From computers to the Internet, libraries have successfully met the challenge of adapting their services to changing technologies. The paper was presented at 11th Southern African Online Information Meeting (SAOIM). The paper showcases mobile tech initiatives @ UJ library and also report on the clients perceptions regarding mobile tech.

1. 11th Southern African Online
Information Meeting (SAOIM)
“Innovation in an Age of Limits”
7 June 2012

2. Source

3. From computers to the Internet,
libraries have successfully met the
challenge of adapting their services
to changing technologies.
Today's challenge is delivering services
to smartphones, eBook readers, and
tablets to users on the go who now
view more content on mobile devices
Source than desktop and laptop computers.
eBook sales outpace paper books, and users
increasingly download music, movies, and
books from iTunes and Kindle, storing
their purchases in the Cloud.
Access by Touch: Delivering
Library Services Through Mobile
Technologies- June 8, 2012
(Online Conference)
http://www.amigos.org/mobile_tech

4. The Mobile world at the palm of our hands
Source

5. If Librarians want to hold on to their
role as an Information professionals,
they need to be able to reach out to
users in their preferred method of
Communication. (Griffey, 2010)

6. The Mobile Academic Librarian provides:
• Library Services on the
GO!
• 24/7 Access to the
Library Catalogue,
websites, services &
resources
• Social Interactions via
Mobile Web 2.0
Applications
• Current Awareness to
Services and Resources
• Information Retrieval &
Reference Services
• eBook Readers on loan
At the PALM of your PATRON HANDS

7. Plan to be a Mobile Library/Librarian!
Develop or Customise Mobile Applications for
your University/Library to fit your library
users needs:
• Create Mobile website
• Create Mobile Library Catalogue
• Create Portable Instruction Resources
• Offer Mobile Library Tours
• Offer Mobile collections
• Provide SMS services
• Explore other implementation ideas ALL
THE TIME! (Griffey, 2010)

9. http://uj.mobi/

10. AirPac Library Catalogue
Use your mobile to:
•Search UJ Library
Catalogue
•Reserve items (place
http://ujmobilelink.uj.ac.za/
a hold on them)
http://ujlink.uj.ac.za/airpac
•Renew overdue books
•Download e-books
and e-journal articles
… and lots more

11. The Mobile Sciences Librarian... playground

13. UJ Library Mobile Projects 2012
Project 1: iPads to be available in
the library
• 15 iPads for UJ Kingsway Campus
library
> 12 iPads will be on stands in
the library for students to use with
selected applications
> 3 iPads will be used by library
staff to explore and learn how to
use;
• Sponsor: Core Computer Business
- On loan for 2 years
- The contract has been submitted
to the library for approval

14. UJ Library Mobile Projects 2012 (Cont.)
Project 2: iPads on Challenges:
loan • How ready are we to
• 3 iPads will be provide Mobile services?
purchased • Negotiate licensing for
• Circulated to access to resources
students • Mobile disadvantage
students
Opportunities:
• Taking the library to the
users
• Mobile experience for
students

15. Wireless Access @ UJ
The University of Johannesburg aims at making
available wireless access on all campuses.
Currently the UJ Library provides:
• Wi-Fi @ Kingsway Library.
- Purpose: to accommodate the access to the
library mobile iPad projects
- Initial stage 2011-1212 only on Level 1 in
the library for 40 users
- From May 2012 additional Wi-Fi access is
available for 200 students accessible on Level
1&2

16. UJoogle: the new integrated Library search engine
Implementation:
•July 2012
Ujoogle.uj.ac.za
•UJoogle (Encore, Innovative) brings true
discovery to library users by offering social features,
faceted search, advanced relevancy ranking, peer-
reviewed articles, digital collections, books and more.
•Ujoogle/Encore provides a platform that allows
for content flexibility and streams information from
article sources in real-time

17. Survey on the mobile use of the
UJ Library catalogue :AirPac

18. About the AirPac Library Survey
• Pilot study
• The survey was conducted from 16 August 2011 for two
weeks
• Four campus libraries
• Focus group:
- Walk-in students
- Post-graduates and undergraduates
• Sample: 41 participants
• Conceptual Framework: Technology Acceptance Model (TAM)

19. Survey Demographics
Number of Participants Type of Mobile Phones
(per Campus) Smartphone Classic phones Ordinary phone
44%
10%
18% 19% 19%
41%
APB FADA APK DFC
49%
Age of Participants
76%
17%
7%
15-20 21-25 26+

20. Survey Findings
Hours of Internet access Reasons for Internet use
(Weekly) 58%
35% 48%
41%
21% 24%
19% 17%
8%
Social E-mail Instant Surfing the
1-2 hours 2-3 hours 3-5 hours 6+ hours None Networking Messaging Internet
Searching the AirPac: Reasons for NOT Searching
Perceived Ease of Use AirPac
46% 44%
29% 27%
22% 22%
10%
0%
0% 0%
Difficulty to Costs Phone Rather use Nothing
Easy Very easy Difficult Very difficult Don't know use features PC
Perceived Ease of Use: The extent to which an individual
believes that using the system will be free of effort

21. Survey Findings (continue)
Perceived Usefulness of AirPac
Searching AirPac Renewal of Books Check Library records
51% 51%
48% 49%
46% 46%
10%
3%
0%
Easy Very easy Don't know
Perceived Usefulness - the degree of
performance for a person who uses a
particular system / technological product.
The person believes that his/her
performance is enhanced by using the
system/technological product

22. What are the students saying about AirPac?
It's awesome Innovative thinking
Very innovative & a good structure for the UJ library.

23. In Conclusion
To meet the expectations of students, the libraries
should focus on:
• Developing Mobile library portals
• Seamless wireless access in the library, to enable
free Wi-Fi access for students
• Making available different mobile devices, such as
iPad and Kindle, to enhance users experience with
different media
• To adopt and implement new trends based on
users feedback
• Mobile savvy librarians to carry out the
implementation

24. “A level of limitless, a level where there is no
impossibility, a level where impossible say I’m
possible”

25. References
Griffey, J. 2010. Mobile Technology & Libraries. London: Facet
Publ. M-Libraries:
http://www.libsuccess.org/index.php?title=M-Libraries
Thomas, L.C. 2012. The state of the Mobile in Libraries 2012.
Accessed: 30/05/2012. URL:
http://www.thedigitalshift.com/2012/02/mobile/the-state-of-
mobile-in-libraries-2012/
Presentation:
Kovatcheva, P. The Academic Librarian on the move: the use of
Mobile Technologies in Support to Teaching, Learning &
Research. iBala workshop, 28 September 2011. Available on
SlideShare:
http://www.slideshare.net/pavlinka163/presentations

26. Thank you!
Q&A
We ARE the Mobile
Librarians 