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The purpose of this paper is to carry out a survey in order to better understand the nature of handheld mobile computing use by academic library users and to determine whether there is a significant demand for using the library services with these small screen devices. Design/methodology/approach - A survey is created to measure whether people want to access an OPAC with a small screen. Additionally, through open-ended questions, the survey attempts to gain a broader understanding of handheld mobile computing's impact on, and implications for, the services provided by academic libraries. Findings - A total of 58.4 percent of respondents who own a web-enabled handheld device indicate that they would use small screen devices, such as PDAs or web-enabled cell phones to search a library OPAC. Originality/value - The increasing prevalence of handheld mobile computing devices such as PDAs and web-enabled cell phones warrants investigation as to its impact on libraries. This study examines an academic library user population and the potential demand for using the library's catalog with handheld mobile computing devices [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT] [Abstract from ProQuest Research Library Database (at ESC)] Link: http://search.proquest.com.library.esc.edu/pqrl/docview/200628509/B3C6B49E0E3E48BAPQ/1?accountid=8067 Cummings, J., Merrill, A., & Borrelli, S. (2010). The use of handheld mobile devices: Their impact and implications for library services. Library Hi Tech, 28(1), 22-40. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/07378831011026670

"The 2009 "Horizon Report" called mobile technologies "an opportunity for higher education to reach its constituents in new and compelling ways." The report implied that academic libraries would find them to be the ideal tools for bringing reluctant researchers to the library, mainly for their convenience. It's not hard to see why--in 2008, mobile phones were in the hands of more than 4 billion users, a 61% penetration rate worldwide. By 2012, the mobile phone is expected to outsell the personal computer. The leaders in mobile communication are, not surprisingly, adults in the 18 to 29 age group, the traditional college-age student. Academic libraries are not blind to this--a 2009 "Library Journal" survey found that 65% of academic libraries either already offer or plan to offer mobile services. If one's library is in that 35% with no plans for mobile outreach keep reading--one will find ideas to make his/her library a true 21st-century information hub." [Abstract from ERIC Database.] Link to the full-text article in the ESC EbscoHost Education Source database: http://eds.a.ebscohost.com.library.esc.edu/ehost/detail/detail?vid=28&sid=777400f5-917a-43a0-83b8-26cdc83f8315%40sessionmgr4003&hid=4103&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#AN=63993342&db=a9h Kosturski, K., & Skornia, F. (2011). Handheld Libraries 101: Using mobile technologies in the academic library. Computers in Libraries, 31(6), 11-13.

Hi Robert, the proliferation of mobile technologies and the need for all Internet using facitilties, including libraries, to make their content available and searchable is definitely here. My personal experience is that I keep toggling back and forth between my smartphone and my laptop. However, I notice that my children (now in their 20s) are using their phones for everything. So keeping abreast of the changes this requires, like keeping everything legible within the relatively small screen, expecting users to use the 'portrait' version more frequently than landscape, is something that all web designers have to adapt to. Thanks for this article. M

"Not every classroom can get a laptop every day, so [devices like smartphones], even if you have to pair up, become something useful for teachers," Halla says. "The number of kids with phones has just been blown out of the water the last couple of years," he adds. This is an interesting take on the use of smart devices in learning. Being at an institution where we still have 30+ computer classrooms and over 250 open access computers - 100 of which are 24/7/365 access - I wonder what the future of these sorts of labs hold for students and whether they will even be a part of their learning process.

"How will your library serve mobile device users? By building apps from scratch? By offering entirely separate content? Or by modifying your site for mobile devices? This author found that the best fit for a joint library serving Victoria College and the University of Houston-Victoria was to build a mobile website in HTML and CSS using mobile standards and best practices suitable for those devices. As the sole web services librarian, it was her duty to develop a browser-based mobile website and code it from scratch. In this article, she shares the findings, experiences, and helpful code snippets for building a mobile website on your own." [Abstract from ERIC database.] Link to full-text article in ESC ProQuest Research Library database: http://search.proquest.com.library.esc.edu/pqrl/docview/1019444398/75C2FCA9AB3D4B62PQ/1?accountid=8067 Williams, B.S. (2012). Less Is More: How to App-ify Your Library Services. Computers in Libraries. 32(5), 36-38.

- The purpose of this paper is to get an insight in users' opinion on library resources/services on small screen mobile devices. Objectives were to establish which types of small screen mobile devices are used and to find out is there a tendency for using academic and educational contents on such devices. Furthermore, aim was to identify whether the users need mobile friendly library web site and services at all. Also, what library resources/services and to what extent respondents consider as the important ones for mobile friendly customization. Finally the results would serve as an orientation in building mobile friendly library web site and services. The author believed that the users were still unaware of the possibility of accessing library web sites and services through mobile devices in general; therefore, this survey also had a role of raising awareness and stimulating their interest. - The survey was focussed on small screen mobile devices with screen size up to seven inches (17.1 cm). Data collection was performed through a questionnaire containing ten questions. The authors received 295 questionnaires, out of which 285 were taken into account. - The survey found that the largest number of respondents own smartphone/tablet/phablet. The results show that small screen devices are, to some extent, used for educational, academic and informational purposes (reading of e-books and e-journals, education, data checking, internet searching and searching of handy information), but non-academic purposes still predominate (texting, reading e-mails, phone calls, taking pictures). Overall 64 percent of the respondents has expressed need for small screen mobile devices customized library resources/services, but there are 30 percent of undecided respondents. Pazur, I. (2014). Attitude of the rudjer boskovic institute's scientists to the small screen mobile devices library services. Library Hi Tech, 32(4), 628-644.

Photo: Colleen Lanz Countryman/NCSU "Physics lab students use the smartphone gyroscope sensor to measure angular velocity at North Carolina State University. Cell phones have proliferated among high school and college students, and these pocket-size computers have become essential tools in physics classrooms. Sporting a range of sensors, smartphones offer educators and students a familiar device that can perform many of the same functions as expensive lab equipment." In understanding the learner aspect of technology this article speaks to the cost of technology in labs. Interestingly, the use of personal technology can help fill the gap when needed. This offers an opportunity for learners to look inside their own technology and understand the powerful tech they carry around with them.