Search results

A recent thread in the DIG_REF listserv addressed the integration of text messaging into mainstream reference service. The purpose of this paper is to expand upon that discussion, pointing out the predominant software used by libraries to handle text message reference questions and the volume of reference traffic generated by text messaging queries.

The paper also addresses the ramifications on staffing of the added traffic in text messaging and how libraries might market text messaging reference services to their patrons.

The paper further discusses the unique nature of text messaging queries and how this affects the reference interview.

The paper is intended for the reference services manager looking to incorporate text messaging into a library's repertoire of reference services.

To critically examine the current definitions of key constructs of the technology acceptance model (TAM) in a consumer technology‐based service.

Two qualitative research studies were undertaken that encouraged consumers to reflect upon their text message (short message service – SMS) behaviour.

The research highlights the inadequacy of a concentration on simple acceptance of technology where technology is embedded in a consumer community of practice. The existence of counter‐intuitive behaviours, technology paradoxes and intense social and emotional elements in actual text message usage all point to the need for a review of the definition of the key TAM constructs.

There is a need to re‐examine the construct of use behaviour in the context of the practice of technology‐based services that owe much to consumer creativity. Theory development of the constructs of perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and perceived enjoyment should not be constrained by adherence to the existing (well developed) quantitative models of technology acceptance. There is a methodological potential of employing consumers as practical authors.

Where there is evidence of counter‐intuitive consumer behaviour in the marketplace for technology‐based products or services, a study of practice, with a view to the subsequent derivation of adapted theory constitutes worthwhile research. This may be of special importance to cell phone operators promoting SMS to US consumers.

The approach offers a method of complementing the dominant quantitative modelling research on technology acceptance. The findings are relevant to an era where consumer co‐creation of value is of increasing interest.

Current technology offers many possibilities for remote communication. Nevertheless, people with cognitive and communicative disabilities have limited access to common communication technology like text messaging via a mobile phone. This study is part of the project Text messaging with picture symbols ‐ possibilities for persons with cognitive and communicative disabilities. Semi‐structured interviews were used to investigate the experience of using Windows mobiles with adapted functions for text messaging by three men and four women. The participants' opinions about the content and organisation of the project were also evaluated. All participants except one experienced increased possibilities for remote communication via text messaging. Increased participation was another relevant finding. Technical aids and interventions were individually tailored and the majority of the participants thought that Talking Mats for goal setting and repeated interviews during the project had been successful methods.

The purpose of this paper is to discuss how text messaging offers a variety of ways to stay vital and visible to younger patrons with whom libraries most need to establish a relationship to ensure their future.

The paper discusses narrowcasting, one‐to‐one communication and reference queries, all methods of text messaging

Even with the inherent drawbacks of message length and the incurring of charges by library users, there seems to be a place for text messaging services within the library framework. Because of the portability, popularity and pervasiveness of cell phones among our users, particularly our younger ones, this service is a way for us to stay current.

The paper provides an original viewpoint on how text messaging could be used in libraries.

The purpose of this paper is to discuss text messaging services for libraries. Text messaging presents a new and exciting opportunity for libraries of all types to provide information to people of all ages on the go, where they are, on their cell phones.

Based on experiences in the USA, examples are presented of the service use, for example, Altarama, TextALibrarian, AIM.

Alliance library system (ALS), a regional library system in central Illinois, is spearheading an effort to provide the nation's first collaborative text message reference service – InfoQuest – inviting libraries of all types and across the country (and internationally) to work together to increase coverage, reference expertise, and to allow libraries to test the service and the software before venturing out on their own.

This paper will be of interest to librarians, as the InfoQuest project described in it is giving libraries the opportunity to learn how to use the technology, work together to see how their patrons respond to the service, and share promotion and coverage.

