International Journal of
Library and Information Science

  • Abbreviation: Int. J. Lib. Inf. Sci.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 2141-2537
  • DOI: 10.5897/IJLIS
  • Start Year: 2009
  • Published Articles: 246

Review

Mobile Libraries: Defining the phenomenon

Georgios Bikos
  • Georgios Bikos
  • Department of Library Science and Information Systems, Technological Educational Institute of Athens, Greece.
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Panagiota Papadimitriou
  • Panagiota Papadimitriou
  • 15th Junior High School of Peristeri, Athens, Greece.
  • Google Scholar


  •  Received: 18 December 2017
  •  Accepted: 16 February 2018
  •  Published: 30 March 2018

Abstract

This article presents a brief historical review of the appearance of mobile libraries and then continues to define the phenomenon on the basis of two of its distinct features: library services and mobility, which both concern institutional Mobile Libraries and non-institutional mobile libraries. In addition, special reference is made to the significant presence of non-institutional mobile libraries in the world of books. The text closes with a short reference to the social contribution of mobile (and mobile) libraries (education and lifelong learning, entertainment, communication - connection - meeting) to everyone and, more particularly, to people with special physical and/or social needs and the necessity to support the continuation of their operation. 

Key words: Mobile libraries, non-institutional mobile libraries, library services, library mobility, social contribution of mobile libraries.