The Sixteenth International Conference on Books, Publishing & Libraries

Abstract

One of the greatest difficulties patrons encounter when using university libraries is physically locating the materials they are looking for. Previous research conducted on students’ ability to locate materials found that students searching for a call number will frequently wind up searching in the wrong range (Murphy, MacDonald, and Long, 2013). Libraries and other institutions facing similar problems have recently begun to explore the use of iBeacon technology as a solution which, when used in conjunction with a smartphone app, can guide users to the approximate physical location they are seeking, whether it be a particular stack or a service point. Illinois State University’s Milner Library applied for and received a grant to fund the purchase of beacons and the development of a mobile app designed to help patrons find books and other materials more efficiently. This paper will share our experiences as we worked with other campus units and outside contractors to develop and implement the application.