A questionnaire was used to collect data from 1676 undergraduate and postgraduate students randomly selected from three major Nigerian universities to understand how media gratification and constraints motivated their use of text messaging to meet educational needs. Sixty‐five (65 per cent) and 63 per cent of the respondents reported using the technology for contacting peers and lecturers for educational matters while less than 40 per cent have used technology to contact lecturers and others respectively. Generally, closeness to mothers and education of parents influence use of the technology for educational contact. The instrumental gratifications of SMS capability to enable students escape face to face communication, convenience and low cost also explain use of SMS to make educational contact although this activity is constrained by the difficulty to decipher the intention of the messages and by the confusion that often arises due mainly to unclear acronyms.

Argues that understanding the psychological drivers behind SMS uptake among key user groups could open the door to a range of user‐centred applications capable of transforming handset usability – and hence operator revenues – for this inexpensive form of text messaging. Combines the findings of our own web‐based survey of SMS users with psychological evidence and research on related text‐based conversational systems to draw out lessons for a user‐based approach to the design of mobile phone handset displays that capitalise on the social affordances of SMS texting.

This paper aims to analyze data from a pilot study at one academic library using Google Voice for text message (SMS) reference. It also aims to analyze SMS reference question typology, compare question typology to other reference services, and analyze communication in the context of SMS reference.

Analysis of all reference service models was conducted, including question typology. SMS transcripts were analyzed in the following areas: presence of a reference interview, evidence of a referral, number of librarian and patron texts, response time, and transaction duration.

The number of SMS queries was lower than expected. Questions were primarily non‐research‐based or ready reference. The average number of texts per transaction was 7.5. With outliers removed, average response time was 9.5 minutes, and average transaction time was 53.2 minutes. Users appear to be regulating question difficulty.

Data collection occurred during a state furlough period, which likely impacted the number of reference transactions. Conversation analysis and user feedback were not incorporated into this study, but could aid in understanding communication patterns in SMS reference.

Google Voice offers a viable option for implementing SMS reference, and this paper offers direction to interested parties. Challenges in answering complex questions via SMS should not be a concern, since patrons generally are not asking difficult questions.

This pilot study expands the growing body of literature on SMS reference in academic libraries, comparing it to other reference service models at the same institution. It also highlights Google Voice as a free alternative to subscription or fee‐based models of SMS reference service.

The purpose of this study is to address how media gratification variables and constraints of global system for mobile communications (GSM) technology promote or inhibit use of short messaging services (SMS) for sharing educational information by students in Nigerian universities.

A questionnaire was used to collect data from 1,676 undergraduate and postgraduate students randomly selected from three major Nigerian universities. Data were analysed using factor and regression analyses.

The instrumental gratifications of SMS capability to enable persons to escape face-to-face communication, and its convenience and low cost explain the popularity of the use of SMS to make contact for educational reasons, although this activity is constrained by the difficulty to decipher the intention of the messages and the confusion arising from unclear acronyms used by texters.

Further research might focus on content analysis. What exactly is the information the students share with themselves and others?

The result of this research is critical in the design and deployment of mobile learning technologies in Nigerian universities.

There is no empirical evidence of how students use SMS despite the existence of mobile learning projects in Nigerian universities.

The purpose of this paper is to share a lecturer’s viewpoint on using mobile phone messaging tools to increase levels of cooperation and collaboration with students and the wider university community.

In all, 145 undergraduate students from a Caribbean university were asked how often do they check their mobile phone for text/voice messages per day and when do they turn off their mobile phones. These two questions were asked to understand how engaged students are with their mobile phones.

The findings are that students are very engaged with their mobile phones. Students check their mobile phones for text/voice messages multiple times every day. Of the 145 participants in this research, 66.84 % never turned off their mobile phones during the week and carry their phones everywhere, including classrooms.

This is the first study to examine how often this university’s students’ check their mobile phone for text/voice messages per day and when do they turn off their mobile phones. These findings will help lecturers and university management in understanding students’ engagement with their mobile phone in this university. This study confirms heavy engagement of students with their phones. Lecturers and university administrators can now consider ways in which mobile phone messaging tools can be used to increase levels of communication and collaboration with students and wider university community.