Abstract

The overwhelming growth of mobile devices has created new challenges of providing access to online content in mobile-accessible formats and providing opportunities to learn anytime and anywhere and also facilitate the practice of bring your own device (BYOD) and accessing library resources The primary purpose of the study discussed in the present article was first to understand the problems of users they face due to the unavailability of mobile-based library services and then figure out user perception of how to enhance the existing library services to mobile-based library services. The findings of the study show that all the surveyed universities/institutions are yet to exploit the full potential of mobile technology. By contrast, other universities/institutions in developed countries are advancing in terms of providing information access/retrieval to the library users through mobile devices. Therefore, considering the possibility of fast information access, mobile computing provides myriad opportunities for libraries to provide access anytime and anywhere. The responses collected indicate that the respondents are willing to access library services through their mobile devices. The study is significant because it represents one of the earliest works to shed light on the current level of use of mobile technology and mobile-based library services in university libraries, which are in primitive nature. The findings of the study can provide guidance to the students, research scholars, faculty members, and others to identify popular mobile library services and access them on the go. The study also provides some practical suggestions for the studied institutions and their libraries to enhance the existing library services into mobile-based library services so that they can be accessed through mobile devices based on the perception of respondents.

The prevalence of mobile devices is changing the way human beings interact with information. The earlier patron was solely dependent on books and other information sources. However, now the students in universities around the world carry miniature computing and communicating mobile devices with them for carrying out their day-to-day activities. Smartphones, iPads, and tablet computers are swiftly flourishing in the world and changing the way information are  organized, acknowledged, and circulated (Kumar 2018). “The image of a library as an impervious vault wherein librarians serve as the gatekeepers, guiding patrons through myriad stacks, has become outdated” (Johnson, Adams, Estrada, et al. 2015). Today’s libraries need to take a new channel to provide their resources, services, and research tools to today’s generations and stay tuned with users.

Moreover, the pervasiveness of mobile devices has gradually impacted the educational set-up of academic institutions. But, academic libraries have not yet embraced the growing capabilities of mobile devices despite being profoundly affected. Therefore, librarians must understand mobile devices and provide services through them. It has become an important issue to develop methodologies or tools to assist the user community by providing them easy access by developing information services on mobile devices. The study was mainly aimed at determining how mobile devices are going to help the students and research scholars to enhance their academic performance and what they perceive by using mobile technology for the retrieval of information.

The use of mobile technologies is one of the recent advancements in academic libraries. The services it offers are myriad, ranging from simple SMS to Augmented Reality and Web 2.0 tools, resultantly, revolutionizing the information access beyond the library. With the availability of mobile broadband that offers faster connectivity and a high rate of mobile, PC, and internet penetration, many students are using mobile devices, especially mobile phones to access information to satisfy their information needs. Mobile technology is changing the way people work and play. Mobile devices are immediate to the user; they provide a channel for information and a way of interacting with others. They are superb at delivering different kinds of resources, streamed video and music, written and spoken literature, travel directions, games, sports scores, photos, and thousands more.  As per Wong, “Powerful mobile devices are becoming widespread libraries cannot afford to ignore this medium if they are to keep in step with their patron” (Wong 2013).

Nowadays, libraries are facing a considerable and never-ending challenge, how to keep pace with the rapidly changing technological landscape and ensure the services they provide tap into the new technologies which are infiltrating society (Caperon 2015). They can promote and expand their existing services by offering mobile access to their websites and online public access catalogues, by supplying on-the-go mobile reference services and by providing mobile access to e-books, journals, videos, audiobooks, and multimedia content (Vollmer 2010).

The proliferation of mobile computing and communication devices is driving a revolutionary change in our information society. We are moving from the personal computer age (one computing device for one person) to the ubiquitous computing age in which a user simultaneously utilizes several electronic platforms through which he/she can access all the required information whenever and wherever needed (Chlamtac, Conti, and Liu 2003). However, there are many problems associated with this shift. Academic libraries, in general, have not made any breakthrough in leveraging mobile computing in enhancing their existing services.

