Live from the stacks: user feedback on mobile computers and wireless tools for library patrons

Abstract

Digital library research is made more robust and effective when end-user opinions and viewpoints inform the research, design and development process. A rich understanding of user tasks and contexts is especially necessary when investigating the use of mobile computers in traditional and digital library environments, since the nature and scope of the research questions at hand remain relatively undefined. This paper outlines findings from a library technologies user survey and on-site mobile library access prototype testing, and presents future research directions that can be derived from the results of these two studies.