The Role of Digital Reality Technologies in Libraries: A Systemic Review

Fourth-generation libraries can no longer be satisfied with web software facilities and must use technologies, including digital realities to increase the level of service and attract clients. Therefore, this review aimed to identify the roles and effects of these technologies in libraries.

In this systematic review, PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar advanced search were used to extract and compile documents. Retrieved articles were entered into Endnote software. Two researchers independently explored the content of the articles against the inclusion and exclusion criteria and removed the irrelevant ones. Differences were resolved by consensus with a third researcher.

Fifty-two articles were selected for final analysis. The findings showed that in all kinds of libraries, the use of digital reality technologies can provide and receive new services, strengthen the process of training users, enhance their information literacy, improve the professional activity of librarians, save money, and finally manage and enrich library resources and knowledge sharing in research networks.

Modern libraries face many challenges, such as lack of funds to run communication infrastructure, lack of staff involvement in operational activities, and the need to train skilled personnel to provide services; however, they can present an attractive image of their services through knowledge sharing in the research networks, strengthening education, increasing information literacy, and effective resource management.