Reference Services Review

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the current state of worldwide mobile usage; mobile technologies; libraries' use of mobile technologies including a review of library mobile catalog options, both vendor-supplied and in-house created; perspectives from current library leaders and innovators on the importance of incorporating the libraries' resources into the mobile environment; and future directions for mobile library services.

Design/methodology/approach – A range of recently published literature (2008-2010), which aims to provide practical statistics and resources for libraries wishing to mobilize their web site, is summarized in order to provide the reader with tools for creating a mobile library proposal. The sources are sorted into sections: mobile phone popularity, smartphones/web-enabled phones, mobile phone use, library mobile web sites and catalogs, and what library leaders have to say.

Findings – The paper provides an evaluative summary of mobile statistics and resources, indicating the salient points and how to find more information for libraries wishing to draft a mobile library proposal.

Practical implications – The paper presents a useful source of information for both libraries wishing to create a proposal for a mobile library site, and for libraries that simply want an overview of the current state of mobile use and technologies.

Originality/value – The paper includes up-to-date data about worldwide mobile phone penetration rates and mobile phone use, and is the first to argue for proposing the development of both a mobile library web site and a mobile catalog.