Virtual Reality and Libraries

     Virtual reality.  Long have I heard of it's coming into the mainstream.  Does anyone remember that old Micheal Douglas-Demi Moore movie from the 90s about a Seattle tech company and sexual harassment? There was an extended scene in the movie featuring cutting edge virtual reality technology.  Over two decades later it's still not in every living room or library for that matter...but perhaps I speak too soon.  Some libraries have begun to take notice of the technology such as Harvard and North Carolina State University and even some public libraries in California. 
     The McGill University Library in Montreal, Quebec has begun an innovation project featuring virtual reality.  They purchased high-end equipment and made it available to the entire college community with the goal of allowing students to explore the educational media and software available for both VR and AR.  Although interest was high bookings to use the equipment remained low.  But as popularity grows they expect the numbers to rise as well (Green & Groenendyk)
   I have no desire to strap on a pair of goggles and go hiking in the Grand Canyon but the idea that I could see and virtually touch ancient artifacts or rare books or art is very intoxicating.  That I would line up for and with the advancements being made and libraries open to the idea there is a good chance I may one day see the Declaration of Independence up close and personal.  Below is a video outlining Virtual reality and its uses in a library setting.

Works Cited

GREENE, DAVID and MICHAEL GROENENDYK. "Virtual and Augmented Reality as Library Services." Computers in Libraries, vol. 38, no. 1, Jan/Feb2018, pp. 4-7. EBSCOhost, login.ezproxy.palomar.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=127369434&site=ehost-live&scope=site.

Thalmann, Sarah. "Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality in Libraries." YouTube.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUjQ7VFPWxY