Understanding Taiwanese mobile information access behavior

Abstract

As the growing of smart phone ownership, the mobile information service is becoming popular. Thus, no one should underestimate the potential of mobile internet and mobile app. However, what do people in Taiwan do with their mobiles? How do they use smart phone, especially the mobile application, to satisfy their information needs? The study about mobile device information service or mobile application needs is seldom in Taiwan. This paper reports on a diary and in-depth interview study performed to better understand library user’s mobile information behavior, and focused on their mobile device application needs. The author is seeking answers to help improve the development of mobile service and speed adoption of library mobile information services. First, many public, college, and even private libraries in Taiwan have established library-related apps. However, the interviewees in this study did not use these library apps. Second, what is seen, heard, and thought of present situations generates information needs. This need could be regarded as a tipping point that forms an idea or task and then produces information-seeking behavior for completing the task. Finally, the previous models of information behavior could not be used to explain the characteristics of information-seeking behavior on the move. It is important to investigate library user’s mobile information behavior and mobile application needs before proposing the library mobile information service. Understanding the why requires a deeper picture of what drives people to incorporate mobile Internet access into their daily lives. The contributions of this study are twofold: First, we could utilize the experienced mobile device users have about good mobile services and applications to provide new adaptive service for library users. Secondly, we could provide suggestions about what kinds of mobile applications which library can provide for users to promote their service.