Using social media and mobile technologies to offer special services in a university environment

Abstract

The Technological advancement coupled with awareness among people helps the modern library and the librarian to deliver specialized services instantaneously. This paper tries to show how the social networking sites and mobile technology can be used to serve the library users better. The Indian Maritime University, Visakhapatnam Campus students, faculty and staff were surveyed through questionnaire method on their perceptions and use of social media and mobile technology. From the above study it was evident that almost all the respondents are aware of the usage of social networks and own mobile cell phones. However their usage of these technologies varied according to their age, educational status, job status and nature of their interests and attitudes. The paper suggests possible area of library services where adoption of latest technological tools helps in offering more cost-effective virtual information services to the academic and research community in Marine Sciences.