M-Libraries: Information Use
on the Move
Keren Mills, arcadia@cambridge fellow

The Arcadia Programme
Cambridge University Library
arcadia@cambridge: rethinking the role
of the research library in a digital age
http://arcadiaproject.lib.cam.ac.uk

Drivers, aims & scope
arcadia@cambridge: rethinking the role
of the research library in a digital age
http://arcadiaproject.lib.cam.ac.uk

Barriers to M-libraries research
• Perception (of cost, ease
of use)
• Lack of awareness
• Lack of examples or
prototypes
• Research methods?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/derekl
• Sample selection
arcadia@cambridge: rethinking the role
of the research library in a digital age
http://arcadiaproject.lib.cam.ac.uk

Text alerting services
• 1/3 of respondents already
receive text alerts From: OU Library
The following items
3 of your loaned
• Recommendation: Pilot are overdue.
items are due
for renewal.
Title: The Public
Please reply
Domain
with RENEW or
Due: 09 June 2009
return them.
Please reply with
RENEW or return
items.
arcadia@cambridge: rethinking the role
of the research library in a digital age
http://arcadiaproject.lib.cam.ac.uk

Text reference
services
• 27% of respondents have
used them and would use
again
• 26% might try it now that
they were aware of it
• Recommendation: Pilot
arcadia@cambridge: rethinking the role
of the research library in a digital age
http://arcadiaproject.lib.cam.ac.uk http://www.flickr.com/photos/kcolwell/

Mobile OPAC
• 55% of total respondents were in
favour of being able to access
the library catalogue from a
mobile phone
• Recommendation: Provide
mobile OPAC
arcadia@cambridge: rethinking the role
of the research library in a digital age
http://arcadiaproject.lib.cam.ac.uk

Mobile-friendly library website
• Less than 25% of
respondents access the
mobile internet via their
phones
• Recommendation:
Don’t handcraft
arcadia@cambridge: rethinking the role
of the research library in a digital age
http://arcadiaproject.lib.cam.ac.uk

Library Audio Tours
arcadia@cambridge: rethinking the role
of the research library in a digital age
http://arcadiaproject.lib.cam.ac.uk

Library Applications
• Only 21% of respondents
to this survey have
downloaded applications
to their phones and
would do so again
• But… Watch this space!
arcadia@cambridge: rethinking the role
of the research library in a digital age
http://arcadiaproject.lib.cam.ac.uk

Mobile phone use in the library
• Note taking
• Alerts/reminders
arcadia@cambridge: rethinking the role http://www.flickr.com/photos/suviko/
of the research library in a digital age
http://arcadiaproject.lib.cam.ac.uk

Mobilizing The Open University
Library
• Website – www.open.ac.uk/library
• Safari -
http://digilab.open.ac.uk/testarea/
mobileSafari/
• OPAC
arcadia@cambridge: rethinking the role
of the research library in a digital age
http://arcadiaproject.lib.cam.ac.uk

Photo credits
DerekL, Mobile Library arriving in
Market Square -
http://www.flickr.com/photos/derekl/274
6105103/
kcolwell, Student Using Cell Phone By
the Campus Lakes –
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kcolwell/13
9110661/in/set-72057594123206202/
DaKaTotal, African Elephant -
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dakatotal/3
085006165/
Suviko, Shh! Quiet in the Library
Thank you for http://www.flickr.com/photos/suviko/346
948814/
listening

Keren Mills
k.mills@open.ac.uk
www.twitter.com/mirya
The Open University Library
www.open.ac.uk/library
arcadia@cambridge: rethinking the role
of the research library in a digital age
http://arcadiaproject.lib.cam.ac.uk