This document summarizes a presentation by Tom Peters on the impact of the mobile revolution on libraries, librarians, and library users. It discusses key trends in the growth of mobile technology usage globally and defines the mobile revolution. It also outlines how the mobile revolution is affecting how libraries serve users, the role of physical libraries, and how librarians can support mobile access to content and services. The presentation concludes by emphasizing the importance of libraries understanding usage of their wireless networks and planning for continued growth in mobile technology use.

1. Going Mobile:
The Impact of the Mobile Revolution on
Libraries, Librarians, and Library Users
A presentation made by
Tom Peters
at the
MSU Student Library
Science Association’s
Spring Colloquium
Springfield, MO
April 25, 2013

2. I’m Going Mobile!
[Insert Rock Album Cover Art
and Song Lyrics Here]

3. This Slide Set is Online

4. A Shameless Plug

5. TOC: Intro and Part 1
• Introduction: The Mobile Revolution and Libraries, Librarians,
and Library Users
– Lori Bell and Thomas A. Peters
• Part 1: Mobile Tech Trends in Libraries
• Chapter 1: Serving Your Mobile Users: The Essentials
– Robin Ashford and Alex Rolfe
• Chapter 2: Mobile Present, Mobile Future
– Lisa Carlucci Thomas
• Chapter 3: The New York Public Library and the World of
Tomorrow—Biblion: The Boundless Library
– Deanna Lee

6. TOC Part 2: Mobile Library Users
• Chapter 4: Mobile Learning: The Teacher in Your Pocket
– Meredith Farkas
• Chapter 5: Going Mobile: Reaching the Younger Generations
– Bonnie Roalsen
• Chapter 6: Bricks and Mortar and Wireless: The Impact of the Mobile
Revolution on the Use of Physical Libraries
– Thomas A. Peters
• Chapter 7: Snap & Go: The Delivery and Marketing of Library Services
through QR Codes and a Mobile Website
– Susan Kantor-Horning
• Chapter 8: Mobile Tours for the Library with Historic Photos and Podcasts
– Lori Bell

7. TOC Part 3: Mobile Access to Content
• Chapter 9: Practical Mobile Web Design
– Chad Mairn
• Chapter 10: Mobile Catalogs
– Chad Haefele
• Chapter 11: Reading Transformed by the Mobility of E-books
– Andrew Revelle and Sue Polanka
• Chapter 12: Electronic Resources in Medical Libraries
– Max Anderson
• Chapter 13: Smartphones, QR Codes, and Augmented Reality in the
Library
– Henry E. Pence
• Chapter 14: Mobile Technologies and Archives: Using the New to
Preserve the Old
– April Karlene Anderson

8. TOC Part 4: Mobile Reference
• Chapter 15: SMS-Based Reference
– Rene J. Erlandson
• Chapter 16: Using Mobile-to-Mobile
Messaging to Deliver Health Information at
the Point of Need
– Tammy A. Magid
• Chapter 17: Text a Librarian: Ideas for Best
Practices
– Lili Luo

9. TOC Part 5: Mobile Professional
Development
• Chapter 18: Expanding a Community College
Library’s Mobile Presence on a Shoestring
Budget
– Cate Kaufman and Brittany Osika
• Chapter 19: Mobile Empowerment: Lifelong
Learning at Your Fingertips
– Rebecca K. Miller
• Author Biographies
• Index

10. Some Updated Key Points from the Intro
and Chapter 6 (Bricks and Mortar)

11. Talkin’ About a Mobile Revolution
• 7.1 Billion People
• 6.8 Billion Active Mobile Phone Subscriptions
Source: http://www.itu.int/en/ITU-D/Statistics/Documents/facts/ICTFactsFigures2013.pdf

12. Is It All About Mobile Phones?
• Other mobile devices (iPad, other tablets, etc.)
probably do not add much to this diffusion
total.

13. A Tentative Definition
“The mobile revolution involves the use of any mobile
device (smartphone, tablet, laptop, ultrabook, dedicated
e-reading device, gaming device, etc.) and any mobile
network to engage in one or more of four fundamental
activities: communicating, finding and using information,
being entertained, and creating content. The mobile
revolution is arguably one of the fastest, most pervasive
diffusions of any technology in human history, rivaling
things such as TV sets, toilets, cooking utensils, and
clothing in terms of the breadth of diffusion, and
outpacing just about everything in the rapidity of such a
globally pervasive diffusion.”

14. Hot Mobile Sectors
• Banking and Financial Transactions
• Health and Wellness
• Agriculture

15. At Least Two Phases to
Any Tech Revolution
1. The new technology is released into the
wild and taken up by users.
2. Eventually the users begin to think
differently about what they are doing
and the affordances of the new
technology.

16. A Short History of Mobile Tech
• Radio
• TV
• Ship-to-Shore
• Detroit PD (1928)
• UHF TV (not)
• DynaTAC (1983)
• PDA (1990s)
• IBM Simon (1993)

17. It’s More than Gadgets and Apps
• Content
• Gadgets and Apps
• Distribution/Fulfillment
• Human Participants
• Process, with Outcomes
(short-term & long-term)

18. How Is the Mobile Revolution
Affecting…
• Libraries
• Librarians
• Library Users

19. The Mobile Revolution as the Apotheosis
of the “Library Without Walls” Idea

20. Long Live Physical Libraries
But the mobile revolution
is affecting
bricks and mortar libraries,
too.

21. Other Effects of the Mobile Revolution
on Bricks and Mortar Libraries
• “Parking lot” patrons
• More user space, less stacks space
• Before you reconfigure your space,
consult with your wireless engineers
• Circulating gadgets should connect
automatically to your wireless network

22. Facilitate Group Wireless Use
• Furniture Configurations
• Collaboration Stations
• Areas for creating and editing audio and video

23. What Students Want
• More Outlets
• Longer Hours
• Caffeine and Food
• (good wireless
service is just
assumed)

24. Lots of Free Wireless Hotspots
• Most restaurants
• Most hotels
• Most libraries

25. How to Beat McDonald’s at Wireless
• Make sure coverage is 100%,
then work on capacity upgrades.
• Provide good documentation
and tech support.
• No sales pitches or assumption of sale.
• Brief, understandable, “as-end-user-
supportive-as-possible” user agreement
• Serve healthy snacks.

26. But Are They Using Our Mobile Website,
Digital Resources, and Digital Services?
• I think this is the wrong question to ask
and agonize over.
• Remember the 4 basic activities of any
mobile user (communicate; find and use
info; create content; be entertained).
• They want and expect to mix these 4
activities anytime, anywhere.

27. When Tech Succeeds, It Recedes

28. What To Do?
• Find out who manages the wireless network.
• Ask to receive periodic (daily, weekly,
monthly) usage statistical reports.
• Study those reports regularly.
• Think about and plan for the in-library
wireless user experience.

29. Advice
• Wired is Withering
• Plan for Growth
• Develop Performance Measures
& Best Practices
• Support Wireless Content Creators
• Spikes Happen
• Keep Everyone Informed and in the Loop
• Work with Your Larger Organization

30. In Conclusion…
• Usage of the wireless network is increasing.
• Most people just expect free wireless
connectivity in libraries, restaurants, and
other public places.
• Wireless connectivity has become a core
library service.
• Know your wireless network and usage of it.

31. Thank You for Your
Time and Attention
Tom Peters
Dean of Library Services
Missouri State University
TPeters@MissouriState.edu
309-660-3648
(my mobile phone number,
but of course!)