The propensity of students to access the library services and resources in compelling ways is advancing; mobile computing technology, therefore, opens new windows of information access in a ubiquitous manner. The most significant benefit of mobile technology is that it showers the rain of information anytime, anywhere. And, librarians engaged in reference interactions may be able to respond more quickly and with information beyond a text-only reply (Vollmer 2010). Despite the speed with which smartphones and mobile technologies have been adopted across North America, Europe, and parts of Asia and the developing world, the academic community has been relatively slow in embracing these efficient modes of information exchange (Little 2011).  In developing and under-developing countries, the problems differ in terms of cost as mobile internet is not affordable to everyone. Earlier, the problem existed in developed countries too. Oregon State University (OSU) library (The Valley Library) investigated the possibilities of mobile services in OSU. The research team noted that some students did not use mobile services at their institution because; they were wary of being charged by their service provider for internet usage (Nowlan 2013). Libraries are reluctant to shift their existing services to mobile-based library services because the relationships between librarians and their users are changing as patrons are shifting towards online platforms for accessing content and availing services. The continued evolution from primarily physical, in-person interaction with patrons and content to increasingly virtual, digital, and mobile communication creates unique challenges for libraries (Vollmer 2010). Keller asserts that many academic institutions have not been taking their mobile sites or applications seriously. As a result, they risk losing prospective applicants and donors through admissions and alumni portals that do not work, and it risks frustrating current students who want to manage their coursework with their mobile phones (Keller 2011).

The problem with academic libraries is that they have not yet embraced the growing capabilities of mobile-based library services. There are multiple reasons, and one is that the staff is not competent to mobilize the existing services, funding and management issues, and a threat of losing daily visiting patrons. Paterson and Low argued that there is a keen interest amongst students for mobile-based library services. They added that academic libraries face a challenge in attempting to create an information service containing digital content that is readily available, tailored to users’ needs, and yet is compelling (Paterson and Low 2011). An electronic survey done at four Canadian Universities to medical students, residents, and faculty members revealed that technological and intellectual barriers do not seem to prevent medical trainees and faculty from regularly accessing information on mobile devices for their medical information searches; however, barriers to access and lack of awareness might keep them from using reliable, library-licensed resources (Boruff and Dale 2014).

Another interesting study was carried out by Karim, Darus, and Hussin that investigates the use of mobile devices in an educational environment and to explore the perception of university students on mobile phone uses in library and information services. The study shows that 94% of the respondents indicated that they would subscribe to mobile-based library services. The remaining respondents were probably reluctant due to reasons such as affordability and accessibility (Karim, Darus, and Hussin 2006). Walsh highlighted that more than half (55%) of the participants had accessed e-mail or the general mobile Web on their phones, but seemed reluctant to use mobile internet access unless they had a concrete reason for doing so. The reason being the cost of mobile internet service, however, a free Wi-Fi service could help to overcome this problem (Walsh 2010). Shen analysed students’ perceptions of mobile devices with particular attention to e-books. Students’ interests in mobile devices and library services were strong; the library would need to enhance its marketing efforts to promote e-book services and develop appropriate e-book collection and service strategy (Shen 2010).

Indian libraries are no exception when it comes to mobile library services and there are fewer studies that discuss about the mobile library services in Indian academic libraries. Madhusudhan and Dar explored the mobile library services, initiated and adopted, by some prominent academic libraries for the easy mobilization of their existing services. Their study raises awareness of the important mobile library services, about how such services could help libraries to mobilize their information in fast and time-bound manner, that too without the constraints of space and time. The value of the study is to help academic libraries to identify and embrace the mobile initiatives (Madhusudhan and Dar 2017). Another, study conducted by Kumar found that students at Jawaharlal Nehru University were in favour of the implementation of mobile library services for fast and better services (Kumar 2014).

The mobile environment is still at the emerging stage, and there is a great deal of potential yet to be explored, and gaps to be filled. Now is the perfect time for libraries to enter the fray of what is becoming, indeed, a mobile revolution, lest our academic libraries are left behind by their peers, and their patrons (Canuel and Crichton 2011). In this situation, the present study explores the users’ perspectives for adopting mobile-based library services in academic libraries. It also highlights the bottlenecks that users encounter while accessing online resources/services of their institutional libraries and then attempts to enhance the existing services with the help of mobile-based library services.

