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To discover how a newly developed library mobile website performed across a variety of devices, the authors used a hybrid field and laboratory methodology to conduct a usability test of the website. Twelve student participants were recruited and selected according to phone type. Results revealed a wide array of errors attributed to site design, wireless network connections, as well as phone hardware and software. This study provides an example methodology for testing library mobile websites, identifies issues associated with mobile websites, and provides recommendations for improving the user experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] [Abstract from ESC Academic Search Complete database] Link: http://eds.b.ebscohost.com.library.esc.edu/ehost/detail/detail?vid=2&sid=32d26eef-5aab-4af2-ad1a-c9624344797d%40sessionmgr115&hid=126&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#AN=83583519&db=a9h Pendell, K. D., & Bowman, M. S. (2012). Usability Study of a Library's Mobile Website: An Example from Portland State University. Information Technology & Libraries, 31(2), 45-62.

The purpose of this paper is to determine how students at the University of Regina would like to interact with the library on their mobile devices and how to best construct a mobile site to suit the university community's needs. Design/methodology/approach - A survey was designed to gather feedback from the university community on their use of mobile devices and how they would want to use the library's resources and services via their mobile device. This survey also attempts to better understand how academic libraries can provide effective mobile services. A questionnaire was developed and distributed to several Canadian academic libraries. Its purpose was to discover what other institutions were doing with mobile technologies. Findings - The survey found that 95.4 percent of students that responded to the survey had a smartphone and 75 percent of them used their mobile phone to access the web. The survey indicated that the library catalogue was the most popular resource chosen to become mobile enabled. The questionnaire distributed to other Canadian academic libraries showed that some libraries were designing and building web apps, while others were creating native apps. Originality/value - With the increase of mobile technology availability and the demand for accessible mobile content, it is imperative that libraries examine how they can provide services to their patrons within this medium in order to continue to provide valuable services. Mobile technologies are constantly changing, so continuous assessment in this area is of importance. [Abstract from ProQuest Research Library Database (at ESC)] Link: http://search.proquest.com.library.esc.edu/pqrl/docview/1317291149/816AB54A77F845FAPQ/1?accountid=8067 Nowlan, G. (2013). Going mobile: Creating a mobile presence for your library. New Library World, 114(3), 142-150. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/03074801311304050

This paper aims to provide quantitative and qualitative data on students' use of mobile devices and to consider the benefit of academic mobile library services to students. Design/methodology/approach - Initial mobile library research included an online survey that attracted 1,716 participants. This was followed up with two discussion groups of six undergraduate and five postgraduate students. The survey followed-on from an earlier survey conducted by the University of Edinburgh's Information Services (IS) in March 2010. Findings - The dramatic growth of smartphone ownership among students in an eight-month period was surprising: a 17 per cent increase between March and November 2010. In addition, 68 per cent of students who plan to change their mobile handset would upgrade to a smartphone. Research limitations/implications - As students were unable to provide feedback on University of Edinburgh's own mobile library services, their feedback is speculative and subject to change. Practical implications - The paper provides evidence for libraries to determine the value of developing their own mobile services. It also demonstrates the proliferation of mobile device usage within the university and library context and indicates which services students would find most useful on a mobile device. Originality/value - The paper provides insight into a rapidly moving area of technology as demonstrated through the research. The increasing use of mobile devices among students is important to acknowledge. The role of the academic library is to embrace changing student behaviour by providing services optimised for mobile devices. [Abstract from ProQuest Research Database (at ESC)] Link: http://search.proquest.com.library.esc.edu/pqrl/docview/888252676/62B2CB0524347BEPQ/1?accountid=8067 Paterson, L., & Low, B. (2011). Student attitudes towards mobile library services for smartphones. Library Hi Tech, 29(3), 412-423. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.library.esc.edu/

As mobile technologies continue to evolve, libraries seek sustainable ways to keep up with these changes and to best serve our users. Previous library mobile usability research has examined tasks users predict they might be likely to perform, but little is known about what users actually do on a mobile-optimized library site. This research used a combination of survey method and web analytics to examine what tasks users actually carry out on a library mobile site. The results indicate that users perform an array of passive and active tasks and do not want content choices to be limited on mobile devices. Responsive design is described as a long-term solution for addressing both designers' and users' needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR][Abstract from EBSCOHost Education Source: Full-text article available in ESC library databases.] Link: http://eds.a.ebscohost.com.library.esc.edu/ehost/detail/detail?vid=24&sid=777400f5-917a-43a0-83b8-26cdc83f8315%40sessionmgr4003&hid=4103&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#AN=93378674&db=a9h Gascho Rempel, H., & Bridges, L. l. (2013). That Was Then, This Is Now: Replacing the Mobile-Optimized Site with Responsive Design. Information Technology & Libraries, 32(4), 8-24.

Purpose - This study proposes a mobile learning model that employs digital libraries to support investigative learning activities. A student-centered mobile learning activity with self-guided exploration for physical ecology observation has been conducted to demonstrate the benefits of using digital libraries to support investigation-based ecology learning activities. Design/methodology/approach - An investigation-based mobile learning model is proposed and an experiment is designed to show the effectiveness of the learning model, in which the students are asked to answer a series of questions by observing the real-world learning objects and searching for supplemental materials from a digital library. Findings - The instructional experiment conducted in an elementary school with 64 sixth grade students shows that the innovative approach is able to improve the learning achievement, learning effectiveness, as well as the learning attitudes of the students. Practical implications - The findings of this paper imply that the use of the investigative learning model will significantly promote the utilization rate of digital libraries. Originality/value - An investigative model for using digital libraries to support mobile learning is proposed in this paper. It provides good guidance to teachers for designing learning activities with digital libraries, and a good way for students to learn, utilizing the materials in digital libraries. [Abstract from ESC ProQuest Research Library database] Link: http://search.proquest.com.library.esc.edu/pqrl/docview/888251730/288B8D1870394980PQ/1?accountid=8067 Ju-Ling, S., Hwang, G., Yu-Chung, C., & Chien-Wen, C. (2011). An investigation-based learning model for using digital libraries to support mobile learning activities. The Electronic Library, 29(4), 488-505. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/02640471111156759