The mobile device as your information access champion
Recently Techzim reported that Zimbabwe has 6.1 million
internet subscriptions with 99% of those being mobile devices based. See more
at: http://www.techzim.co.zw/2015/02/numbers-6-interesting-facts-telecoms-internet-zimbabwe/#sthash.JokProOZ.dpuf
For a country in the
developing world, these are big numbers indeed. But before we can say
wonderful, a comment on the blog asked an interesting question.
“ So we have the numbers, so what?”
Indeed as a library such facts hit you and you wonder where
are you in the scheme of mobile internet things? What are you doing with such figures? Are you out there helping providing access to
information through mobile internet now that many people are going online with
their phones? Or are you just one of the people saying so what!
The UZ library
looked at its own position in all things mobile and decided to take a plunge
into mobile internet access. The library in 2014 started offering mobile phone
library assistance and has never looked back. Our library has a Wi-Fi
connection to connect our users to internet through their mobiles. So even if
we have limited computers, our clients are able to bring in their own devices
and surf the internet. There pressure is reduced on computers and our library
users are happy with internet access.
And before, others can say ‘they had the funds and
infrastructure so that is why they can provide such services” , providing
services for mobiles is not always determined by the infrastructure but just
sometimes by enthusiasm for the job of information dissemination. By this I mean that even when our Wi-Fi is
down, we still provide mobile services. How, you may ask?
Well most clients using mobile internet tend to use their
own data bundles and mobile cellular infrastructure. Therefore, even where
there is no Wi-Fi the librarian can still assist users with trouble shooting
information searching problems, download of applications and software and so on. These are still important and
relevant services that clients appreciate. Many a time we have had users come
in to the library to say I managed to finish my assignment as I was able to ‘Google’
on my phone while I was at home using my data bundles. I managed to apply for a
job using my email over the phone, I did not have to go into town or visit an
internet Café for internet access. Others have downloaded applications that have
given them access to books so they can get their reading going. The challenge
therefore is with the library users and the librarians, because mobile internet
is here and waiting for you to make the best of it.
As a user are you making the most of your mobile experience?
If not for our Mpilo Library Users, come visit our library we are offering assistance
in helping get set up to use your mobile phone to do some research and
downloads. As a bonus we even show you how to protect it and update its
software, so that you face limited system crushes. For other users, approach your librarians and
talk to them about such a service.
As for librarians, let us stop looking at what you do
not have and look at what you have, Users who have internet in the palm of
their hands. Use mobiles and mobile internet to get your work done and your message across. Many a time I have posted
a blog from my mobile phone, I have responded to client queries using Whatsapp,
I have shown my users how to search for information using various models of
mobile devices. While at first it may not be so easy, once you get into it, it
becomes just part of the job of the librarian, getting information across to
users using the mobile device too.
I hope I got you thinking of where you stand in terms of
mobiles and take some action.
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