STUDENT’S AWARENESS AND USE OF SMARTPHONE APPLICATIONS TO ACCESS THE AVAILABLE SERVICES AT UNIVERSITY OF BAHRAIN LIBRARY: A PROPOSED APPLICATION

This study aims to investigate the potentialities in the utilization of Smartphone applications and services in an educational environment namely University of Bahrain, the perception and awareness of the university students to the library services that are available through their smartphones and the actual use and benefits derived. An analytical and quantitative approach is used.

For the purpose of data collection, two survey questionnaires were conducted and distributed. The first was designed to the staff members of the library and the second, to the undergraduate students from two academic faculties in The University of Bahrain. Respondents consisted of a standard questionnaire divided in to two main parts: the first part covered the demographic elements while the second part focused on their awareness of various available smartphone services, their pattern of library use, the perceived types of library services that should be applied through their mobiles and their willingness of the services if offered.

This study therefore sets out to examine the availability of UOBL (University of Bahrain Library) services accessed through Smartphones and the awareness use among almost every student studying and using the university library.

The main findings are that the respondents’ perceptions on the application of wireless hand services in the context of library and information services are very positive. The majority of the respondents indicated their willingness to become the users of such services offered. The findings should assist information providers such as libraries and telecommunication service providers in designing the system that allows an effective access to various information and library services using mobile phones. This study also reveals the need of more smartphone apps designed for the support of library users and wireless application services which are still lacking, despite the increasing needs from the users.