The utilisation of smartphones apps as a service tool at Kuwaiti Academic Libraries

Abstract

Aim/Purpose This paper aims to investigate how Kuwaiti Academic Libraries (KALs) have re-sponded to the rapidly evolving Smartphone-Apps (SP-Apps) environment, as well as exploring the level of electronic services provided in these libraries. Background This study can illustrate whether the governmental, academic libraries in the State of Kuwait have already benefited from the mobile services provided by smart phones or not. Methodology In this study, the researchers use both qualitative and quantitative methods. Therefore, questionnaires and interviews are used in order to collect in-depth data in this field. The questionnaire sample was 400 respondents. They divided in two KALs: Kuwait University Library (KUL) and Public Authority of Applied Education Training Library (PAAETL), while eight individual interviews were conducted one-to-one in this research. Contribution This paper may be important for academic libraries to identify shortcomings in the smartphones' content and services they provide and in highlighting efforts by libraries to address their users' needs in this area. Findings The findings show that most participants expressed the need to introduce an SP-App to their library. They also confirmed that there are many difficulties in creat-ing an SP-App including lack of budget, lack of awareness of library manage-ment, lack of clarity about library management strategic objectives, and vision for an SP-App. Recommendations for Practitioners Designing SP-Apps that have reliable content and user interface that is easy to use is a considerable challenge. For this reason, the study highly recommends intro-ducing SP-Apps for KALs as soon as possible. Utilisation of Smartphones' Apps as a Service Tool 134 Future Research The recommendations proposed are relevant to Kuwait. Further research may be useful in this field in other developing countries, in order to test or develop the suggested strategy.