Bestselling tech maven Kroski is back with a timely, all-in-one guide to planning, organizing, and running virtual events in libraries. Ranging from simple gaming activities utilizing VR headsets to augmented reality tours, exhibits, immersive experiences, and STEM educational programs, these ideas include something for every size and type of academic, public, and school library. Programs encompassing new technologies such as augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and mixed reality (MR) are all included. Complete with step-by-step instructions, a materials and equipment list, budget, and recommendations for age ranges and type of library, among this collection’s engaging programming events and educational opportunities are
Ellyssa Valenti Kroski is the Director of Innovation & Engagement at the New York Law Institute as well as an award-winning editor and author of 77 books. She is a librarian, an adjunct faculty member at San Jose State University, and an international conference speaker. She can be found at: http://www.amazon.com/author/ellyssa and https://ellyssakroski.com/
Wow! HOLY CHIT! So, anyone who knows me knows that I do fully support progress technologically in library services, though I'm personally "more than little" reluctant to get behind new endeavors in this field, mainly because I don't have the $$ means or time to invest in it... However, Ellyssa Kroski creates a book to showcase the libraries' technology events/programming future and goals. How does this benefit a community? What purpose does new technology support in programming? Why? Why bother with expense when technology is just going to advance anyway, so why should a library invest thousands (or hundreds) of dollars in this world? It shockingly allows the library to do more...VR/AR and MR programming can allow for newcomers to take virtual tours, building expansions and designing new spaces, support gaming for teens and new adults, showcasing what these new advancements can do for the medical field and healthcare, community and economic development, allowing creative ideas to flourish and become (even to touch) dreams become realities through 3-D printing, among others. How does one even begin to set-up or budget for this? What supplies do we need? How will we sustain this? The books' formula of the 32 programs shows you all of the supplies you need, what goals they meet, what purpose the devices/technology serves, how to use it, roughly the cost of each, and even how to expand upon them. Most of the purchases are one-time buys, though many do require subscriptions or software upkeep. While it is cool, I know that this may be a long time coming or even sadly, not at all, for small rural libraries, even with grant funding for it. However, there are solutions in the book, whether public/academic/school library and in a variety of efforts or initiative sizes to meet these desires/needs. Lastly, while we do know that we're still in the midst of the pandemic, the book addresses these concerns and how to handle obstacles (as libraries do so well) to continue moving forward.