Handheld Libraries 101

The 2009 Horizon Report placed mobile technologies in a place of primary importance: 

“Higher education is facing a growing expectation to make use of and to deliver services, content, and media to mobile devices …  As new devices continue to make content almost as easy to access and view on a mobile as on a computer, and as ever more engaging applications take advantage of new interface technologies …  the applications for mobiles continue to grow. This is more than merely an expectation to provide content: this is an opportunity for higher education to reach its constituents in new and compelling ways, in addition to the obvious anytime, anywhere benefits of these ubiquitous devices."

My co-presenter, Voices of September 11th archivist Frank Skornia, and I explored how academic libraries can use mobile technologies, concentrating on three types:  cell phones/smartphones/MP3 players, e-reader, and tablet computers.  We gave an overview of the type of technology (particularly for e-readers and tablet computers as they are the most emerging and developing of these technologies), explained its applications throughout the academic library, and offered examples of libraries and resource providers using these technologies. (In some cases, we even provided point-of-service demonstrations of the technology!) The poster's goal was to give a brief overview, like a basic "101" course in college, of mobile technologies in the hopes of inspiring further penetration of mobile library services.  It may just be what transforms the academic library to 21st century information hub.  

Computers in Libraries invited us to turn our poster presentation into an article that was featured in the July/August 2011 issue. 

Download our poster here (a PDF reader is required) and read more at the project page linked above. 

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