Numerous studies suggest that the providence of mobile-based library services is likely to lead to the emergence of intelligent and efficient academic libraries, characterized by fast-information access in a ubiquitous manner. The study supports the notion that academic libraries need to think about the shift in a range of existing library services to mobile-based library services

The main objectives of the study include the following.

• To identify the mobile device ownership, use, and pervasiveness.


• To figure out the uses of mobile devices by the users in library resources and services.


• To find out the problems faced by the respondents while accessing library resources and services from their mobile devices.


• To propose an enhancement of web-based library services and traditional library services into mobile library services based on the respondents’ feedback.


• To suggest means and ways to implement student-centred mobile library resources and services. 

A survey method of research using a structured questionnaire was employed for the collection of data. The structured questionnaire was designed in consonance with the objectives and personally distributed amongst 1000 students and research scholars, pursuing undergraduate (UG), postgraduate (PG), Master of Philosophy (MPhil), Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), and Postdoctoral (Postdoc) in 10 universities/institutions in Delhi (India). Out of this, 820 filled-in questionnaires were personally collected by the investigator, eliciting a response rate of 82.92% (Appendix I). The responses received from the respondents are represented in the form of tables and figures, and the implications of the findings are discussed in relation to past research.

The filled-in questionnaires (820) were selected for the analysis and interpretation of data. The response to 10 questions was analysed in the form of tables and figures using simple statistical methods.

Respondents’ demographic characteristics such as gender, educational backgrounds, and age influence the use of mobile technology. Gefan and Straub  found that “men and women have different perceptions about ease of use and usefulness toward information systems, and thus have different system usage behaviour” (Gefan and Straub 1997). Therefore, data relating to gender, courses of study, and age were sought from the respondents (Table 1).

Table 1 depicts that the strength of male users who made use of mobile devices was almost double than female users. Of the total respondents, 537 (65.49%) were male, and 283 (34.51%) were female. The present survey is in accordance with the  trend that females lag behind men in the use of mobile technology, and men tend to feel more at ease with mobile technology.

Age has been one of the components affecting mobile adoption. Venkatesh, Venkataraman, and Massey claim that “older people are less willing to adopt the technology. The number of survey respondents according to their age has shown that the group aged 20–25, that is, 58.42% is the most represented one at least representation is from the group aged above 30 years, that is, 1.22%” (Venkatesh, Venkataraman, and Massey 2003). The survey has also shown that the most significant number of respondents (45.24%) belonged to PG and the least number of respondents was 2 and they were Postdoc scholars (0.24%)

In recent years, mobile device users have increased at a head-spinning pace. Today’s typical university students have grown up with and have been exposed to all manner of technologies in many aspects of their lives. The NMC Horizon Report 2015 states that “the prevalence of mobile devices is changing the way human beings interact with information. By 2020, it was expected that 80% of the world’s adult population would own a smartphone. Mobile devices have become the most pervasive tool for accessing information” (Johnson, Adams, Estrada, et al. 2015).

Respondents were asked to report the type of device(s) they own, later, the responses were cross tabled by gender and types of devices. The results are presented in Table 2.

Table 2 shows that there were 810 (98.8%) respondents—531 (64.8%) males and 279 (34%) females—who owned smartphones. One of the most significant findings of the study is that there is a considerable increase in the ownership of smartphones amongst students. To remain relevant, libraries must adapt their services to this new environment. The second-largest most common device is a miniature laptop, owned by 714 (87.1%). Gosper and others found that since 2010, there has been an overall increase in students’ access to computing equipment (Gosper, McKenzie, Pizzica, et al. 2014). Students with access to a laptop or desktop computer at home have increased from 87.3% in 2010 to 96% in 2013. Tablet is the third common device owned by 179 (21.8%) respondents. In addition to the five devices, 45 (5.5%) of the respondents own other devices which are not mentioned in the survey.

