Always On (the) Mobile Web

This week we read “Always on: Libraries in a world of permanent connectivity” by Lorcan Demsey and “Library/Mobile: Tips on Designing and Developing Mobile Web Sites” by Kim Griggs, Laurie M. Bridges and Hannah Gascho Rempel.  I found the “Tips” article to be a bit technical, but some points were definitely of interest.  In addition to the information and statistics from the Pew Project, Horrigan’s comment that “for many Americans, always-on, always-available access is a part of their basic lifestyles” really summarizes the importance of libraries figuring all this out.  Statistics from the article indicate that in 2009, “32% of all Americans have gotten online with a mobile device and 25% of mobile users who are 18-29 years old are accessing the internet on a typical day.” It is a given that these percentages are significantly higher in 2012. As libraries strive to prove their relevance, it will be important for them to incorporate mobile access into their online venues. The staging method of incorporating mobile access as described by the OSU Libraries seems to be the smart way to rollout this type of program.

Both of these articles stress the importance of structuring online programs to meets the needs of the organization’s current and potential users. I found the “Always on” article to be very informative. The comments about “continued connectedness” and “the blurring of our social, business, learning and educational lives” were particularly interesting to me.  Dempsey makes some very pertinent points concerning the future of libraries.  He quotes William Mitchell from a 2008 article in the Economist – “there is a huge drop in demand for traditional, private, enclosed spaces…and a huge rise in demand for semi-public spaces that can be informally appropriated to ad hoc workspaces”.  The discussion about the future of collections was particularly interesting, and Dempsey made several interesting points in the conclusion of the article, stressing that “the library has a visibility and brand challenge…the continued competition for resources means that the library needs to be as visible as possible. This…calls for heightened marketing engagement and local political skills.” My sense is that these are relatively new skills for libraries and librarians.