The Future is Here: Mobile Technology in Your Library

 

By: Jordan Farquhar

With new technology on the rise, it is no surprise that mobile technology has begun to make its way to the forefront of discussions. Highly coveted for its transportability and convenience, mobile technology has developed fast and in ways never thought possible just a mere twenty years ago. Its applications have even stretched to the library, serving as a tool for both library staff and patrons. 

Applications for mobile technology in the library stretch far and wide from assisting disabled patrons, to remotely checking out e-books, and even staying updated on current events and the status of materials. This kind of diversity is what is making mobile technology more attractive to hundreds of libraries and their patrons across the U.S. In “The State of Mobile Technology”, the authors found “that mobile users are engaging with the mobile library services being offered” (Rapp, David) indicating an ever-growing demand for the ease of access that these technologies make available for patrons.

As noted in Chapter 4 of Library Technology Reports, the applications for mobile technology in the library are endless with uses ranging from library catalogs to professional development. This periodical lists over 70 apps and websites that can be used through mobile technology that enrich and streamline library functions and services (Hennig, Nicole). With the wide array of technology currently available and with more to come it is becoming more clear that mobile technology is a great resource to enrich the library experience.

Watch This

This video features an example of a mobile application that streamlines normal library services through the convenience of a patron’s smartphone.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Jm6EMH15e0&ab_channel=ExLibrisLtd

Works Cited

Hennig, Nicole. “Summary and Further Resources.” Library Technology Reports, vol. 50, no. 8, Nov. 2014, pp. 23–30. EBSCOhost, https://search-ebscohost-com.ezproxy.palomar.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=99938280&site=ehost-live&scope=site.

Rapp, David. “The State of Mobile Technology.” Library Journal, vol. 135, no. 17, Oct. 2010, p. 34. EBSCOhost, https://search-ebscohost-com.ezproxy.palomar.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=54726702&site=ehost-live&scope=site.