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Librarians at the University of Victoria are showcasing their own futures today — cutting-edge technology as well as the timeless world of printed material.
“We live in a hybrid world now,” said Pia Russell, a UVic librarian who specializes in materials for university students studying education. “We work in print, but it’s also digital.”
Class of 2030: Welcome to Your UVic Library of the Future is an Ideafest event that promises to be family-friendly, featuring elements such as a tech petting zoo, an all-ages story time and a chance to make a real book and take it home.
Russell said the event is meant to give everybody a taste of the UVic library, its collections of more than two million books and printed artifacts and new forays into digital worlds.
The tech petting zoo will offer demonstrations of devices such as 3D printers. There might even be a small trinket afterwards for people to keep. Virtual-reality goggles will offer views of digital visions and scenes.
Children can visit a table with materials where an instructor will help them build a book of their own.
Another table will offer a demonstration of printing. Visitors can print personalized bookmarks with their names and selected designs.
“At UVic Libraries, we happen to think books are really quite beautiful,” said Russell. “So we want to show people how they can make a book of their own and how printing happens.”
Librarians from the Greater Victoria Public Library will lead all-ages story times in separate classrooms. There will even be a visit from Thunder, the UVic sports mascot, proving people of all cultures enjoy libraries, even Vikings.
Russell said the primary message is one of welcome — materials from UVic’s collections are available for the public to borrow. All that’s required is a community borrower’s card.
“We want young people and families in our community to know that UVic Library is not just a library for this university,” she said.
“It’s a library for our city as well.”
She also confessed to an ulterior motive. Adults can get a sense of what’s on offer, while their children gain familiarity with the library that will, it is hoped, one day lead to enrolment at the university.
“People are most welcome to come in and use our collections and ask lots of questions,” she said. “And we hope children will get comfortable and see themselves studying at UVic in the future.”
Service desks will be open for people to sign up as community borrowers. All that’s required is photo ID. The Greater Victoria Public Library will also be offering membership cards.
The event will be at the Mearns Centre for Learning in the McPherson Library’s main floor lounge today from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
rwatts@timescolonist.com