Virtual learning librarian shares why VR is near and dear to her heart

What led you to this opportunity at UNF?

A Facebook post by a former coworker (friend) piqued my interest. I saw an opening that I knew was directed at me. As an early tech adopter, I jumped on the Virtual Reality bandwagon in 2017. Plus, I've had my eyes on working at UNF for many years. So, when my friend posted the listing for the Virtual Learning Librarian, I felt it was a sign blinking in my face and I applied. Plus, VR is near and dear to my heart. I purchased my grandson a VR headset that he used during chemotherapy treatments for leukemia. He's been in remission for two years headed towards the "cured" word.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

I love guiding people to the information they need to accomplish goals. When I teach a person how to use VR for the first time, I can literally see the lightbulb come on for most if not all to the possibilities that VR can have in their respective fields. I also enjoy teaching students who think they know everything about VR gaming, a more efficient way to experience it for education and as a tool to accomplish real-life objectives.

How has the University's library as a resource changed over the years?

The focus and role of the library has changed from a guard of the materials to a guiding light of discovery to the best resources and supplementary resources that satisfy the information need. The library is a place where you feel safe to explore and learn and to find technology to supplement and aid in discovery.

What energizes you at work?

The students! I am currently the faculty sponsor of the UNF VR Club, and they have created a collegiate VR eSports league team that is actively competing against other universities in the country playing the VR game, Beat Saber. They organize, practice and compete totally independent from my guidance. That energizes me. Watching the students organize and execute using VR independently.

What's a work-related accomplishment you're proud of?

I am very proud of the Eartha M.M. White VR Experience that was created with the help of a team of UNF colleagues and with the full support of the Eartha M. M. White Museum in Jacksonville. I believe cultural preservation is a very important use of Virtual Reality and can also be an efficient teaching tool. VR also can bring Eartha White's rich legacy to a whole new population all around the world in an immersive experience. Preserving the effect that Eartha White had and is still having on the people of Northeast FL in a medium that can spread it with free access across the globe has been the highlight of my career thus far.

What is one goal that you would like to accomplish this year?

I am working on my immediate goal for this coming year. I am branching out into Augmented Reality. With the help of another team of UNF colleagues, I hope to bring The JAZZ Experience to the UNF community. Using WEB-AR (meaning the coding for the AR is totally housed on the Web and no application needed), I hope to bring to life the Ibach Collection of Jazz Photography housed on the third floor of the library to life.

What would you say to someone considering a major in library science?

What struck me about library science is that it is multifaceted and the opportunities are endless. I went to library school to gain certification as a media specialist in elementary school. Now, I teach classes using VR in the Virtual Learning Center exploring the world, manipulating human organs, drawing in 3D, taking tours of museums and preserving culture. Keep your mind open to all possibilities.

What do you like to do outside of work?

Outside of work, I am my family's genealogist. As a history major, I have a keen interest in the past. I have built my family tree through DNA verified relatives back to the 15th century. Plus, I love to take my dog Stormy, a doodle, on walks.

What was your first job?

My first job as a teenager was a summer receptionist job at the Food Stamp office in Savannah, Georgia.

What's the best advice you've been given?

The best advice I was given was from Mr. Dickens, an assistant district manager at Social Security in Savannah, where I worked during college. He said, "Beryl, always be kind to the people you meet on your way through life, because you never know when those same people will be your boss." That stuck with me throughout my life.

Who inspires you and why?

I draw strength from my great-great-grandmother, Matilda Singleton, born ca. 1825. Her story is very inspiring to me and is one I teach my grandchildren. I love to say, "Remember Matilda!"

What's the top destination on your must-visit list?

In mid-June, I'm off on a 10-day trip to South Africa! It will be my first trip to the continent and hopefully not my last.