Perceptions toward academic library app implementation

Date14 May 2018
DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1108/ILS-02-2018-0007
Pages330-341
Published date14 May 2018
AuthorSultan Muhaya Al-Daihani,Mai R. Almutairi,Reem Alonaizi,Samarkand Mubarak
Subject MatterLibrary & information science,Librarianship/library management,Library & information services
Perceptions toward academic
library app implementation
Sultan Muhaya Al-Daihani,Mai R. Almutairi,Reem Alonaizi and
Samarkand Mubarak
Department of Information Studies, Kuwait University, Kuwait City, Kuwait
Abstract
Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the perceptionsof Kuwait University students majoring
in the social sciences, faculty members and academic librarians toward mobile library applications (apps),
which are not currently available. These technologies are highly desirable for students, but many libraries
struggleto properlyimplement them.
Design/methodology/approach Quantitative survey questionnaires were distributed to 400
undergraduate students, of which 184 validand completed questionnaires were collected. In addition, three
focus groups were conducted with social sciences graduate students, academics and librarians to further
exploreattitudes and perspectives toward libraryapps.
Findings A majority of respondents (62 per cent) visited the academic library less than ve times per
month or never, but a smaller majority (57 per cent) also preferred to use a combination of computers and
mobile devicesto access library information. The most desirablestudent uses for library apps involvedaccess
to basic information or services such as library hours, book renewal or catalog searches. Most potential
barriers to student use of library apps received low scores; only slow internet speed was considered a
signicant problem. Focus groupdiscussions claried that major concerns regarding the implementation of
library appsincluded the potential cost, knowledge, trainingand administrator support for these efforts.
Originality/value This study highlights the unique interest in, and barriers to, library app
implementation at Kuwait University, while providing an informative structure for similar studies and
considerationselsewhere.
Keywords Academic libraries, Social sciences, Kuwait, Students, Library services, Library apps,
Mobile library
Paper type Research paper
1. Introduction
Smart devices are becoming increasingly dominant in modern life around the world, and
Kuwait is no exception. This is evident from the Global Information Technology Report
produced by the World Economic Forum, which indicates that 100 per cent of the Kuwaiti
population is covered by a mobile network signal and that Kuwaitranks second globally in
individual adoption of mobile subscriptions(Baller et al., 2016). Liu and Briggs (2015) stated
that people of all ages, genders and socio-economic classes use these devices for blogging,
video sharing, communication, social networking and collaborative authoring. Wei et al.
(2015) cited the release of the iPhone, the enhancement of the mobileinternet and low prices
as factors driving the adoptionof smart devices.
As the popularity of smartphones grows, academic libraries are showing increasing
interest by adopting smartphone technology to remotely communicate with and provide
services and resources to their users (Dresselhaus and Shrode, 2012;Aharony, 2014). As
Baggett and Williams (2012) pointedout, mobile technology is the number one tool used for
communicating, learning and discovery, making such tasks easier on both librarystaff and
students, while enhancingthe overall learning and research experience. Mobile applications
ILS
119,5/6
330
Received5 February 2018
Revised26 March 2018
Accepted4 April 2018
Informationand Learning Science
Vol.119 No. 5/6, 2018
pp. 330-341
© Emerald Publishing Limited
2398-5348
DOI 10.1108/ILS-02-2018-0007
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at:
www.emeraldinsight.com/2398-5348.htm

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