{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,9]],"date-time":"2026-04-09T20:58:37Z","timestamp":1775768317479,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":44,"publisher":"Emerald","issue":"5","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2023,4,4]],"date-time":"2023-04-04T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1680566400000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/www.emerald.com\/insight\/site-policies"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["LHT"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2024,10,17]]},"abstract":"<jats:sec><jats:title content-type=\"abstract-subheading\">Purpose<\/jats:title><jats:p>The purpose of this paper is to understand the applications of metaverse-related technologies in US urban libraries, explore excellent cases of US urban libraries' practices in using metaverse-related technologies to serve patrons and try to find the factor that may affect the application of metaverse-related technologies in libraries at this stage.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title content-type=\"abstract-subheading\">Design\/methodology\/approach<\/jats:title><jats:p>To gather information about how and whether libraries use metaverse-related technologies such as three-dimensional (3D) technology, radio frequency identification (RFID), virtual reality augmented reality (AR) and artificial intelligence (AI) in their services. Firstly, the authors visit 150\u00a0US urban library websites that are members of the Urban Libraries Council. Secondly, the authors calculate the proportion of services provided by urban libraries that use metaverse-related technologies and introduce outstanding cases. Lastly, the authors discuss the factors that influence the application of metaverse-related technologies in urban libraries in the United States based on data published by the Institute of Museum and Library Services.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title content-type=\"abstract-subheading\">Findings<\/jats:title><jats:p>Metaverse-related technologies have been widely used in US urban libraries, but there are differences in the popularity of the applications of different technologies. In all, 84% of libraries use 3D technology, mainly in 3D printing services and 3D model building services; 76% of libraries use virtual and augmented reality technologies in their services, mainly concentrated in head-mounted VR device experiences, AR device experiences, virtual tours and virtual exhibitions; 62% of libraries use Internet of things (IoT) technology, mainly in self-checkout machines and book location services. However, AI technologies are less used in libraries, with 28% of libraries mentioning the applications of AI in their services, mainly focusing on intelligent search, virtual assistants and robot librarians. In addition, this study finds that library operating expenditures and population served do not affect the application of metaverse-related technologies in libraries.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title content-type=\"abstract-subheading\">Originality\/value<\/jats:title><jats:p>This paper provides updated statistical data on the use of metaverse-related technologies in US urban libraries and aims to help library managers understand the overall applications and best practices. With this as an inspiration, they could formulate corresponding development plans to better serve their communities with metaverse-related technologies.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1108\/lht-10-2022-0486","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2023,4,1]],"date-time":"2023-04-01T03:03:28Z","timestamp":1680318208000},"page":"1477-1495","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":45,"title":["Applications of metaverse-related technologies in the services of US urban libraries"],"prefix":"10.1108","volume":"42","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8441-3328","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Yajun","family":"Guo","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3472-9708","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Yiming","family":"Yuan","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Shuai","family":"Li","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2004-1865","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Yiruo","family":"Guo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0753-2603","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Yiyang","family":"Fu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-9895-9345","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Zihan","family":"Jin","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"140","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2023,4,4]]},"reference":[{"key":"key2024101510101361300_ref001","unstructured":"Allen County Public Library (2022), \u201cMain library 3D tours\u201d, available at: https:\/\/acpl.lib.in.us\/using-the-library\/tours (accessed 30 July 2022)."},{"key":"key2024101510101361300_ref002","unstructured":"Anchorage Public Library (2018), \u201cRobots helping people help people\u201d, available at: https:\/\/www.anchoragelibrary.org\/about\/about-apl\/library-news\/robots-helping-people-help-people\/ (accessed 2 July 2022)."},{"issue":"6","key":"key2024101510101361300_ref003","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.acalib.2021.102437","article-title":"UTAUT as a model for understanding intention to adopt AI and related technologies among librarians","volume":"47","year":"2021","journal-title":"The Journal of Academic Librarianship"},{"key":"key2024101510101361300_ref004","unstructured":"Anythink (2020), \u201cTeen tech: VR charades\u201d, available at: https:\/\/www.anythinklibraries.org\/events\/teen-tech-vr-charades (accessed 30 July 2022)."},{"issue":"1","key":"key2024101510101361300_ref005","first-page":"1","article-title":"IoT-based library automation and monitoring system: developing an implementation framework of implementation","volume":"8","year":"2017","journal-title":"E-ciencias De La Informaci\u00f3n"},{"issue":"4","key":"key2024101510101361300_ref006","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"669","DOI":"10.1108\/LHT-12-2018-0196","article-title":"Retrospective analysis of a sustainable 3D printing service in an academic library","volume":"37","year":"2019","journal-title":"Library Hi Tech"},{"issue":"2","key":"key2024101510101361300_ref007","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"13","DOI":"10.18438\/eblip29332","article-title":"The socioeconomic profile of well-funded public libraries: a regression analysis","volume":"13","year":"2018","journal-title":"Evidence Based Library and Information Practice"},{"issue":"1","key":"key2024101510101361300_ref008","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1519","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijinfomgt.2016.04.017","article-title":"A content service deployment plan for metaverse museum exhibitions\u2014centering on the combination of beacons and HMDs","volume":"37","year":"2017","journal-title":"International Journal of Information Management"},{"issue":"2","key":"key2024101510101361300_ref009","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"90","DOI":"10.17705\/1jais.00183","article-title":"Avatars, people, and virtual worlds: foundations for research in metaverses","volume":"10","year":"2009","journal-title":"Journal of the Association for Information Systems"},{"key":"key2024101510101361300_ref010","volume-title":"The Metaverse: Open the Six Major Trends of the Future World","year":"2021"},{"key":"key2024101510101361300_ref011","unstructured":"Engard, N. 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