Assessing Adoption and Implementation of Mobile Technology-Based Library Services in Academic Libraries

Abstract

Mobile Technologies (m-tech) have been embraced by stakeholders of academic libraries globally in recent times as a medium that can offer convenient library services to library patrons. This study was to ascertain the potentials of adopting and implementing m-tech based library services in academic libraries in Ghana. The study was a descriptive survey and the mixedmethod approach was used. The major findings were that there were a strong awareness and deep appreciation for the use of mtech library services among library management and students, however, m-tech based library services have not been implemented in the libraries due to diverse reasons. These include inadequate ICT infrastructure, skills gap as a result of lack of training, lack of policy framework for the adoption of the technology and clearing the hurdle of convincing university management to accept the technology. As a result, it was recommended that the libraries need to invest more in ICT infrastructure specifically m-tech infrastructure and build on their human resource base through recruitment and professional training on emerging technologies

Academic librarians’ perceptions of mobile technology’s usefulness in library service delivery at universities of technology in South Africa

“…With the proliferation of mobile devices and the increasing demand for mobile content, libraries must reexamine their services (Elahi et al , 2018, p. 39). Williams et al (2021, p. 76), Acheampong and Dei (2020, p. 2) and Dei (2020, p. 2) confirm that mobile technology has become a strategic partner in making academic library services easily accessible. Hamad et al (2018, p. 439) echo that mobile technology allows libraries to reach more users and provide more services without users physically visiting libraries.…”

Role of academic libraries in the achievement of quality education as a sustainable development goal

“…Universities and libraries across the world rebooted and deployed virtual and remote information delivery (Omeluzor et al, 2022) and other technological systems to ensure quality education during the COVID 19 (Adarkwah, 2021;Edem Adzovie and Jibril, 2022). While most of the libraries adopted the social media platform (Animante et al, 2021;Darko-Adjei and Zewu, 2021), others adopted the web-based system for information delivery (Adarkwah, 2021;Acheampong and Dei, 2020;Dei, 2020).…”

“…Some of the mobile technology-based library services adopted to ensure quality of education as a sustainable development goal during the COVID 19 (Zaidi et al, 2021) include mobile online public access catalog (MOPAC), mobile e-journal, mobile databases, short messaging services (SMS) for reference services, mobile collections (e-books, audio materials), mobile digitized thesis, mobile library tour/instruction (Zaidi et al, 2021;Acheampong and Dei, 2020;Dei, 2020). A study by Mansouri and Asl (2019) revealed that the most contemporary services that users want to have on their mobile devices are mobile collections and databases, circulation and renewal services, mobile reference services (ask a librarian) and mobile library tours or instruction.…”

“…While most of the libraries adopted the social media platform (Animante et al. , 2021; Darko-Adjei and Zewu, 2021), others adopted the web-based system for information delivery (Adarkwah, 2021; Acheampong and Dei, 2020; Dei, 2020).…”

Mobile Librarianship: An Initiative of New Normal

“…Obinyan, (2020) explored in his book chapter about the application of mobile technology on service delivery in libraries, its advantages and disadvantages and also highlighted the skills required by the librarians in incorporating mobile technologies to library services. In his study, Dei (2020) ascertained the potentials of adopting and implementing Mobile Technology (m-tech) based library services in academic libraries in Ghana using descriptive survey and the mixed-method approach.…”