Caledon Public Library receives grant to launch virtual reality program

Written By ALYSSA PARKHILL

The Caledon Public Library (CPL) is consistently rolling out “exciting” new features for Caledon residents. 

With a digital library that allows students and adults to gain broader access to education through online videos arts and craft workshops, digital magazines and newspapers, eBooks and audiobooks, online language learning and courses to learn new skills or develop new ones, CPL has introduced their latest wave of technology learning through virtual reality. 

Virtual reality, defined by the Virtual Reality Society is, “the term used to describe a three-dimensional, computer generated environment which can be explored and interacted with by a person. That person becomes part of this virtual world or is immersed within this environment and whilst there, is able to manipulate objects or perform a series of actions.”

The library's new program was funded with the help of the Rotary Club of Palgrave, who donated $2,000 to the virtual initiative. 

The Rotary Club of Palgrave consistently supports and assists initiatives and programs throughout the community via charitable donations, and CPL is grateful for their kind donation. 

“The Rotary Club of Palgrave is dedicated to working with charitable organizations that share their goal to help make a difference in both local communities and international regions. They plan and carry out a variety of remarkable humanitarian, educational and cultural programs that touch people's lives in our local and global communities and we are grateful they chose to support our virtual reality initiative,” says Colleen Lipp, CEO and Chief Librarian of Caledon Public Library. “Our plan is to bring virtual reality (VR) into the Library as well as include it in our outreach programming at seniors' centres, school visits, and community events in our ongoing efforts to reduce isolation and bring Caledon together.” 

The virtual reality kits are going to help develop different types of programs for residents of all ages and is a portable system to

“These VR kits are portable which means we can use them for outreach at seniors' centres, school visits, and community events. They will help to raise awareness of the library and highlight the resources and other technology that the library has to offer the community,” explains Mary Maw, Manager of Communications and Community Development. 

These kits will be used for several different programs such as Google Earth, National Geographic, Apollo 11, Googles Arts and Culture, just to name a few. 

Thanks to the Rotary Club of Palgrave and their generous donation, Caledon residents will get the opportunity to experience be thrown into the virtual world to experience and learn through simulation.

 “With the Rotary Club of Palgrave's generous donation, the Library can continue to provide a safe, friendly venue in which our residents can explore technology,” added Caledon Public Library Board Chair, Janet Manning. “By introducing the community to VR, we will also help to bridge the digital divide by allowing those without the technological means to experience this technology for themselves. It is important that people have a level of technological comfort and digital literacy in order to fully participate as citizens and the use of VR headsets with phones will help those feel more comfortable with technology.”

For more information about the Caledon Public Library's new programs please visit caledon.library.on.ca.