The most important aspect of the usefulness of the mobile device is regularity. Students around the world are frequent internet users, and their substantial amount of daily time is spent on mobile devices. The findings in this survey are based on the everyday use of mobile devices. Figure 1 reveals that 144 (17.6%) male respondents and 106 (12.9%) female respondents used their mobile devices for ‘more than 3 hours’ a day, followed by 201 (24.5%) male respondents and 85 (10.4 %) female respondents who used mobiles for ‘2–3 hours’ in a day, while 160 (19.5%) male respondents and 74 (9%) female respondents made use of mobiles for ‘1 hour’ in a day. The minimum number of male and female respondents is 32 (3.9%), and 18 (2.2%), respectively and thus can be categorized under ‘less than 30 minutes’ users.

Contrary to the above findings, in a study conducted by Andone and others, found that “phone usage differs based on the gender of the participant. Females spend more time on their phones than males. On average, women spend more time in communication and social apps while men spend more time playing games” (Andone, Blaszkiewicz, Eibes, et al. 2016).

In addition to descriptive statistics, a Chi-square test was applied to know the significant difference among the gender on the usage of mobile devices. The p-value (0.013<0.05) indicates that there is a significant difference between the gender at a 5% level of significance on the daily use of mobile devices. The findings of the study are in line with the literature that suggests that “age and gender are the key factors that impact technology use and intention to use technology” (Morris, Venkatesh, and Ackerman 2005).

“As mobile devices are becoming more and more sophisticated, they are used for various activities: communication, business, entertainment, and finding information. Mobile devices are becoming more like small computers, and many people can no longer imagine their everyday life without them” (Pazur 2014). The study has recognized that with every development in technology, new and compelling means of access to information arise in library systems. The excessive use of mobile devices in academic activities shows encouraging signs. It, therefore, makes it clear that there is an urgent need for robust access to information services through mobile devices.

Mobile library services are the new trend in the libraries to meet the user needs for information in a fast-paced society. The services it offers are myriad, ranging from simple SMS to Augmented reality and Web 2.0 tools, and mobile devices have revolutionized the access beyond the library. With the availability of mobile broadband that offers faster connectivity and a high rate of mobile, PC, and internet penetration, many students are using mobile devices, especially mobile phones, to access information to satisfy their information needs. Mobile technology is changing the way people work and play. Mobile devices are immediate to the user; they provide a channel for information and a way of interacting with others. They are superb at delivering different kinds of resources, streamed video and music, written and spoken literature, travel directions, games, sports scores, photos, and thousands more.  As per Wong, “Powerful mobile devices are becoming widespread libraries cannot afford to ignore this medium if they are to keep in step with their patron” (Wong 2013).

The studied institutions and their libraries do not currently have any services designed for mobile users. Therefore, it was essential to find out which services the students of the institutions try to access on their mobile devices. The intention was to see how far the devices have helped users in accessing the electronic information and if respondents have ever tried to access electronic library resources on their mobile devices. Respondents indicated some important library e-resources accessed on their mobile devices (Figure 2).

Figure 2 demonstrates that there are some e-resources/services that students often access on their mobile devices. These include library websites, e-journals, e-books, digital resources/databases, web-based online public access catalogue (OPAC) and electronic theses and dissertations (ETDs). Although most of the services/resources were considered useful, due to the unavailability of their mobile versions, a very less number of respondents indicated using these resources on their mobile device(s). Figure 2 reveals that 71.3% respondents accessed e-books, of which 25.5% were UGs, 32.9 were PGs, 4.5% were MPhils, 8.2% were PhDs, and 0.2% were Postdoc scholars. The results indicate the growing demand for e-resources, particularly e-books, are supported by the findings of Shen, who analysed the perceptions towards mobile devices with special attention to e-books. He opined, “Students’ interests in mobile devices and library services were strong; the library would need to enhance its marketing efforts to promote e-book services and develop appropriate e-book collection and service strategy” (Shen 2010).

‘Electronic journals’ are the second most accessed resources as indicated by 505 (61.6%) respondents with 158 (19.3%) UGs, 236 (28.8%) PGs, 38 (4.6%) MPhils, 71 (8.7%) PhDs, and 2 (0.2%) Postdoc scholars. Regarding the ‘library websites’, 493 (60.1%) respondents reported accessing it on their mobile devices, with 172 (21%) UGs, 225 (27.4%) PGs, 31 (3.8%), 31 (3.8%) MPhils, 67 (8.2%) PhDs, and 2 (0.2%) Postdoc scholars. Likewise, digital resources/databases were accessed by 461(56.2%), ETDs by 367 (44.8%), web OPAC by 330 respondents (40.2%).

