingsThe study established that the library has a written collection development policy which was revised in 2014 and is strictly adhered to. However, the policy has a gap on the role of faculty as stakeholders in the selection process. In addition, the criteria for selection are not explicitly stated. Findings also indicate that budget allocation, collection development policy, user demands, quality of staff, library consortium and the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act of 2015 influence the collection development process at the University of Nairobi Library.Research limitations/implicationsThe study was conducted in one public university library in Kenya. However, the findings may be applicable in similar university libraries in the country.Practical implicationsThe findings of this study may benefit students and faculty in the University of Nairobi from improved collection development process that would ensure that their information needs are met in a timely manner. This would lead to improved research output by students and faculty and ultimately improved research output by the university. University library management may also benefit in improving the collection development process, thereby making it more economical. The findings may also be useful in decision-making and policy development on matters pertaining to collection development at the University of Nairobi and other universities. Furthermore, the findings may be used by researchers to provide context and background information for future research on collection development in public universities locally and regionally.Originality/valueThis paper fulfills the need to make the collection development process in university libraries more efficient by proposing ways of addressing the challenges experienced.


2016 ◽  
Vol 44 (3) ◽  
pp. 97-103
Author(s):  
Eustache Mêgnigbêto ◽  
Khadidjath Kouboura Osseni Bachabi

Purpose This paper aims to describe the response of students to the shortage of materials at the Université d’Abomey-Calavi (Republic of Benin). Design/methodology/approach A survey was conducted with over 2,000 students of the Université d’Abomey-Calavi in 2014, and the data were analysed. The paper deals with two questions related to the university library services they use. Findings To satisfy their information and documentation needs, students visit several university library services even on different campuses. Practical implications The study recommends the setting up and the implementation of a long-term development plan for the University of Abomey-Calavi libraries. Originality/value The study describes the behaviour of students of a developing country when faced with a lack of relevant information and documentation resources.


2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Adrian St. Patrick Duncan

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to assess the state of mobile library services available for students’ information needs at the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus. In addition, this study will determine the extent to which mobile services has helped the Mona libraries to have greater reach to students. Design/methodology/approach Surveys and content analysis were used to collect data. A comparative content analysis was used to highlight the strides made in mobile library services in universities across the world vis-à-vis the current reality in the Caribbean, specifically Jamaica. Findings The findings identified that there is a proliferation of mobile and internet users among university and college students and they are heavily using their devices for the furtherance of their educational attainment. Additionally, the findings indicated that libraries in the academic realm can benefit greatly from allowing their content to be accessible through these mobile devices, as it would also help with greater usage. Furthermore, this service is guaranteed greater support the distance programmes offered by these universities. Research limitations/implications This study will focus on assessing the state of mobile library services offered at the University of the West Indies, Mona Jamaica. This study will also determine the extent to which mobile services can help libraries to have greater reach to students and provide best practices for academic libraries implementing mobile service offerings to clients. This study will not attest to the financial feasibility of academic institutions to start such a programme. Practical implications The research excavated that the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, along with other academic libraries in the Caribbean are all not fully offering mobile library services to all their users. In addition, with the rise of technology and the proliferation of cell phones and other mobile devices, students (distance and onsite) expect a service that allows them greater access to the offerings of the university and their libraries. Originality/value This is the premier investigation of its kind into how the University of the West Indies Mona Campus has responded to the mobile library environment. The value of this research is in helping academic and university libraries in the Jamaica to identify the importance of leveraging the benefits of the dynamic technological era, allowing greater and wider reach through mobile library services proliferation and access to services. In addition, this study showed that academic libraries need to enhance services in a bid to provide greater support the teaching component of the university or college they serve.


Author(s):  
Oluwatoyin Oyeyemi Obinyan

With the rapid advancement in technology in the last two decades, mainly because of the advent of the internet, the world no longer works the same. The advent of wireless networks and more recently mobile devices such as smart phones, tablets, etc. following the internet, contributed a lot their applicability in library's operations. As contained in extant literature, mobile devices have become a very important part of communication not only for telephone service users but also for the internet users. The two main reasons behind success of mobile technology is the benefits such as mobility and ubiquity served by mobile devices. To this end, the chapter explores the application of mobile technology on service delivery in libraries, the advantages and disadvantages. Also highlighted were the skills required by the librarians in incorporating mobile technologies to library services.


