M-libraries: libraries on the move to provide virtual access
Gill Needham and Mohamed Ally, editors

Mobile phone ownership is considerably more ubiquitous than internet access via personal computers. As technology moves on apace, more and more people around the world are carrying, effectively, a tiny mobile device in their pocket or handbag. At the same time, the environment in which people find and use information is changing - we are busier, we are constantly on the move and whether we are shopping, booking a holiday or looking for train times we expect instant results. What does all this mean for libraries?

The development of networked technologies opened up huge opportunities for libraries that were able to make their catalogues and digital collections accessible to their users regardless of distance. The opportunity to deliver services and resources to users via their mobile phones, PDAs and other handheld devices will be as significant a challenge. Indeed, if libraries choose to ignore this challenge, they are in danger of being left behind in an increasingly competitive world of information provision and services.

This authoritative collection of contributions from experts in the field, based on the First International M-Libraries Conference held in 2007, explores the technological and sociological context for m-libraries, describes a range of global initiatives with lessons learned, and discusses the potential for future development. Key areas covered include:

* Libraries and net generation learners
* Use of mobile technology for off-campus learning
* Enhancing access to library resources through mobile communications
* Building an effective mobile-friendly digital library
* Designing and developing e-learning content for mobile platforms
* Architectures and metadata for m-learning and m-teaching
* Mobile use and e-learning in developing countries
* From shelf to PDA: transforming mobile devices into LIS tools.

This timely book will be of considerable interest to the growing international mobile learning community across all sectors, not least in developing countries where internet access via computers is poor but many people have mobile phones and other devices. It should be read not only by information professionals but by mobile, software and library systems suppliers, e-journal suppliers and aggregators, publishers, international development agencies, and policy makers in education and e-government.

September 2008; 352pp; hardback; 978-1-85604-648-0; £44.95

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