The document summarizes the results of a survey of students at three universities about their mobile device usage and interests in accessing library services on their phones. The survey found that most students have smartphones and browse the web on their phones daily, but many are limited by data allowances. While only 15% had used library services on their phones previously, 90% expressed interest in using at least one library service mobile, such as searching the catalog. However, reading lengthy content on phone screens was reported to be difficult.

1. Academic Libraries and Mobile Technologies Laurence Patterson &Eithne Barry

2. Whatdoour users want?

3. What sort of mobiles do our users have? What do they use them for? Do our users want to use Library services on their mobile (or just Facebook)?

4. Our survey Edinburgh Napier, Queen Margaret University, University of the Highlands and Islands. 1061 responses, students only. The majority of replies were from Edinburgh Napier University, sample fairly representative.

5. Say hello to Jane I’m the ‘average student’ here at Edinburgh Napier University.

6. What sort of mobiles do our users have?

7. 68% have a ‘smartphone’ The most common smartphone makes were were Apple, Nokia, and Samsung

8. Operating system (smartphones only)

9. No smartphone? 21% planned to buy one in the next six months, and 34% ‘probably’ will. Most wanted makes

10. 61% of survey respondents said they had owned their current mobile phone for less than a year. 81% had owned their current mobile for less than 18 months.

11. So… I have a Nokia smartphone. It’s nearly a year old, and I’m thinking about getting a new mobile. Maybe an iPhone?

12. How do they pay? 62% have a Pay Monthly contract. 38% are on Pay as You Go.

13. Can they afford web browsing? 43% have ‘unlimited’ access to the web on their mobile But... 32%say contract/funds stop them using the mobile web as much as they would like

14. Of those with web access…(86%) 63% have downloaded apps 41% have signed up to receive automatic updates

15. QR codes (all respondents) 18%know what a QR codeis 8%have a QR code reader on their mobile phone/device

16. I have a Pay Monthly contract. I pay £20 each month, and I get free minutes, texts and ‘unlimited’ web access.

18. Who is browsing the web more?

19. I mostly use my mobile for texting and phoning. I’m on the web most days (checking Facebook or email), but I don’t read much on there. The screen is too small.

20. Using Library services 15% had used Library services on their mobile Services they had used:

21. Library services you would use on your mobile if you could?

22. I haven’t used Library pages on my mobile. That’d be great though, especially to save time. Like if I could search for a book on the bus on the way to the Uni.

23. Student quotes Access to information is in your pocket! 24/7 Can get information any time, do what I wanna do, such as find books during the lecture teacher said. But the screen is not big enough.

24. Summary Most are browsing the web on mobiles (67%) ~ 45% at least once a day. Most have a smartphone (68%). 15% have already used Library services. 90% would like to access at least one Library service.

25. However… Nearly a third of our students say contract/funds stop them using the web as much as they would like. Students over 30 are less likely to browse the mobile web regularly. Reading content (such as e-books, journals or newspapers) is very much less common.