Purpose: The study intends to examine the factors influencing the behavioral intention to use academic libraries' mobile systems from the perspective of current users and potential adopters, respectively.

Design/methodology/approach: Our study investigates the mobile library system's acceptance by using a context-specific extension of the theory of reasoned action (TRA) and the technology acceptance model (TAM), which includes such factors as mobile self-efficacy, personal innovativeness and perceived playfulness. Structural equation modeling was used to test the validity of the proposed model based on the empirical data which was collected from 210 questionnaire survey participants.

Findings: The result shows that 1) for both current users and potential adopters, attitude toward use and subjective norm both have a significant and positive impact on behavioral intention to use; 2) perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use are significantly correlated to potential adopters' attitude toward use whereas perceived usefulness and perceived playfulness are significantly related to current users' attitude toward use; 3) as for the comparison between the two groups of users, personal innovativeness not only affects perceived usefulness of both current users and potential adopters, but also affects potential adopters' perceived playfulness positively. Mobile self-efficacy has a significant effect on perceived ease of use for both types of users.

Research limitations: Although the sample size met the basic statistics requirements for the social research, the participants were mainly college students, and other mobile system users like faculty members and researchers were not investigated. In addition, some influencing factors, such as information quality, system quality and service quality were not considered in the research model.

Practical implications: This study reveals main factors which influence both current users and potential adopters' intention to use the mobile system, providing academic libraries with insights into management strategies to offer customized mobile services to different types of users.

Originality/value: Previous studies did not distinguish current users from potential adopters, which is not conducive for academic libraries to provide customized services and attract potential users. We presented an exploratory study to address this issue.

Purpose: The study intends to examine the factors influencing the behavioral intention to use academic libraries' mobile systems from the perspective of current users and potential adopters, respectively.

Design/methodology/approach: Our study investigates the mobile library system's acceptance by using a context-specific extension of the theory of reasoned action (TRA) and the technology acceptance model (TAM), which includes such factors as mobile self-efficacy, personal innovativeness and perceived playfulness. Structural equation modeling was used to test the validity of the proposed model based on the empirical data which was collected from 210 questionnaire survey participants.

Findings: The result shows that 1) for both current users and potential adopters, attitude toward use and subjective norm both have a significant and positive impact on behavioral intention to use; 2) perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use are significantly correlated to potential adopters' attitude toward use whereas perceived usefulness and perceived playfulness are significantly related to current users' attitude toward use; 3) as for the comparison between the two groups of users, personal innovativeness not only affects perceived usefulness of both current users and potential adopters, but also affects potential adopters' perceived playfulness positively. Mobile self-efficacy has a significant effect on perceived ease of use for both types of users.

Research limitations: Although the sample size met the basic statistics requirements for the social research, the participants were mainly college students, and other mobile system users like faculty members and researchers were not investigated. In addition, some influencing factors, such as information quality, system quality and service quality were not considered in the research model.

Practical implications: This study reveals main factors which influence both current users and potential adopters' intention to use the mobile system, providing academic libraries with insights into management strategies to offer customized mobile services to different types of users.

Originality/value: Previous studies did not distinguish current users from potential adopters, which is not conducive for academic libraries to provide customized services and attract potential users. We presented an exploratory study to address this issue.