Using mobile technologies for social media based library services at the University of Development Studies Library,Ghana

Abstract

Libraries all over the world are utilizing the latest Information and Communication Technologies to assist in their objective of providing clients with effective and efficient services, as well as timely access to needed information. The implementation of social media and the use of mobile technologies for service delivery are trends that have, however, not yet been fully embraced by academic libraries in developing countries in sub-Saharan Africa. This article reports on a study aimed at investigating the possibility of using mobile technologies to implement social media based services to graduate students at the University for Development Studies Library in Ghana. This article provides a short overview of the various technologies and services available, discusses the opportunities and challenges for implementing such services at the University Library, and provides a number of recommendations to support this goal.

Keywords

mobile technologies social media university libraries Ghana

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

ACRL (Association of College and Research Libraries) Research Committee (2008) Environmental Scan, 2007. Chicago, Ill.: ACRL.

Alexander

(2008) Social networking in higher education. In: Katz

(ed) The Tower and the Cloud: Higher Education in the Age of Cloud Computing. Boulder, CO.: Educause: pp. 197–201.

Bell

(2012) The future of academic libraries. Available at: http://www.educationfutures.com/2012/03/26/the-future-of-academic-libraries-an-interview-with-steven-j-bell/ (accessed 23 September 2012).

Berg

B L

(1998) Qualitative Research Methods for the Social Sciences (3rd ed). Boston, MA, Allyn & Bacon.

Cann

Konstantia

Hooley

(2011) Social Media: a Guide for Researchers. University of Leicester, Leicester: Research Information Network.

Castells

(2007) Mobile Communication and Society: A Global Perspective. Cambridge, MA, MIT Press.

Chisenga

(2012) Social media skills and social media strategies important for libraries in Africa. In: SCECSAL Forum: an unofficial blog of the Standing Conference of Eastern, Central and Southern African Library and Information Associations (SCECSAL). Available at: http://scecsal.blogspot.com/2012/06/social-media-skills-and-social-media.html (accessed 26 July 2013).

Choy

(2010) From library stacks to library-in-a-pocket: will users be around? Library Management 32 (1/2): 62–72.

Chua

Goh

(2010) A study of Web 2.0 applications in library websites. Library and Information Science Research 32(3): 203–11.

10.

Farrell

(2012) Cambridge becoming social media research hub. The Boston Globe, July 28, 2012.

11.

Ghana

MMA

(2013) Ghana is first in mobile broadband penetration in Africa. Available at: http://www.ghanamma.com/2013/01/ghana-is-first-in-mobile-broadband-penetration-in-africa/ (accessed 15 January 2013).

12.

Harinarayana

Raju

(2010) Web 2.0 features in university library web sites. Electronic Library 28(1): 69–88.

13.

Hey

(2007) Designing mobile digital library services for pre-engineering and technology literacy. International Journal of Engineering Education 10(3): 441–453.

14.

Jones

(2011). The Mobile Scenario: Confusion, Complexity and Opportunity through 2015. Stamford, CT.: Gartner.

15.

Kroski

(2008) On the move with the mobile web: libraries and mobile technologies. Available at: http://eprints.rclis.org/12463/1/mobile_web_ltr.pdf (accessed 20 October 2012).

16.

Lippincott

(2010) A mobile future for academic libraries. Reference Services Review 38(2): 205–213.

17.

Luo

Bell

(2010) Text 4 answers: a collaborative service model. Reference Services Review 38(2): 274–283.

18.

Mahmood

Richardson

Jr (2011) Adoption of Web 2.0 in US academic libraries: a survey of ARL library websites. Program: Electronic Library and Information Systems 45(4): 365–375.

19.

Makori

(2012) Bridging the information gap with the patrons in university libraries in Africa: the case for investments in web 2.0 systems. Library Review, 61(1): 30–40.

20.

Mason

Rennie

(2008) E-learning and Social Networking Handbook: Resources for Higher Education. New York, N.Y.: Routledge.

21.

Murray

(2010) Libraries “like to move it, move it”. Reference Services Review 38(2): 233–249.

22.

Penzhorn

Pienaar

(2009) The use of social networking tools for innovative service delivery at the University of Pretoria Library. Innovation 38: 66–77.

23.

Powell

Connaway

(2004) Basic Research Methods for Librarians (4th ed). Westport, Conn., Libraries Unlimited.

24.

Sarantakos

(2005) Social Research (3rd ed). New York, N.Y.: Palgrave Macmillan.

25.

Simmonds

(2001) Usage of academic libraries: the role of service quality, resources and user characteristics. Library Trends 49(4): 626–634.

26.

Tess

(2013) The role of social media in higher education classes (real and virtual): a literature review. Computers in Human Behaviour 29: 60–68.

27.

UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) (2012) Mobile technologies and empowerment: enhancing development through participation and innovation. Executive summary. Available at: www.undpegov.org/mgov-primer.html (accessed 15 July 2012).

28.

Vila

Galvez

Campos

(2010) Mobile services in the Rector Gabriel Ferrate Library, Technical University of California. Reference Services Review 38(2): 321–334.

29.

Wentzel

. (2005) Using Mobile Technology to Enhance Students’ Educational Experiences: ECAR Case Study 2. Available at: http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ers0502/cs/ecs0502.pdf (accessed 12 July 2012).