Libraries have always been a space to visit different worlds. That is a common thing to say for readers. As you choose a good book, you decide which world you want to enter. Of course, you never truly leave the space. You get so engrossed in it the world slips away. We now have the technology to take this a step further and “teleport” anywhere we want, right in our own libraries.
“Technology advancements, particularly in AI and virtual reality, is reshaping how students engage with content.”
(NMC Horizon Report, 2017)
Virtual Reality allows us to visually go wherever, while never actually having to leave the room. This opens so many doors for community members who might not have the resources to explore. When I was thinking about this while reading, my mind went to an episode of Shameless. Sheila is a woman with agoraphobia. She had not left her house in years. She used VR in order to explore a place that frightened her: a grocery store. While the actress is not truly working through this fear, this truly shows a brilliant way that VR can help members of the community. It is a tool that can be used to bridge the gap between members of the community who can not have certain experiences due to disability, poverty, or lack of transportation.
The Kelvin Smith Library sets a great example through their VR Tour. This was created during the pandemic and is still very useful today. The guide walks us through the library. The fun thing about this tour is it is 360 view. You can spin the screen to see all around you as if you were there in person. This is helpful for people who are immune compromised and maybe can’t spend too much time in public. It also comes in handy for neurodivergent individuals and those with various anxiety disorders. It is common for neurodivergent individuals to get overwhelmed in new spaces. This can allow people to see the spaces ahead of time so they know what to expect.
Two other examples are Town of Vail Public Library and the Boyden Library. The Town of Vail Public Library has a VR set up in their Makerspace. The Boyden Library has a VR set in their Library of Things collection. I think both of these ways are wonderful to include. Having it in the Library of Things is a great because patrons who check it out can use it either in the library or take it home. This gives more options for those who might be too shy to use it in a public space.
References:
New Media Consortium. (2017). NMC Horizon Report > 2017 Library Edition.