Mobile Applications for Libraries

Abstract

This chapter will detail the use of mobile applications in libraries. It will begin by briefly exploring the history of mobile application development, its inception, and progress to its relevance and use within libraries as a means of improving access and resource delivery for patrons. The prevalence of mobile devices, both inside and outside of the library, has affected the way individuals locate and use information. Libraries play an essential role in delivering resources to enhance the way users retrieve information, and therefore it is important to facilitate learning and scholarship through meaningful experiences in a variety of areas and mediums. A mobile application, not just a mobile-friendly website, can appeal to an increasingly digital population of library users in an environment that is both familiar and modern.