1. Users Attitude towards use of Smart Phone to Access Information: A Case Study of Mizoram University Students’
Presented by,
Ksh. Krishna Devi
Research Scholar
Department of Library & Information Science,
Mizoram University Aizawl

2. Introduction
Mobile phones have become one of the most essential parts of human life.
It helps in easy and quick sharing of information.
The smart pones are similar to mobile phones where it offers more advanced functioning like PCs.
Mobile devices have already made a significant impact on services like banking, tourism, health and agriculture.
Mobile Technology has now come up as “Libraries in Hand” trend where the librarians needs to communicate with the users for accessing information (Khare).

3. Objective of the study Methodology
To know the students’ attitude of MZU towards smart phone to access information.
To identify the different types of purpose for using the smart phone by the students’ of MZU.
To find out the type of connectivity of internet by the students’ of MZU.
To find out the barriers faced by the students in accessing academic resources on the Smart Phones.
Methodology
Random sampling technique has been used for the present study.
A structured questionnaire has been prepared and distributed among the UG and PG students of Mizoram University (MZU).

4. Data Analysis Table-1: Number of respondents
Course
No. of Questionnaire distributed
No. of Questionnaires received
Under Graduate (UG)
100
77 (44.77%)
Post Graduate (PG)
95 (55.23%)
Total
200
172 (100%)
Table-1: Number of respondents
Figure-1: Basic information of the respondent

5. Brand Name Under Graduate Percentage Post Graduate
Figure-2: Age-wise distribution
Brand Name
Under Graduate
Percentage
Post Graduate
Samsung 27
35.06 31
32.63
Micromax 6
7.79 8
8.42
ASUS 5
6.49 9
9.47
Sony
5.26
Nokia 7
9.09 2
2.11
Apple 4
4.21
Table-2: Brand Name of Smart Phone

6. Listen to podcasts/audio
Purpose
Under Graduate
Post Graduate
To make phone calls
77 (100%)
95 (100%)
To access information
60 (77.92%)
79 (83.16%)
Take or view photos
52 (67.53%)
56 (58.95%)
Listening music
55 (57.89%)
Text/SMS
43 (55.44%)
Playing
45 (58.44%)
36 (37.89%)
Watch/make videos
37 (48.05%)
38 (40%)
Listen to podcasts/audio
36 (46.75%)
34 (35.79%)
Watch TV/movies
23 (29.87%)
21 (22.11%)
Table-3: Purpose of using Smart Phone

7. Figure-3 Mode of Internet connectivity
Figure-4: Type of Internet Services used

8. Table-4: Frequency of use of Smart Phone by the UG students
Activities
Several times in a day
Once in a day
Once in a week
Occasionally
Never
Use of SNSs
30(38.96%)
20 (25.97%)
8 (10.39%)
19 (24.68%)
Sharing photos/videos
11 (14.29%)
7 (9.09%)
10 (12.99%)
46 (59.74%)
3 (3.90%)
Download media content
15 (19.48%)
33 (42.86%)
14 (18.18%)
Download/update mobile application
6 (7.79%)
2 (2.60%)
47 (61.04%)
Checking s
18 (23.38%)
28 (36.36%)
Browsing the website
26 (33.77%)
21 (27.27%)
4 (5.19%)
Reading e-book/e-journals
9 (11.69%)
Reading newspapers online
12 (15.58%)
23 (29.87%)
Listening to online music
27 (35.06%)
25 (32.47%)
Checking bus/rail/flight time tables
1 (1.30%)
44 (57.14%)
Accessing academic resources
17 (22.08%)
29 (37.66%)
Other Library services
41 (53.25%)
36 (46.75%)
Table-4: Frequency of use of Smart Phone by the UG students

9. Table-5: Frequency of use of the Smart Phones by the PG students
Activities
Several times in a day
Once in a day
Once in a week
Occasionally
Never
Use of SNSs
62(65.26%)
15 (15.79%)
6 (6.32%)
10 (10.53%)
2 (2.11%)
Sharing photos/videos
20 (21.05%)
11 (11.58%)
5 (5.26%)
54 (56.84%)
Download media content
24 (25.26%)
9 (9.47%)
44 (46.32%)
8 (8.42%)
Download/update mobile application
3 (3.16%)
57 (60%)
Checking s
13 (13.68%)
14 (14.74%)
16 (16.84%)
37 (38.95%)
15(15.79%)
Browsing the website
46 (48.42%)
Reading e-book/e-journals
17 (17.89%)
Reading newspapers online
34 (35.79%)
33 (34.74%)
Listening to online music
30 (31.58%)
Checking bus/rail/flight time tables
31 (32.63%)
Accessing academic resources
28 (29.47%)
36 (37.89%)
Other Library services
29 (30.53%)
66 (69.47%)
Table-5: Frequency of use of the Smart Phones by the PG students

10. Smart Phone use for library services
Under Graduate
Post Graduate
Renew books
15 (19.48%)
14 (14.74%)
Search books/check catalogue
Check fines/overdue
26 (33.77%)
15 (15.79%)
Table-6: Use of Smart Phones for library services
Figure-5: Extent of use of Smart Phone to know the collection and services of library

11. Table-7: Barriers in using academic resources on smart phones
Under Graduate
Post Graduate
Wi-Fi access
49 (63.64)
42 (44.21)
Technical Problems
21 (27.27)
20 (21.05)
Unfamiliar with resources available
18 (23.38)
16 (16.84)
Lack of time
10 (12.99)
15 (15.79)
Lack of awareness about use the resources
11 (14.29)
11 (11.58)
No permission to install the software
6 (7.79)
5 (5.26)
Figure-6: Need of special training

12. Major Findings
22 different brands are using by the students of MZU where Samsung is the most widely used smart phone followed by Micromax, ASUS, Sony, Apple, Nokia.
The majority of the students have the same purpose as accessing information (80.81%) through the smart phones which is followed by taking/viewing photos (62.79%) and listening music (62.21%) and so on.
Though the university provides the free Wi-Fi connectivity in the campus the majority of the students are using the paid internet services in their phones with a 3G (62.21%) connection.
Renewal of books and checking fines/overdue is the only library services used by the students in their smart phones.
It is observed from the study that the majority of the students feels that Wi-Fi access in the university campus as the barriers in using the academic resources on smart phones followed by technical problems (23.84%).

13. Conclusion
The MZU campus is extending widely Wi-Fi facility so that the students can access online information services on their PCs, laptops and smart phones with ease.
The central library of MZU must provide the facilities and services which will be easily accessible through the smart phones.
It is also recommended that the higher bandwidth of internet access must be provided on the campus so that the students can access the information online without any hindrance.

14. Thank You