The Liquid Galaxy in the library. A study of use and users of interactive digital display technology at UNC-CH
| Published date | 21 November 2016 |
| Pages | 657-668 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/LHT-04-2016-0045 |
| Date | 21 November 2016 |
| Author | Amanda Tickner |
| Subject Matter | Library & information science,Librarianship/library management,Library technology,Information behaviour & retrieval,Information user studies,Metadata,Information & knowledge management,Information & communications technology,Internet |
The Liquid Galaxy in the library
A study of use and users of interactive digital
display technology at UNC-CH
Amanda Tickner
Library, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of this paper is to investigate the usability and user perceptions of the display
technology in the library to evaluate the utility of the Liquid Galaxy (LG) technology and how it was
deployed in a library setting.
Design/methodology/approach –This paper presents the results of a mixed method (survey and
interview) qualitative study of users of the LG Google Earth/Google Street View immersive display in
the Research Hub of Davis Library of the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill conducted in
April 2015. In total, 25 users of the LG responded to survey or interview questions about their user
experience and their emotional response to the LG.
Findings –Users found the LG easy to use and they had many reasons for using the LG including:
research, education, entertainment, trip planning and nostalgic virtual travel.
Originality/value –There are few studies on users’experience of innovative non-way finding
display technology in library settings and this study then adds to the literature on this subject.
These results may assist organizations evaluating incorporating an immersive display such as the LG
into their offerings.
Keywords User studies, Library facilities, Digital display, Google Earth, Immersive display,
Liquid Galaxy
Paper type Research paper
1. Introduction
Libraries have begun to incorporate virtual spaces in the form of immersive monitors/
displays into their offerings. An example of this is the Liquid Galaxy (LG) at the Davis
Library Research Hub at UNC-CH. The LG is an eight panel, large scale (approx. 8 ft.) curved
display space that allows users to explore Google Earth (as well as Mars and the Moon),
Google Street View and overlaid historic maps as uploaded by library staff. The LG has
been available and free for use without registration or training since September 2014
(Library News Staff, 2014). Since its debut, the LG has been used for class-related lectures
and activities and for historic map displays; however, its primary use is by individuals
exploring Google Earth.
This research project investigates the use of the LG and users response to the LG via
interviews and open-ended survey. Initial observations demonstrated that users
typically use the LG to tell stories, often nostalgic stories (e.g. stories from their
personal past history) and share personal history with others. Often people find the
house where they grew up and snap a photo of themselves with it in the display,
but this is the most basic activity; more expansive use includes giving fellow students/
colleagues tours of their home area. So the LG functions as a space of personal
engagement with a virtual landscape as well as a research and educational tool
(Plate 1). Library Hi Tech
Vol. 34 No. 4, 2016
pp. 657-668
©Emerald Group Publis hing Limited
0737-8831
DOI 10.1108/LHT-04-2016-0045
Received 22 April 2016
Revised 17 August 2016
16 September 2016
Accepted 14 October 2016
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at:
www.emeraldinsight.com/0737-8831.htm
The author would like to thank the Research Hub for allowing this research to take place, and
Librarians Stuart Varner, Amanda Henley and Philip McDaniel for their feedback and support.
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Liquid Galaxy
in the library
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