Metaverse Libraries: Leveraging Technology for Empowering Digital Citizenship

Introduction

The emergence of virtual reality (VR) technology represents a new wave of technological revolution and industrial change, and it is considered a key technology in promoting the development of the digital economy and industrial transformation. As the VR industry continues to grow and expand, there is a vast space for innovation and a great potential for growth. This is highlighted by the World VR Industry Conference on October 20, 2021, which emphasized the need for further “VR+” actions to enrich terminal products, content services, and promote the industrialization and scaling up of VR technology (Zhang et al., 2022). By focusing on “VR+” actions to enrich terminal products, content services, and promote the industrialization and scaling up of VR technology, it is believed that VR can empower digital citizenship by providing users with immersive and interactive experiences that enhance access to information and resources, and promote greater participation and engagement in the digital world.

The integration of virtual reality (VR) and metaverse technology in traditional cultural venues such as libraries, museums, and galleries is revolutionizing the way digital citizenship is empowered. VR technology allows for a more immersive and interactive experience for visitors, bringing exhibits and collections to life in a way that was not previously possible. Moreover, the use of VR in education and training is gaining momentum as it enables students to explore and learn in a virtual environment that simulates real-world scenarios. Metaverse technology, in particular, offers a virtual shared space where users can interact with each other and with virtual objects in a way that resembles the real world. The use of metaverse technology in libraries can enable the creation of virtual reading rooms and libraries, providing users with access to a vast collection of books and resources in a virtual environment. Furthermore, it can also enable the creation of virtual events such as book clubs and author talks, providing a new way for libraries to engage with their communities, and thereby empowering digital citizenship.

There are 3 stages in the development of intelligent libraries: pseudo-intelligent, partially intelligent and fully intelligent (Njoku, Nwakanma, Amaizu, & Kim, 2022). From the current stage of development of intelligent libraries, libraries are still in pseudo-intelligent and partially intelligent stages (Alpala et al., 2022). Technologies such as Web 3.0, Internet of Things, big data, and cloud computing (Dai, Wang, & Gao, 2022) are widely used in the intelligent services of libraries, but their intelligent services are limited by time and space. Each technological revolution has brought about disruptive changes to the service models of libraries. From information to knowledge to big data, the service models of libraries have evolved from traditional service models to digital library service models to intelligent library service models.

The advent of metaverse technology has the potential to revolutionize the field of intelligent libraries, creating immersive and fully-intelligent spaces that empower digital citizenship. As libraries embrace this new technology, they must consider how it can be applied to enhance collection management, reading spaces, cultural promotion, reading experiences, and user services. By leveraging the power of metaverse, intelligent libraries have the opportunity to take their digital transformations to the next level, providing users with truly interactive and personalized experiences that drive innovation and improve services. Thus, understanding the capabilities and potential applications of metaverse technology in libraries is crucial for the development and advancement of intelligent library services.