Mobile learning (m-learning) is gaining its importance in recent years. For libraries, it is inevitable to adapt to this trend and provide various information services and support for mlearning. This paper studies the m-learning usage of Library and Information Science (LIS) students, who will be the new blood for the library in future. In this paper, we invited 267 subjects from Hong Kong, Japan, and Taiwan to participate in our online survey. We found that LIS students from these regions do adopt communication tools and social media for mlearning. However, they are less frequent to use their smartphones for academic reading. Plus, they rely more on search engines for fulfilling their information needs instead of library resources. We also found that the lacking of the mobile version website constitutes a significant barrier in m-learning, but the lacking of mobile apps is relatively acceptable by the respondents. The result of this study shows that there are no big differences in m-learning usage among the three regions, except that LIS students from Hong Kong are accessing the learning management platforms via their smartphones more frequently compared to students from Japan and Taiwan.

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Purpose-This paper is to explore art and design students' use of smartphones for accessing library services and learning at the Hong Kong Design Institute (HKDI). Design/methodology/approach-A questionnaire survey involving 51 HKDI students was conducted to examine the students' utilization of apps and the Internet on mobile devices to find information for the purpose of academic learning, social networking, and collaborative learning. Findings-Survey results showed that while the HKDI students were all smartphone owners and active users of such mobile communication devices, only a minority of them "frequently" use these mobile devices for formal learning purposes. They demonstrated a keen preference to use search engines, social communications, and other diverse use of smartphones. Except for research and image/audio-visual needs, the rest of their needs and usage behaviour is similar to mainstream university students. Practical implications-The results suggests opportunities for the libraries to develop services and facilities that could better fulfil students' information needs, and to improve the network coverage outside the library. Originality/value-This is probably the first study of its kind to explore art and design students' use of smartphones for learning needs. In particular, the recent capability of smartphones and mobile Internet speed are comparable with desktops, it is vital to reexamine the much changed environment and user needs.

Purpose This paper aims to study the information needs and online information-seeking behaviors on mobile platforms of performing arts students at a college level. Design/methodology/approach Survey instruments were used to collect data from performing arts students at the Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts (HKAPA), a metropolitan’s major performing arts tertiary institution. Data collected were analyzed through descriptive statistics and other statistical methods, and the music-related students were compared with the production-related students. Findings The result reveals that performing arts students all owned their mobile devices and often used mobile apps for non-academic purposes, but they did not often use mobile library services or read online academic contents with their mobile devices. The participants considered inadequate signal coverage, slow loading time, difficulty in reading on a mobile device and the lack of specialized mobile apps as more significant barriers affecting their usage. There are some significant differences between the music-related and production-related student groups in that music-related students watched lectures on the library websites and used electronic music scores more often than the production-related students. Practical implications This study contributes to the input for enhancements and policies to future mobile services and facilities of performing art libraries. Originality/value There have been scant studies on the mobile learning needs of performing arts students, especially in Asia.

This case study explores the information seeking behaviour of digital camera consumers based on Assael's consumer information acquisition and processing model. 135 responses were received from potential target group who had purchased or was planning to purchase digital cameras. Findings show that respondents who had not purchased digital camera before tended to seek for related information and generally spent more time on the search. Motivation of information seeking triggered by risk and uncertainty is also supported by resulting data .Significant difference was found in information seeking and time spent on the search based on different education attainment and income level of consumers. These results give hints to promoters to outline strategies for capturing potential customers based on their information seeking behaviour, as well as highlight informational supports that could be provided by relevant information agencies such as consumer councils and public libraries.