Primary Research Group has published Survey of Policies to Assure Mobile Device Access to the Library Website, ISBN 978-1-57440-284-1.

The 100+ page study looks closely at the measures taken by academic, public, and special libraries to assure that mobile devices--iPads, iPhones, Android devices, Kindles, and many others--can access the library website easily and fluently. The report looks at the development of new versions of websites specifically designed for mobile access, at use of various paid and open source services and product for mobile device access, and at general library policies designed to ease the experience of mobile device users. The report presents highly detailed data on the extent of library website traffic accounted for by mobile devices, the impact on library resource use of the deployment of mobile-friendly information products from vendors, and much more. More than 60 libraries contributed comprehensive data and insights to the report, and data is broken out by size and type of library and other useful criteria.

The study helps its readers to answer questions such as: What kind of apps are libraries developing for mobile technologies? How are libraries testing their sites for mobile device access? How many libraries and what kinds of libraries are using for-fee services to enhance mobile device access? What is the impact on use of library resources? What has been the experience of libraries with various open source products to enable mobile access? What are libraries planning for the future in this mission critical area?

Just a few of the report's many findings are that:

• 11.86% of libraries sampled have developed apps specifically for any kind of smartphone user. These apps were mostly devised by libraries outside of the United States, of which 36.36% of libraries have developed such apps.
• 20.34% said that they used both paid and free services to measure mobile device access metrics.
• Academic libraries were much more likely than others to use Google Analytics.
• Public libraries had the highest percentage of total web traffic accounted for by mobile devices, at 17.66%.

The study is available directly from Primary Research Group and also from major distributors of books and research reports. Print and PDF versions are available for $85.00. Site licenses are also available. For a table of contents, free excerpt, list of survey participants and the questionnaire, or to place an order, visit our website at www.PrimaryResearch.com.