The document discusses the transformative impact of mobile technology on library and information services, emphasizing the shift from traditional to mobile learning environments. It highlights the benefits, challenges, and practical considerations for implementing mobile services in libraries, particularly in developing countries like India. The paper also outlines potential mobile services, advantages, and prerequisites for adopting mobile technology in library operations.

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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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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.

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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

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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

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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.

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 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)

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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.