Some studies that support the findings of these results include Seeholzer and Salem, who found that “student use of the mobile Web in the academic library. Participants expressed more interest in using their mobile Web device to interact with library resources and services than anticipated” (Seeholzer and Salem 2010). Results showed an interest in using research databases, the library catalogue, and reference services on the mobile Web as well as contacting on being contacted by the library using text messaging. Murray suggested that “to obtain information in an as simple manner as possible most ‘mobile version’ catalogues (MOPAC) offer only simple search” (Murray 2010).

Since there are several mobile library services, the study aimed to find out which services were being searched more. In this, respondents identified a wide variety of services that they usually explore and the perceived services they want to be offered by the library. The main reason to ascertain the use of any service is to determine what users find as important. Usually, “due to ignorance, users are initially not interested in new services, but it has turned out that the interest is growing after the implementation” (Dresselhaus and Shrode 2012; Karim, Darus, and Hussin 2006). Furthermore, as suggested by Lippincott, it is essential to provide mobile services only after the user assessment (Lippincott 2010). 

Figure 3 shows that the highest number of respondents 603 (73.5%) indicated that they searched ‘download e-book/audio content’, followed by 448 (546%) who suggested that they searched to ‘discover new/recommended titles’, 443 (54%) of the respondents indicated that they searched to ‘put on hold/ renew library material’. The other important searches, indicated by a substantial number of respondents were ‘information literacy programmes’, mentioned by 417 (50.9%) respondents, 395 (48.2%) reported that they searched about ‘library events’, 354 (43.2%) reported searching ‘maps/Library floor maps’, 352 (42.9%) reported that they explored how to ‘request an item on inter library loan’, 340 (41.5%) reported that they searched ‘library hours’ and 321 (39.1%) of respondents  reported that they searched ‘ask to librarian’ service on their mobile devices.

Mobile computing and communication devices play a vital role in students’ life. It has altogether changed the interdependence of libraries and patrons. Indeed a new wave of mobile-savvy users has arrived in our libraries, not only texters but also eager patrons adept with e-readers, smartphones, and tablets (Thomas 2012). But, libraries mostly seem less interested in leveraging mobile computing in enhancing their existing services. Currently, the study libraries do not have many services specifically designed for mobile devices. However, efforts are being made to mobilize some services in a few libraries. Because of this, a multiple-choice question with eight options was asked. The respondents were to mention the problems they faced while accessing information services on their mobile devices. These options were adopted from the review of the literature (Figure 4).

Figure 4 clearly indicates that out of the eight choices provided in the question, the most common problem cited was ‘downloading issues/ incompatible formats’ (72.3%), followed by ‘no SMS reference/ notification service’ (70.1%), ‘no augmented reality App’ (69%), ‘no mobile responsive website’ (68.9%). ‘No QR Code’¹ was the least cited problem faced by the respondents (58.7%).

The p-value at ‘no mobile library/responsive websites’ (p=0.000<0.01), ‘no library apps/MOPAC’ (p=0.000<0.01), ‘No QR code’¹ (p=0.000<0.01), ‘downloading issues/ incompatible formats’ (p=0.003<0.01), and ‘poor Wi-Fi’ (p=0.000<0.01) is significant at 1% level of significance. Hence is an indication of the fact that the unavailability of such services was significant in all the studied university libraries. 

It was not surprising that around half of the respondents do not access the services on their mobile devices. This is because the studied university libraries are yet to develop any mobile service. The study could help establish understanding on how important it is for libraries of the institutions to develop strategies for the easy access of information.

While physical services remain an important aspect of the library services, today’s libraries are offering a more holistic information environment by including various mobile initiatives. After acknowledging the problems and understanding the user base and how they could retrieve information easily on their devices, the next logical step is to offer mobile-based library services for the already existing services, which in turn will keep the library relevant and up to date at a time of constant technological changes. As mobile strategies continue to evolve, libraries are honing their focus on understanding user behaviour to implement lasting solutions that will meet the needs of contemporary and future scholars (Johnson, Adams, Estrada, et al. 2015). Figure 5 accentuates the current services that need enhancement.

