23,683 research outputs found

    Identifying Key Steps for Developing Mobile Applications and Mobile Websites for Libraries

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    Mobile applications and mobile websites (MAMW) represent information systems that are increasingly being developed by libraries to better serve their patrons. Due to a lack of in-house IT skills and the knowledge necessary to develop MAMW, a majority of libraries are forced to rely on external IT professionals, who may or may not help libraries meet patron needs but instead may deplete libraries’ scarce financial resources. This paper applies a system analysis and design perspective to analyze the experience and advice shared by librarians and IT professionals engaged in developing MAMW. This paper identifies key steps and precautions to take while developing MAMW for libraries. It also advises library and information science (LIS) graduate programs to equip their students with the specific skills and knowledge needed to develop and implement MAMW

    Research Plus™ Mobile App: Information Literacy “On the Go”

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    Purpose This paper describes a case study illustrating the systematic approach librarians used to develop of an information literacy application (app) prototype that aids students in performing research tasks “on the go”. Design/methodology/approach The initial findings from a student survey on technology use indicated the value of an information literacy mobile application. The ADDIE approach was used to develop the app. Alpha and small-scale usability testing was performed to evaluate the prototype’s readiness for deployment. Findings The survey analysis indicated that students were not using mobile devices as expected for library related tasks. Student suggestions for improving their library experiences included mobile access to the libraries’ digital collection and an application that assisted them in effectively using these resources. Usability studies indicated a positive response to the app and its readiness for beta testing among the inclusive student population. Originality/value To the author’s knowledge, this is the first native information literacy mobile application whose aim is to help students with research on the go. The step-by-step approach used for each phase of development, as well as the implications for success, may serve as a model for libraries’ seeking to enhance their mobile resources

    The mobile future of university libraries and an analysis of the Turkish case

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    İstanbul Technical University, Mustafa İnan Library--(2017)Purpose: 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.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. 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. 30 random central libraries of both private and state universities were selected from across the 7 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 findings 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, SMS services, chatrooms, consultations via IM 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 due to 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-Due 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 five 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 reflects 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 first time that a comprehensive study has been made of current mobile technology-based services, and is also the first comparison of the applications in Turkish university libraries. Additionally paper synthesizes developments and provides suggestions for the future. © Emerald Publishing Limited

    Pocket Library: Mobile Application for Personal Book Loan Management

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    Library can be considered as the backbone of any educational institution. This is so since it is the place which provides pool of resources for supporting knowledge acquirement at such institutions. Nowadays, most libraries not only house printed books but also bank of computers to assist patrons getting hold of online materials. At the same time, libraries also provide a conducive place for people to meet, interact and discuss in the pursuit of knowledge. Among the services often provided by a library is book loan. Careful management of book loan is crucial in order to maintain the inventory of a library. Book loan management can be seen from the perspectives of two types of users: librarians and patrons. While book loan management‟s procedures and application systems for the librarians have been well documented and developed, the same cannot be said for the usage of the patrons

    Best Practices for Learner Engagement in Higher Education Online Courses

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    Best Practices for Learner Engagement in Higher Education Online Course

    TURF for Teams: Considering Both the Team and I in the Work-Centered Design of Systems

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    Teams are an inherent part of many work domains, especially in the healthcare environment. Yet, most systems are often built with only the individual user in mind. How can we better incorporate the team, as a user, into the design of a system? By better understanding the team, through their user, task, representational, and functional needs, we can create more useful and helpful systems that match their work domain. For this research project, we utilize the TURF framework and expanded it further by also considering teams as a user, thus, creating the TURF for Teams framework. In addition, we chose to examine teams in the emergency department environment. We believe that designing a system with the team also fully incorporated and acknowledged in the work domain will be beneficial for supporting necessary team activities. Using TURF for Teams, we first conducted an observational field study in the emergency department to get a better understanding of the users, teams, tasks, workload, and interactions. We then identified the need for team communications to be better supported, especially in the management of interruptions, and further categorized the interruptions by their function in order to design a team tool that could help team members better manage their interruptions by focusing on the necessary, or domain, types of interruptions and more easily disregarding the unnecessary, or overhead, types of interruptions. We then administered some surveys and conducted a card sort and cognitive walkthrough with emergency clinician participants to help us better identify how to design interfaces for the team tool and simulation that would better match the needs of team communication behaviors observed and reported by emergency clinicians. After designing and developing the team tool and simulation, we conducted an evaluation of this system by having emergency medicine, medicine, and informatics graduate student teams go through the system and utilize the team tool and simulation as a team. Though we had a small sample size, we found that emergency medicine teams found the team tool and simulation to be very usable and they reacted favorably to its potential in helping them better understand and manage their team communications. In summary, we were able to utilize the TURF framework for incorporating teams into the design of systems, in this case a team communication tool and microworld simulation for the emergency department. Our findings suggest that TURF for Teams is a viable framework for designing useful and helpful team based systems for all work domains
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