Author(s):  
Kezban Alpan ◽  
Mehmet Ceyhun Avci

This study examines the information seeking behaviours of university students and explores students’ preferences between the university library and the Google search engine with their reasons. The research questionnaire was applied to 250 Near East University, Faculty of Engineering students. According to the results of the study; even students have enough knowledge to use the university library, they prefer to use Google and Internet resources for various purposes because they think that this is the fastest and easiest way to reach information. Even students obtain information via the Internet; they give importance to indicate the source in their assignments and projects. Findings also showed that there are some significant differences between departments’ information seeking behaviours. Keywords: Information seeking behaviours, Internet, Google, engineering education, university libraries.


Author(s):  
Oluwatoyin Oyeyemi Obinyan

With the rapid advancement in technology in the last two decades, mainly because of the advent of the internet, the world no longer works the same. The advent of wireless networks and more recently mobile devices such as smart phones, tablets, etc. following the internet, contributed a lot their applicability in library's operations. As contained in extant literature, mobile devices have become a very important part of communication not only for telephone service users but also for the internet users. The two main reasons behind success of mobile technology is the benefits such as mobility and ubiquity served by mobile devices. To this end, the chapter explores the application of mobile technology on service delivery in libraries, the advantages and disadvantages. Also highlighted were the skills required by the librarians in incorporating mobile technologies to library services.


2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (14) ◽  
Author(s):  
José Segoviano Hernández ◽  
Miguel Ángel Palomo González

Abstract: This paper presents the results of a documentary search about factors that motivate the use of university library. Literature about these factors was not found, either not standards or indicators used to measure those factors’ impact. On the other side, evidence was found about the decrease in library attendance, reported by the university libraries themselves; however, no evidence about the causes of this phenomenon was found. In sucha context, this article presents a research project that will be applied in 3 universities at Northeast Mexico, in which a methodology to identify and analyze motivation in students to use the university library is proposed.Keywords: academic library, library use studies, library users, motivation, library services, user satisfactionResumen: En este trabajo se presentan los resultados de la revisión documental sobre el tema de los factores que motivan el uso de la biblioteca universitaria. No se encontró literatura sobre estos factores y tampoco se encontraron normas o indicadores de referencia que permitan medir su impacto. Por otro lado, se encontró evidencia de un descenso en la asistencia reportada por las bibliotecas de las instituciones de educación superior, pero no se encontró evidencia de sus causas. Ante este escenario, en el presente artículo se plantea unproyecto de investigación que se aplicará en 3 universidades del noreste de México, en el cual se propone una metodología para identificar y analizar los factores que motivan, a sus estudiantes para utilizar la biblioteca universitaria.Palabras clave: biblioteca universitaria, estudios de uso de biblioteca, usuarios de biblioteca, motivación, servicios bibliotecarios, satisfacción de usuarios.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nan Li

PurposeThis paper aims to strengthen the cultural communication and educational function of the library, bringing newspirits and vitality into the development of the librarianship.Design/methodology/approachIn this paper, the practical research on the living book service in university libraries has given concrete cases, the existing problems are analyzed in detail and some suggestions for improvement are extracted when putting forward, which can be used as the reference and be corrected by colleagues and related scholars in the same field.FindingsThere have been many research results on the topic of living book service, but there are few ones with promotional function. Living book service not only satisfies the readers' curiosity and enables them to obtain knowledge and experience they need, but also establishes a good relationship of communication and understanding between “Real Person Books” and readers. It resonates by face-to-face discussion of different life experiences, living experiences or beliefs, and it is also an innovation of the traditional library service mode.Originality/valueBrand activities are taken as examples, and some thoughts and enlightenment on the living book service in the university library are put forward, helping us to better understand and evaluate the library activities.


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