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.
Keywords Worldwide web, Mobile communication systems, Academic libraries,
United States of America
Paper type Research paper