Assessing User Perception of Mobile Phone Applications in Academic Library Services at the School of Medical Sciences Library, KNUST

Abstract

Purpose: The study seeks to investigate the perceptions of students of Mobile phone applications in academic library services at the School of Medical Sciences library, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. Approach: A self-designed questionnaire was employed for primary data collection, with questions structured to elicit respondents’ opinions on the use of mobile phone applications in academic libraries based on four research questions. Findings: The study found that most respondents visit the library primarily for examination-related reading. The response was very encouraging towards the use of mobile phone applications for academic library services, as a greater percentage of the respondents expressed willingness to use such services. Originality: This study established some limiting factors to the effective use of the mobile library services. It reveals that mobile phone applications can give added advantage to the services of a library in an academic environment, and it is expected that academic libraries will not be left behind without integrating the applications of mobile phones as a way of staying relevant and indispensable in the academic environment.

Keywords: KNUST (Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology), Library services, Mobile phone application, Mobile technology, User engagement, User perception, Technology adoption.

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