In this metaverse era where virtual and physical space blend, it has become increasingly important for libraries to support digital fluency, as well as help users to navigate, evaluate and use information responsibly by leveraging on immersive technologies. Thus, this study aims to explore how libraries are currently advancing information literacy through immersive technologies, as well as to understand what kind of information literacy activities are being carried out using immersive technologies.
The rapid review design was adopted to theoretically analyze and synthesize existing literature on the use of immersive technologies for information literacy instruction in libraries. Scholarly articles published between 2017 and 2024 in three major academic databases (EBSCO Host, ProQuest and Google Scholar) were analyzed and discussed in this paper.
This study revealed that immersive technologies like virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) hold great potentials for libraries in helping users gain access to information, promote learning and foster community engagement. There is also evidence of the use of innovation to practice critical evaluation, ethical usage and collaborative content creation among users. However, high cost of the technology, inadequate technical expertise among library staff, disparities in access and digital equity remain critical barriers to universal adoption of immersive technologies in libraries.
The study is limited in its use of three academic databases only for the review, thereby limiting the scope and depth of the rapid review. Future study could include other specialized databases like ERIC (for education) and ACM Digital library (computing) for a robust review.
The review reinforces the need for ongoing professional developments for librarians and educators to be able to effectively use novel technologies like VR and AR to create engaging content that will stimulate learning, engagements and ultimately enhance the information literacy of library users.
This study seeks to foster a new paradigm for engaging and advancing the information literacy competencies of library users.
