M‐Libraries 2: A Virtual Library in Everyone's Pocket

Citation

Palmer, R. (2010), "M‐Libraries 2: A Virtual Library in Everyone's Pocket", Library Review, Vol. 59 No. 9, pp. 725-726. https://doi.org/10.1108/00242531011087097

The ownership of mobile devices reaching saturation in mature markets (in some cases, due to ownership of multiple devices, exceeding 100 per cent) and the incredible growth in ownership of mobile devices in the developing world has led to people and organisations exploring the emergent opportunities to improve their service.

Many library services have already begun to explore the potential for integrating mobile technologies. The opportunities available to them continue to increase as the power and complexity of mobile handsets continues to increase and the price barrier to ownership of smartphones decreases.

M‐Libraries 2: A Virtual Library in Everyone's Pocket is a collection of articles based on the proceedings of the Second International M‐Libraries Conference, held in Vancouver, June 2009. It covers a range of issues relating to the use of mobile technology in library services, as reported by a wide selection of academics and practitioners. Indeed, the scope of the articles goes far beyond the issues relating to the use of mobile technology in the west and encompasses the role that mobile devices can play in spreading information without the infrastructure taken for granted in the west.

The use of mobile telephones has become a process with which most are familiar, yet few devote much thought to. M‐Libraries 2: A Virtual Library in Everyone's Pocket features information and analysis which could be useful for library and information practitioners regardless of location or sector who wish to take advantage of the opportunities that mobile technologies afford.

Organised into five sections, the broad topics covered are:

1. (1)

   developments around the world;

2. (2)

   technology in M‐libraries;

3. (3)

   application of M‐libraries;

4. (4)

   M‐libraries and learning; and

5. (5)

   building the evidence for M‐libraries.

There is a little variation in the tone (and quality) of the articles, though all add something to the wider discussion. It should perhaps be noted that the variation in quality is not completely unexpected, given the book's conference origin. The editors of the book have attempted to draw together a collection of articles which demonstrate that, since 2008 (when the first book, based upon the First International M‐Libraries Conference was published), the emphasis in the field of M‐Libraries has shifted as the market continues to mature. Their belief is that, as smartphones march towards ubiquity in the west, the excitement over the technology itself diminishes and the development of innovative services becomes more important.

Much of the success of the book lies with its breadth. For example, in the first section, developments around the world are considered. While in the more affluent west we are used to having an infrastructure that supports both well‐stocked physical library services and a reliable source of electricity coupled with mature wired telecommunications, this is not the experience in many other parts of the world. However, the decline in price of mobile telephones and the lower costs involved in constructing cellular networks means that the growth in power of mobile devices presents a massive opportunity to people living in poorer countries.

This is something covered especially well by Ken Banks and Parveen Babbar with Seema Chandhok in their early chapters on the role of mobile phones in the developing world and mobile technology in Indian libraries, respectively. Of course, they recognise that because the number of mobile phones is increasing in the developing world, it is not necessarily the case that all have access to the latest types of smartphone.

The editors are right to suggest that all should be aware of these kinds of issues; as interconnectedness continues to grow information professionals, above all, should be at least aware of what all of their colleagues are doing throughout the world.

As well as chapters, such as these, which consider the broader implications for libraries in an increasingly mobile world, there are some that move away from the theory and the opportunities afforded to demonstrate what some services are already doing with mobile technology. This includes a number of case studies from a suitably diverse range of institutions, including information services offered by mobile companies in Bangladesh and the development of mobile information services by the NHS.

As this technology is still young and implementation is recent, where it has happened, there is not a huge amount of empirical data relating to the efficacy of such services available. This is not to say that there is none; there are a number of studies in the book which seek to grow the evidence for mobile services. There is, however, a feeling with a number of the articles that it would be helpful to know what the success of trying out these new ways of working is. A lot of the statistical data relates to issues such as the ownership of mobile telephones and the expectations of users. It is, always, more useful to discover what people actually do, rather than what they say they will do. It is worth repeating the recognition that this is as much a product of the relative novelty of using mobile services in library and information services.

This aside, the book is useful. It demonstrates well the impact of mobile technology – especially mobile phones (far more widespread than desktop computing) as well as giving ideas for information professionals who may be interested in developing their service to include mobile technology.

The book is aimed at information professionals, policy makers and their suppliers. If you are interested in developing your service to include more mobile technology, this is worth your time. Not all the chapters will necessarily relate to your needs, though they should help in broadening your horizons. A worthwhile book which poses some interesting questions for information and library professionals.