Figure 5 enlists enhanced mobile-based library services. The highest response was reported to increase ‘hyperlinks to mobile apps’ indicated by 649 (79.1%), ‘library collection to mobile-based library collection’ shown by 645 (78.7%), ‘library websites to mobile responsive websites’ indicated by 629 (76.6%). The other services that appear to be the essential services indicated by a significant proportion of the respondents for enhancement are; ‘database to mobile databases’ shown by 622 (75.9%), followed by ‘physical maps to mobile maps’ indicated by 619 (75.5%). The lowest score received the claim that OPAC to mobile-based OPAC and barcode to QR code also need to be enhanced.

The advent of internet-enabled smartphones, the applications designed for smartphone interfaces, and cloud computing is rapidly changing how people interact with each other and with their environments. The commercial sector has taken the lead in creating mobile websites that leverage the capacities of smartphones, and the academic community has begun to follow suit (Aldrich 2010).  Current trends in libraries require that users can access information and services beyond the four walls of the library. The present study indicates that there is no breakthrough in mobile-based library services in Indian Academia as compared to some libraries that have already taken the lead and have taken notice of the increasing penetration of mobile device users. Many studies, as highlighted by Vassilakaki, give an idea about the many stages of mobile-based library services and how libraries over the world, except a few countries, are proactively working, finding ways to make their libraries a part of the mobile-based library revolution (Vassilakaki 2014).

Table 1 makes it clear that there is a considerable increase in the ownership of smartphones amongst students. Students across the institutions are mobile-savvy, and they expect every kind of academic work on their mobile devices, even the library resources/services. However, the studied institutions are far beyond to accept reality. Libraries in the institutions are not up to the mark that they can quickly embrace the mobile web for their services. The foremost challenges could be budget and training. 

But, libraries cannot ignore the competency of the mobile web. They have to stay abreast of the growing pervasiveness of mobile technology by leveraging mobile devices into their strategic planning operations. On a practical level, the library policymakers may start from library app and mobile responsive websites that in turn would benefit users by providing them the opportunities to learn anytime and anywhere and facilitate ‘Bring your own device (BYOD)’ practice of students bringing their own smartphones, tablets or other devices to access library information and services.

While mobile has revolutionized every realm of education and facilitated new ways of access to the existing and potential resources of the libraries, the academic libraries surveyed are in the stage of infancy, least interested in the mobilization of funds to the mobile web. From Figure 3, it can be inferred that not a single service has been mobilized. It is no surprise that we are the world’s most smart device users, but our policymakers have not realized the competencies of the mobile web. It has been found in the study that this denial remains the most significant barrier to access. One of the vital steps that libraries can take is to offer a mobile app to accommodate more mobile patrons; that will give access to catalogue, mobile databases, mobile collection, and so on. 

Moreover, as suggested by Vollmer, libraries can better serve their users by embracing the growing capabilities of mobile technology. They can promote and expand their existing services by offering mobile access to their websites and online public access catalogues; by supplying on-the-go mobile reference services; and by providing mobile access to e-books, journals, videos, audiobooks, and multimedia content (Vollmer 2010).

As suggested by Lippincott, it is essential to provide mobile services only after the user assessment (Lippincott 2010). Figure 4 is a clear indication of services—existing and potential—which need to be enhanced and taken over for accruing myriad benefits of mobile access. It is incumbent on librarians as policymakers to use emerging trends to devise policies that could redefine the relationship between a user and a library. The fact that students are consuming free and unorganized information on mobile devices raises questions about the librarian’s policies regarding mobile resources. One suggestion for libraries is to focus on only those services and resources, which are very important to the users, and which are reported by the majority of the respondents, instead of trying to offer access to a huge collection of mobile resources. In this way, libraries can maximize mobile resources with fewer efforts and finance. Libraries need to be competitive to remain relevant (Bomhold 2013).

The subsequent analysis of the study has enabled the researchers to provide some practical suggestions for the studied institutions and their libraries and policymakers to enhance library services into mobile-based library services for improving the delivery of information through miniature devices. These include the following.

