The mobile future of university libraries and an analysis of the Turkish case
| Date | 13 March 2017 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/ILS-09-2016-0063 |
| Published date | 13 March 2017 |
| Pages | 120-140 |
| Author | Gulcin Kubat |
| Subject Matter | Library & information science,Librarianship/library management,Library & information services |
The mobile future of university
libraries and an analysis
of the Turkish case
Gulcin Kubat
Mustafa İnan Central Library, Istanbul Technical University,
Istanbul, Turkey
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of this study is to search for any evidence for university libraries that are accessible by
mobile technology in Turkey as relevant models of the future; having regard to the fact that smartphones will very
soon become the standard means by which the internet is accessed, and the rates of connection from mobile devices
will supersede those which are computer-based.
Design/methodology/approach –In the study, both domestic and foreign literature surveys were
undertaken to determine which mobile library services are offered in university libraries. Thirty random central
libraries of both private and state universities were selected from across the seven regions of Turkey. To gather
data,a 26-question electronic survey was generated and e-mailed to the library managers. The questions were based
on ndings regarding the mobile library services provided by university libraries around the world.
Findings –By examining the survey results, it was determined that Turkish university libraries utilise a
comparable level of mobile technology and demonstrate a similar level of care with regard to the services they
offer. There are mobile sites (separate sites or mobile sites as applications), mobile library catalogues, short
messaging services, chat rooms, consultations via instant messaging tools, mobile device-lending services,
and augmented reality and QR code applications.
Research limitations/implications –In Turkey, the structures of university libraries operate under
variable conditions because of the lack of established standards. This causes negative results for the delivery
of library services. For this reason, university library standards should be set practicable as soon as
reasonable, considering the social/economic and cultural structure of the country.
Practical implications –Owing to the transformative effect technology and the internet have had on
services information and communication technologies, infrastructure has been added as a sixth element to the
ve traditional library items, namely, building budget personnel collection and users. Globalisation through
the web has resulted in the individualisation of services and the slogan content is king has been changed to the
customer experience is king. Fundamental library services are being adapted to allow mobile technology
access, and this approach best reects the new slogan. Therefore, the university library of the future may well
be the one entirely based on mobile technology.
Social implications –Mobile devices lead to new forms of engagement with student learning; so
academic libraries are expected to be strong partners in the teaching and learning processes of their
institution.
Originality/value –The hypothesis of this study is that a university library accessible by mobile
technology will be the model of the future, and its purpose is to search for any evidence for which the
university libraries in Turkey are prepared to meet this challenge. This study is also meaningful because there
have not been any study of Turkish university libraries in terms of mobile library services to users. This paper
is the rst time that a comprehensive study has been made of current mobile technology-based services, and
is also the rst comparison of the applications in Turkish university libraries. Additionally, paper synthesises
developments and provides suggestions for the future.
Keywords Academic libraries, Turkey, Mobile devices,
Information and communication technologies (ICTs), Library items, Mobile library services,
Mobile research
Paper type Research paper
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at:
www.emeraldinsight.com/2398-5348.htm
ILS
118,3/4
120
Received 11 September 2016
Revised 4 March 2017
Accepted 5 March 2017
Informationand Learning Science
Vol.118 No. 3/4, 2017
pp.120-140
©Emerald Publishing Limited
2398-5348
DOI 10.1108/ILS-09-2016-0063
1. Introduction
According to Helft and Vance, the most important current technologies are those that are
wearable and easily portable, rather than those that are desktop-based (Hu and Meier, 2010;
Tonta, 1999). The most common current examples of these are smartphones, tablets, e-book
readers and personal digital assistants (PDAs). According to the 2009 Fact global survey,
“Mobiles give us safety, security and instant access to information. They are the number one
tool of communication for us … They are our connections to our lives” (Lippincott, 2010,
p. 209). According to Morgan Stanley, smartphones will very soon become the standard
means by which the internet is accessed, and the rates of connection from mobile devices will
supercede those which are computer-based (Becker et al., 2013;Hu and Meier, 2010;Wong,
2012). The paper generally focuses on common types of mobile devices (smartphones,
laptops, tablets and e-book readers), and will discuss what impact they may have on the
future of academic library services.
Information and communication technology (ICT) have also changed academic
publishing. Today’s “hybrid” university library collections are more likely to be based on
electronic resources rather than printed ones (Afzali, 2008;Anunobi and Ezeani, 2011;Das,
2007; Thomas, 2011). One of the most important reasons that digital born and later digitised
electronic resources are becoming more prevalent in college/academic library collections is
providing information access independently of time and space. Mobile devices serve as
microcomputers for accessing and using digital academic resources anytime and anywhere.
The most distinctive feature that distinguishes digital natives from other users is that they
usually prefer non-printed, digital resources (Tonta, 2009). Access to information is a habit
for digital natives in particular. The use of ICT in library services has allowed the
standardisation of services and processes, and has also facilitated a moving away from
personal activities.
Network-based communication and high-quality mobile internet services are becoming
more common and have removed the handicaps of time and place, making it possible for
people to always reach information and thereby increasing the usage of library services.
The topic of the study is information services offered to mobile technology in university
libraries in Turkey. The aim of the study is to investigate the existence of mobile library
services in Turkey and present existing applications which are seen as a common trend in
universities’ libraries in the world today. The hypothesis of this study is that a university
library, accessible by mobile technology, will be the model of the future, and its purpose is to
search for any evidence for which the university libraries in Turkey are prepared to meet this
challenge.
The rst section denes how the hybrid university libraries of today provide information
technology (IT) services to users of mobile devices. In light of this information, the university
library services for mobile technology that are currently available in Turkey are examined in
the second section. By making comparisons with services from around the world, this section
also discusses which services are fully provided, and attempts to discover the reasons why
others are not.
The author is also a reference librarian in a university library and regularly interacts with
users who access the library services from their mobile devices. In addition, this study is also
meaningful because there have not been any study of Turkish university libraries in terms of
their relationship with mobile technology. This paper is the rst time that a comprehensive
study has been made of current mobile technology-based services, and is also the rst time
that the mobile technology applications of Turkish university libraries have been compared
with the newest ones available in other countries.
121
University
libraries
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