M-Libraries

Mobile Phone Ownership is considerably more ubiquitous than internet access via personal computers: more and more people around the world are carrying a tiny mobile device of some kind in their pocket or handbag. 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 to make their resources and services accessible to their users regardless of distance. The opportunity to deliver these 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, explores the technical and social context for m-libraries, describes a range of global initiatives with lessons learned, and discusses the potential for future development.