Scale, Mark-Shane. (2012). Tablet Diffusion, Adoption and Implementation in Academic Libraries: A Qualitative Content Analysis of Librarians' Discourse on Blogging Platforms. presentation at the Canadian Association for Information Science / L’Association canadienne des sciences de l’information (CAIS-ACSI) Annual Conference of Wilfrid Laurier University/University of Waterloo Waterloo, Ontario May 31 - June 2, 2012

1. Tablet adoption, diffusion and
implementation in academic libraries:
A qualitative content analysis of librarians'
discourse on blogging platforms
1

2. Contents of presentation
 Research Problem
 Research Questions
 Theoretical Framework & Methods
 Findings
 Conclusions & Recommendations
2

3. RESEARCH PROBLEM
3

4. 4

5. Properties of modern tablets
 'portable computing devices'
 'touch-sensitive' screens akin to traditional printed
media
 Fewer hardware capabilities than workstations
 Portable access
 Size of printed books
5

6. Potential relevance to academic libraries:
libraries could benefit from integrating tablets instead
of workstations
 built for media consumption
 seem a perfect fit for use with the library's e-
resources and digital collections.
Possible solution to making exponentially growing e-
resources accessible
6

7. Problem Defined:
Problematic:
Though introduced in 2002, adoption only began in
2010 after the launch of the IPad.
7

8. RESEARCH QUESTIONS
The study was guided by the following:
1. What can blogs and tweets tell us about the diffusion of tablets
in academic libraries?
2. Why do early adopters or academic librarians adopt tablets and
implement them into library services?
8

9. THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK &
METHODS

10. Units of analysis
Academic
libraries/
library + blog posting on tablets in
workers blog academic libraries that
posts quote academic librarians
10

11. Tiwari (2007)
• Library technology stable until recently.
• Used to be based on based on paper
and cardboard.
• Small improvements easy grasped
Radical change in technology unlikely to
be understood and appreciated except by
a few visionaries who focus on underlying
principles, but whose visions could prove
serious erroneous.
11

12. Tiwari (2007)
• Considering new technology and its
possible applications is difficult
• Understandably, librarians think of
new technology in relation to uses of
current technology
• Such uses based on capabilities and
limitations of current
technology, rather than what ideally
needs to be done.
• Ideally, new technology should be
considered based on first principles
and theoretical definition of what
constitutes ideal library service.
12

13. Theoretical framework
(c) 2003
13

14. Theoretical framework
Rogers‟ (2003) Diffusions of innovation
Term Meaning or indicator
Decision to make full use of an
adoption innovation as the best course of action
available
Communication of an innovation (in
diffusion
this case, tablets)
implementation Putting an innovation (tablets) to use
14

15. Why Rogers‟ (2003) theory?
Determined by some as the most
appropriate theory for investigating the
adoption of technology in higher educational
environments
15

16. Theoretical framework of diffusion of tablets
16

17. Method
Twitter search Blog mining
#tablets Search terms:
#university  TABLETS (UNIVERSITY OR
COLLEGE OR ACADEMIC)
#libraries
(LIBRARY OR LIBRARIES)
Google
blogs
17

18. Data collection
Studied blogs and tweets during the period of
October 15, 2011 to November 15, 2011.
Tools used for data collection and analysis –
Google Docs + Mail merge
18

19. Procedure
1. Develop a form from which to enter structured
data about the blogs and tweets encountered as
well as research notes and memos.
2. Import the structured data and notes from
spreadsheet format into a word document for
further processing.
3. Analyze textual data using conceptual map and
framework from the literature, thereby assigning 19
categories.

20. Data collection forms
20

21. Deductive Analysis of Qualitative data
Analytic induction
OR
the use of
Sensitizing
concepts
21

22. Theoretical framework of sensitizing concepts
Rogers‟ (2003) 5 Factors
Rogers defines five intrinsic characteristics of innovations that influence an individual member
of a social system to adopt or reject an innovation.
Factor Definition
Relative
Degree of improvement over prior innovations
Advantage
Compatibility Degree of consistency with existing values and past experiences
Complexity Degree to which innovation is easily understood and can be used
Divisibility Degree to which innovation may be tried on a limited basis
The extent that an innovation is easily observed and communicated to
Communicability
others.
22

23. FINDINGS

24. Findings
Memo 1:
Blogs and tweets:
communicate about adoption and
implementing of Tablets in library
services and help to
disseminate/diffuse the innovation.
24

25. Blogs & Tweets mention formal events
Internet Librarian conference in 2011
IL2011
“Engaging Your Community with Tablets and Social
Computing”
Posted by: Kathy Dempsey
http://www.libconf.com/2011/10/19/engaging-your-
community-with-tablets-and-social-computing/
25

26. Findings
Memo 2:
Blogs and tweets tell why
librarians/libraries adopt and
implement tablets in library services.
Most recurring theme: compatibility

27. compatibility
Dempsey
Attending the session ‘Repositioning with
Tablets, Social Media, & Outreach’ states:
The first speaker, Tim Donahue from Montana
State University, discussed what tablets are
being used for in his library (roving reference,
QR code reading, & brainstorming sessions)
and their implications (since they‟re easier to
read from than to type on, they are “ideal
platforms” for library content consumption). 27

28. Relative advantage?
Oliver Obst comments about iPads:
'Since the end of June, an iPad has been in
everyday use at my own library. It has proved
highly efficient for information presentation at
a workshop. It is a mobile device for
convenient and playful use of information of
any kind. And it is precisely this very
combination, mobile, comfortable, playful etc.
that explains its great advantages over the
alternatives:
Smartphone, laptop, EeePC, Kindle.'
28

29. Press release on the „Learn to
integrate iPads and tablets' ALA
TechSource Workshop
(October, 2011) that was tweeted
compatibility
The organisers of the workshop felt that
tablets offered a 'major potential for library
services, including the ability to increase
productivity and improve ... library‟s programs
in such areas as reference services, collection
management, and library instruction.'
29

30. CONCLUSIONS &
RECOMMENDATIONS

31. Conclusions
Study confirms that
• academic librarians discuss + disseminate
innovations in online channels.
• libraries adopt technologies based on
comparison with other technologies available
to libraries.
31

32. Conclusions
Study also confirms that
Academic libraries' adoption of tablets is related
to their adoption of e-resources and circulation
of e-books.
32

33. Conclusions
Study also confirms that
academic librarians adopt technologies and use
their prior experiences with implementing other
technologies to guide them in how to
implement a new technology.
33

34. Conclusions
Finally,
though generalization from this subset is not
justifiable, the findings do suggest that Rogers'
(2003) concept of compatibility may be most
applicable to studying innovation in academic
libraries.
34

35. Recommendation
further studies:
•investigate whether „compatibility‟ &
„relative advantage‟ are applicable to the
adoption, implementation & diffusion of
other technologies in libraries.
•analyse blogs and tweets for discussion of
the social and economic tensions of tablet
adoption in academic libraries.

36. The end
Questions?
Comments?
Criticism/Critiques?
36