iPad and android tablets: wonder pills or placebo for academic library staff?
| Published date | 18 September 2017 |
| Pages | 393-407 |
| Date | 18 September 2017 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/LHT-01-2017-0022 |
| Author | Betsaida M. Reyes,Jon Giullian,Frances Devlin |
| Subject Matter | Library & information science,Librarianship/library management,Library technology,Information behaviour & retrieval,Information user studies,Metadata,Information & knowledge management,Information & communications technology,Internet |
iPad and android tablets: wonder
pills or placebo for academic
library staff?
Betsaida M. Reyes, Jon Giullian and Frances Devlin
University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, USA
Abstract
Purpose –This paper describes the creation and work of a collaborative learning community, consisting of
library staff from a variety of library departments. The purpose of this paper is to build proficiency in using
tablet devices and to explore the potential application of tablets to various types of library work.
Design/methodology/approach –Data were collected from discussion sessions, journals, and a survey,
which documented participants’experiences in learning how to use tablets and how they applied them to
work-related tasks.
Findings –The project helped increase participants’awareness of different types of work across the library,
encouraged inter-departmental communication, and provided an open environment for asking questions,
trouble-shooting, and sharing tips about using tablets. Participants mastered basic functions and navigation
and explored ways to use tablets in their work. Portability was the top advantage of the tablet.
Originality/value –Although participants found tablets to be convenient and portable for some tasks, they
are not ready to entirely replace office computers for library work. Laptops remain a more flexible and
powerful option at this time.
Keywords Academic libraries, Learning communities, Mobile devices, Staff development,
Collaborative learning, Tablets
Paper type Case study
Introduction
According to data from a Pew Research Center report (Zickuhr and Rainie, 2014), over half
of American adults own either a tablet or e-book reader. An earlier Pew report (Anderson
and Rainie, 2008) projected that mobile devices will become the preferred mode of access to
information on the internet by 2020. The use of tablets and other mobile devices for
educational purposes has also soared since the iPad was introduced in 2010. Faculty and
students increasingly connect to library-provided electronic content through mobile devices.
This trend demands that academic librarians be proficient in the use of mobile technology if
they are to be effective in supporting the research needs of the university community.
Therefore, the authors of this paper organized a year-long collaborative learning community
(CLC) in the University of Kansas (KU) Libraries in order to build proficiency in using tablet
devices among the library staff and explore the potential application of tablets to various
types of library work[1]. Through discussion sessions, assigned tasks, reflective journals,
and a survey, participants documented and shared their experiences of learning how to use
their tablets and how they applied the tablets to work-related tasks.
Literature review
Technology continues to transform the way library users find, access, and use information.
The current generation of students entering college and universities has become
accustomed to using mobile technology (i.e. smart phones and tablets) in almost every
aspect of their daily lives. In order to understand and help today’s students, librarians need
to adapt to shifting preferences in how students engage with digital content, which may
include finding ways to incorporate mobile tools into teaching information literacy skills.
While there is potential for using tablets or other mobile devices to engage with library
Library Hi Tech
Vol. 35 No. 3, 2017
pp. 393-407
© Emerald PublishingLimited
0737-8831
DOI 10.1108/LHT-01-2017-0022
Received 27 January 2017
Revised 16 May 2017
Accepted 18 May 2017
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at:
www.emeraldinsight.com/0737-8831.htm
393
iPad and
android tablets
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