Immersive technologies in the library: Organization of innovative service for science and education

Abstract

Introduction. The need to raise the efficiency of scholarly research and to create conditions for the production of new knowledge and its exchange actualizes the study of the cognitive potential of immersive technologies. Problem Statement. The research deals with issues related to unlocking the potential of immersive technologies for the organization of an innovative library and information service to promote the development of science and education. Purpose. The purpose is to substantiate the need to introduce immersive technologies in the practice of scientific libraries in order to provide information and technological support for research and educational activities, to develop theoretical and methodological approaches to the organization of library services based on immersive technologies. Materials and methods. The study is based on information of scientific library websites, thematic resources (MIT Media Lab Research portal, websites of software development corporations and official virtual reality hackathon websites), professional publications covering the specifics of immersive technologies, experience in their use in scholarly research and library practice. Systemic, functional methods, methods of observation, hypotheses in combination with the social communication method have been used. Results. The expediency of introduction of immersive technologies into the practice of scientific libraries as an innovative tool of information and technological support of science and education development has been shown. The cognitive potential of immersive technologies has been emphasized. Theoretical and methodological frameworks for organization of complex library and information service based on immersive technologies have been developed. Case studies of efficient use of these frameworks by scientific libraries have been given. Conclusions. The positive effect of using the cognitive potential of extended reality in educational practice and research actualizes the development of strategies for organizing a comprehensive library and information service in scientific libraries to provide access to immersive technologies.