To read this content please select one of the options below:

Libraries in Internet of Things (IoT) era

Xueling Liang (Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China)
Yong Chen (Texas A&M International University, Laredo, Texas, USA)

Library Hi Tech

ISSN: 0737-8831

Article publication date: 18 September 2018

Issue publication date: 6 April 2020

5628

Abstract

Purpose

Internet of Things (IoT) has been widely adopted in the commercial sector. Although IoT enables traditional libraries to convert into digital ones, the implementation of the IoT in libraries is slow. The purpose of this paper is to report on the current state of research on applications of IoT in libraries, describe challenges that IoT applications face in libraries and discus directions of adopting IoT in libraries in the future.

Design/methodology/approach

To conduct this research, the literature of IoT and its application in libraries were reviewed by examining existing literature in Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Xplore.

Findings

The literature review finds that radio-frequency identification has been adopted by digital libraries. The slow implementation of IoT is caused by security and privacy issues, lack of standards and the lack of financial, technological and organizational resources. This study provides a prospective for the application of IoT in libraries; the technologies of IoT have the potential in betterment of library services.

Research limitations/implications

The limitation of this study is that only IEEE Xplore is included. Other database should be explored in future research.

Originality/value

The application of IoT in libraries is an emerging issue; a systematic and extensive review of recent research on applications of IoT in libraries is unavailable. This paper presents an overview of IoT in libraries, findings and potential research opportunities.

Keywords

Citation

Liang, X. and Chen, Y. (2020), "Libraries in Internet of Things (IoT) era", Library Hi Tech, Vol. 38 No. 1, pp. 79-93. https://doi.org/10.1108/LHT-11-2017-0233

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited

Related articles