Abstract
Tremendous advancements attained in the last one decade in computer and mobile phone technologies have completely changed patrons' information seeking behavior and left librarians and information professionals rethinking about ways of re-engineering library resources to foster their utility. Libraries and information centres have invested heavily on holding library resources and services from different disciplines in a frantic move to address users' needs but limited readership is still recorded. In this paper, the researcher delved into analyzing the use of mobile phone technology in access and utilization of library resources and services as a way of re-engineering library holdings to promote their (library resources and services) consumption. The targeted population was Mount Kenya University Kisii campus library users. A cross sectional survey research design aimed at identifying library users' perception on the use of mobile phone technology was used. Stratified sampling was used to identify the students-respondents and purposive sampling used to select the library staff. While questionnaires were placed to collect the data from students, library staff respondents were interviewed. The study sample comprised four hundred (445) library users and staff out of a population of three thousand five hundred and twenty eight (1467). Once the data collection is complete, quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics such as mean, distributions in percentages and frequency counts. Qualitative data was recorded from field data, transcribed and reported in themes and sub themes. The study showed among other findings, that there are increased retrieval and use of library resources and services through the use mobile phone technology in Mount Kenya University Kisii Campus.
Highlights
It was established 40.12% females respondents access Mount Kenya University (MKU) E-repository and that a 68.75% of the respondents were male while 31.25% e-journals through their handsets
Of the respondents were between the ages 31 – 40 years and In order to meet the second objective, the factors were that they were Male. 34.75% of the respondents were categorized into six parts, namely: Borrowing through between the ages 20 – 30 years and that they were female. circulation counter; Access to e-resources in e-learning
The findings of this study show that there is significant use of mobile phone technology in access and utilization of library services
Summary
Exponential growth in adoption and use of both computer and mobile phone technologies have immensely changed information seeking characteristics of all library user resulting librarians and other information professionals going back to drawing board to establish new mechanisms to provides library resources. Simmonds & Andaleeb, (2001) concurs that with emphasis being placed on electronic resources, and users being more interested in access rather than actual ownership, libraries are facing greater competition from many sources like bookstores and information from publishers and vendors who try to provide some of the same services that libraries provide. Rieger & Gay, (1997) adds that teaching and learning cannot be adequately replicated using advanced multimedia technologies, the computer’s prowess and mobile phone capabilities at information organizing and retrieval can be taken to class to support access and utilization of library resources. Exponential growth in adoption and use of both computer and mobile phone technologies have immensely changed information seeking characteristics of all library user resulting librarians and other information professionals going back to drawing board to establish new mechanisms to provides library resources. Rieger & Gay, (1997) adds that teaching and learning cannot be adequately replicated using advanced multimedia technologies, the computer’s prowess and mobile phone capabilities at information organizing and retrieval can be taken to class to support access and utilization of library resources. The steady increase in use of mobile phone in social arena has impacted significantly in the access and utilization of library resources and services where patrons are currently interacting with library staff, library catalogues and other
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