The present situation shows that libraries are in a transitional period; libraries cannot ignore the growing influence of mobile devices. It is suggested that librarians need to figure out how to leverage mobile devices to serve the users best using this new mode of information transfer.

Studied university libraries have a large number of users who need to have access to library resources anytime and anywhere. Before a library can start any mobile-based library service, it must conduct a user survey about the penetration of mobile devices, understand the needs of users, and the services they want.

Library users are always seeking services that are convenient to use. In the mobile world, more preference is given to apps and mobile responsive Web. Therefore, it is suggested that studied university libraries should create mobile-specific websites and develop a variety of mobile apps to suit their library purpose. Moreover, studied university libraries can implement QR code-based library services for many benefits; for example, anything can be converted into coded information and present it for quick and accessible for later.

Results of some mobile initiatives suggested that not all services are reported significant by the respondents. Therefore, it is recommended that only those services and resources must be mobilized that are very important to the users. Hence, all the studied university libraries should investigate how each of the perceived service or resource can meet the target of the users.

The mobile initiatives that studied university libraries would implement should be compatible with mobile devices and be able to display the contents. In select institutions, most users bring their internet-enabled devices. Therefore, a mobile web should be able to present relevant content because mobile phones possess smaller displays as compared to desktop computers. If mobile library services are offered in multiple formats, it will allow the libraries to reach a broader range of user groups, giving them more opportunities for better promotion.

It is the responsibility of the policymakers/library authorities to train the staff, not familiar with mobile technologies.  Even though most of the professionals in libraries are technologically literate, but teaching them how to disseminate information to mobile devices is the need of the hour.

Augmented reality is one such service, which was not yet implemented in any studied library; once implemented, it will enhance the library services. It allows the perception of the physical world to be improved or modified by computer-generated stimuli perceived with the aid of special equipment.

A special budget should be allocated for the purchase of mobile-based library applications and services, and a good promotion can attract more mobile users.

In the age of an ever-growing prevalence of mobile devices, the mobile-based library services can meticulously expand the horizons of library information services and resources. From the study, it is clear that the mobile-based library services, in the surveyed institutions, are in primitive stage. The research shows that all the respondents have access to the Internet via a smartphone. Also, users own tablets, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and e-book readers. However, it has been found that due to the non-availability of mobile-based library services, the users spend more time on social networking sites or accessing unorganized information (Dar 2019). The study strongly recommends that studied university libraries should help the students to use the required resources on the move to save their time and incorporate these services into their responsive websites. It also gives a clear signal for libraries understudy to start mobilizing their existing services into mobile-based library services. The results emphasize the need to work with the mobile technology experts in converting traditional, automated, and web-based library services into mobile-based library service a reality.

The results of this study can not only immensely help the studied university authorities to plan mobile library services, but also university librarians in implementing those services. It is hoped that this study will provide a benchmark to understand the need for enhancement of library resources and services to mobile library resources and services. In addition, this study will serve as a primary tool to identify a wide variety of mobile-based library services that users want to be offered by the library in this ‘mobile era’ or ‘smartphone era’.

 Mobile phone ownership has increased significantly over the last some years (Rowntree 2019). However, in this study there is significant difference in the ownership as well as the usage of mobile devices.

This study, like others, suffers from some limitations of the methodology. The results reflect the opinions of students and research scholars in 10 universities/institutions in Delhi (India). Further research should investigate in-depth aspects of individual mobile-based library services with larger sample size and the designers’ perspectives.

Aldrich, A. W. 2010. Universities and libraries move to the mobile web. Educause Quarterly 33 (2): 5

Andone, I., Blaszkiewicz, K., Eibes, M., et al. 2016. How age and gender affect smartphone usage. Proceedings of the 2016 ACM International Joint Conference on Pervasive and Ubiquitous Computing: Adjunct. ACM, pp. 9–12

 Bomhold, C. 2013. Educational use of smart phone technology: a survey of mobile phone application use by undergraduate university students. Program 47 (4): 424–436

Boruff, J. T. and Dale, S. 2014. Mobile devices in medicine: a survey of how medical students, residents, and faculty use smartphones and other mobile devices to find information. Journal of the Medical Library Association 102 (1): 22–30  

Canuel, R. and Chad, C. 2011. Canadian academic libraries and the mobile web. New Library World 112 (3/4): 107–120

