Presentation Tools - Virtual Reality and Libraries

Libraries in the Metaverse: Embracing Virtual and Augmented Reality

By Amber Scroggy

    Since the beginning of the Digital Age, approximately 1990, librarians have taken the opportunity to embrace innovative technologies. They adopted computers and the internet as a means to revolutionize resources through digitization and to better serve their communities. Now, Librarians are exploring how virtual reality like three dimensional graphics (3D), simulated spaces, and even gaming can change learning and collaboration.

    By embracing virtual reality libraries can expand access and services. In his article Editorial Board Thoughts: The Promise of Immersive Libraries, Jerome Yavarkovsky, Emeritus University Librarian at Boston College, explores the potential uses of virtual reality by libraries in an article publish in 2013. Here is a summary of potential uses he discusses:

• Collaborative workspaces: Augmented reality space where students, teachers, and researchers can work together on projects, assignments, and presentations eliminating limitations to physical space, (Yavarkovsky, 2013). 

• Access to resources: In a virtual library there would be the ability to access digital resources such as search engines, online catalogs, media and interactive media like 3D models and simulations, (Yavarkovsky, 2013).

• Enhanced Learning Opportunities: where libraries will offer immersive interactive experiences like virtual study representations of 3D dimensionally digitized resources such as Mayan Pottery with related resources including historical archives, (Yavarkovsky, 2013).

• Information Literacy: Libraries and other educators can use virtual spaces to host immersive programs for information literacy, research consultations, and document delivery services to their communities, enhancing their ability to find, evaluate and effectively use information, (Yavarkovsky, 2013).

• Distance Education: Libraries and can support distance learning through the use of virtual reality by enabling access to resources and collaborative spaces from anywhere in the world, (Yavarkovsky, 2013).

    Additionally, Elizabeth Zak, adjunct instructor at Dominican University, discussed augmented reality in her article Do You Believe in Magic? Exploring the Conceptualization of Augmented Reality and its Implications for The User in the Field of Library and Information Science defining Augmented Reality (AR) as a blending of physical environment with digital elements. She explores how AR can transform the library by expanding access and services, (Zak, 2014). In the library she say’s “AR can improve library instruction, provide information retrieval about shelved books through recognition applications, reconstruct and restore artifacts, and deliver services at point of need through QR codes,” (Zak, 2014).

    Having embraced the transformative potential of the Digital Age, librarians stand on the cusp of another exciting evolution: virtual and augmented reality.

This video looks at how one library has embraced virtual reality:

If you made it all the way here....

Thank you for reading!😁

Yavarkovsky, J. (2013). Editorial Board Thoughts: The promise of immersive libraries. Information                 Technology and Libraries, 32(4), 5–7. https://doi.org/10.6017/ital.v32i4.5267

Zak, E. (2014). Do you believe in magic? exploring the conceptualization of augmented reality and  its implications for the user in the field of Library and Information Science. Information Technology and Libraries, 33(4), 23–50. https://doi.org/10.6017/ital.v33i4.5638