Going mobile for smart public libraries factors influencing the adoption of smartphones in accessing EIRs

With the advent of mobile technology in the fourth industrial revolution (4IR), public libraries revolutionise traditional library services and push boundaries of digital innovation by integrating emerging technologies into the provision of the Electronic Information Resources (EIRs) in order to remain relevant and competitive and increase digital presence. This study sought to unearth the factors influencing library patrons’ behavioural intention to use smartphones to access EIRs in the City of Johannesburg Libraries in the Gauteng Province of South Africa. The study applied a conceptual framework underpinned by the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) model. The survey research design was adopted, following the quantitative research approach anchored in the positivism worldview. Data were collected using a questionnaire from 223 library patrons who were selected through convenience sampling. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 22 (SPSS) software was used to analyse the data. The results revealed that 98.7% of library patrons own smartphones or mobile phones. The findings also showed that 62.3% of the respondents preferred to use smartphones to access the library website and the internet. The study further revealed that performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influences, and facilitating conditions were the key factors for the adoption and use of smartphones to access EIRs in CoJ’s libraries, accounting for 39.4% of the variance. It is recommended that public libraries should develop mobile library websites and mobile apps to make the latest trend of “libraries in the pocket of library patrons” a reality in line with the digital transformation strategy.