Caperon, L. 2015. Developing adaptable, efficient mobile library services: librarians as enablers. M-Libraries 5: from devices to people 5: 199

Chlamtac, I., Conti, M, and Liu, J J N. 2003. Mobile ad hoc networking: imperatives and challenges.  Ad Hoc Networks 1: 13–64 

Dar, S. A. 2019. Mobile library initiatives: a new way to revitalize the academic library settings. Library Hi Tech News 5:15-21. Dresselhaus, A., and Shrode, F. 2012. Mobile technologies and academics: do students use mobile technologies in their academic lives and are librarians ready to meet this challenge?. Information Technology and Libraries (Online) 31(2): 82

Gefen, D. and Straub, D, W. 1997. Gender differences in the perception and use of e-mail: an extension to the technology acceptance model. MIS Quarterly: 389–400

 Gosper, M., McKenzie J., Pizzica J., Malfroy, J., and Ashford-Rowe, K. 2014. Student use of technologies for learning–what has changed since 2010?. ASCILITE

Johnson, L., Adams, B. S., Estrada, V., and Freeman, A. 2015. Horizon Report: 2015 museum edition. Austin:  New Media Consortium. Details available at https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED559371.pdf

 Karim, N. S. A., Darus, S. H., and Hussin, R . 2006. Mobile phone applications in academic library services: a students’ feedback survey. Campus-Wide Information  Systems 23 (1): 35–51

Keller, J. 2011. As the web goes mobile, colleges fail to keep up. The Chronicle of Higher Education 57 (21): A1–A14

Kumar, A. 2014. Students opinion about the success of mobile technology in libraries. New Library World

Kumar, K. 2018. Library in your pocket delivery of instruction service through library mobile apps: a world in your pocket. Changing the Scope of Library Instruction in the Digital Age. IGI Global, pp. 228–249

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

Little, G. 2011. Keeping moving: smart phone and mobile technologies in the academic library. The Journal of Academic Librarianship 37 (3): 267–269

Madhusudhan, M., and Dar, S. A. 2017. Mobile information services and initiatives in university libraries: a new way of delivering information. DESIDOC Journal of Library & Information Technology 37 (2): 109

Morris, M. G., Venkatesh, V., and Ackerman, P. L. 2005. Gender and age differences in employee decisions about new technology: an extension to the theory of planned behavior. IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management 52 (1): 69–84

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

Nowlan, G. 2013. Going mobile: creating a mobile presence for your library. New Library World 114 (3/4): 142–150

Paterson, L. and Low, B . 2011. Student attitudes towards mobile library services for smartphones. Library Hi Tech 29 (3): 412–423

 Pazur, I. 2014. Attitude of the Rudjer Boškovic Institute’s scientists to the small screen mobile devices library services: a user survey. Library Hi-Tech 32 (4): 628–644

Rowntree, O. 2019. GSMA Connected Women: the mobile gender gap report 2019. London: GSMA. Details available at https://www.gsmaintelligence.com/research

Seeholzer, J. and Salem, J. A. Jr. 2019. The learning library: a case study of the evolution from information commons to learning commons at Kent State University Libraries. College & Undergraduate Libraries 17 (2–3): 287–296

Shen, J. 2010. The e-book lifestyle: an academic library perspective.   52 (1–2): 181–189

Thomas, L. C. 2012. Gone Mobile? (Mobile Libraries Survey 2010). Library Journal 135 (17): 30–34

Vassilakaki, E. 2014. Mobile information services in libraries: a review of current trends in delivering information. Interlending & Document Supply 42 (4): 176–186

Venkatesh, V, Venkataraman, R, and Massey A. P. 2003. Understanding usability  in mobile commerce. Communications of the ACM46 12: 53–56

Vollmer, T. 2010. There’s an app for that!: libraries and mobile technology: an introduction to public policy considerations. ALA Office for Information Technology Policy

Walsh, A. 2010. Mobile phone services and students, what do they want from the library?. Library and Information Research 34 (106): 22–36

Wong, K. P. 2013. Library services for mobile devices: the National Institute of Education Library experience. Library Hi Tech News 30 (9): 7–11