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

Abstract

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.