The Conditions and Needs Assessment in Mobile Technology Usage for Academic Library Services in Thailand

Abstract

This research aims to examine the conditions and needs assessment of mobile technology usage in the academic libraries in Thailand using the mixed-methods sequential exploratory design. Research samples are divided into two categories: those for qualitative research and those for quantitative research. The qualitative research group consists of 15 key informants who are the library’s director and/or the head of library technology in an academic library, selected by purposive sampling.  The quantitative research group consists of 500 undergraduate students selected by two-stage sampling. Research tools are a semi-structure interview and a questionnaire. The data are analyzed with descriptive statistics such as frequency distribution, percentage, mean and standard deviation. The needs assessment analysis is Priority Needs Index (PNI_modified). The research results are as follows:

1) As for the conditions of mobile technology usage in academic libraries in Thailand, online access to the library can be done in three ways: via the university mobile application, via a responsive web and via the library mobile application. The services provided are OPAC, online database, digital library, circulation service, reference services, library news, room reservation, book suggestion, book location and notification. The library improvement plan with mobile technology includes development of mobile applications for different services and mobile technologies for supporting library staff. The factors and resources that support mobile technology library services are budget, personnel, leadership and organization culture. The problems and obstacles in the improvement of mobile technology for library services are a lack of programmers who can develop mobile applications and a lack of ideas in designing mobile technology for new services.

2) As for Needs assessment in undergraduate students, four types of needs are prioritized: other library facilities (PNI_modified=0.236), library public relations (PNI_modified=0.231), search (PNI_modified=0.218) and circulation service (PNI_modified=0.187), respectively. The most needed services are 1) new/good book recommendation (PNI_modified=0.305) 2) access to e-books on mobile phones (PNI_modified=0.302) and 3) access to newsletters via QR code (PNI_modified=0.294).