Deerfield Public Library turns a new page with a virtual tour

Matterport Editorial Team

It's long been said that the pen is mightier than the sword and that knowledge is power. No one knows this better than the dedicated librarians of Deerfield Public Library, who strive to make information accessible to everyone.

When many people think of books, they think of faded old tomes perched upon shelves gathering dust. But for many years now, libraries have been uploading their catalogs digitally to make them easier for the public to access.

As part of their commitment to providing the public with material and resources, Deerfield Public Library has taken digitizing reading material one step further by partnering with Matterport to create a virtual tour of the library. Through the tour, keen readers can explore the library's directory virtually, giving them a newfound appreciation for this fount of knowledge and entertainment.

We spoke to Kary Henry, the school outreach coordinator of the Deerfield Public Library, to learn a little more about why they chose this route.

What inspired the 3D capture of this space?

I am fortunate to be able to collaborate regularly with Deerfield's school librarians. One of them worked with Matterport to create a digital twin of her school library and told me about it. I was excited about the possibilities that offering this service to our library's patrons could create.

What are the "must-sees" you want visitors to explore and why?

I think the entire Deerfield Public Library is a "must-see!" Our Library of Things offers everything from telescopes to board games, from Wi-Fi hotspots to Rokus, from a backyard movie bundle with a 20' inflatable screen to a kit that helps children learn to tie their shoes! Our MakerSpace is a multifunctional area designed to help our patrons be creative through amazing technology. Whether you're using our 3D printer, sewing a quilt, laser engraving a wedding gift or converting old home movies into digital files, this space is very popular. Nearest and dearest to my heart, though, is the Youth Services Department! Penelope the Pig is ready to greet you as you explore books, play with our Stay and Play Kits, take part in storytimes and so much more! We want our patrons to explore the entire Library and recognize that we have an incredible variety of resources for our community and beyond.

What's the one thing you want visitors to take away after exploring your 3D tour?

The Deerfield Public Library is an amazing space for everyone and anyone!

What are the benefits of Matterport digital twins?

Our Matterport digital twin offers our patrons a chance to visit the Library without leaving home. If a parent/caregiver wants to show their child what to expect at the Library, the virtual tour facilitates that. If a homebound patron wants to see the latest list of the extremely popular Lucky Duck books, they can visually browse that section and explore further through the Mattertags that link to our catalog. Teachers who want to show their students how to use the library will also benefit from this tool.

Do you have any plans to capture more 3D experiences?

We hope to add the lower level of the Library to our scan as soon as we possibly can.

Anything else you would like to add?

Many thanks to Matterport for this amazing opportunity; we're very excited about this new resource for our patrons.