Morris Library personnel are working on an innovation that eventually will allow SIUC students and computer users worldwide to explore Morris Library by computer, opening and reading books right on their screen.
June 13, 1995
The Cybrary program is the first step in giving computer users the opportunity to use the library through the computer.
Cybrary creates a virtual-reality library on the computer. With the program, a person can actually see parts of Morris Library on
the computer screen, with dialogue and an electronic tour.
Advertisement
A team of workers in Morris Library developing the program are using unique products in multimedia applications to distribute education through the World Wide Web, a program that connects computer users through the Internet.
The program is based on a concept called distance learning, allowing computer users everywhere to see Morris Library and use its resources as if they were right in the building.
SIUC has a visiting researcher from Italy, Paolo Tosolini, aiding in the progress of distance learning.
Carolyn Snyder, the dean of library affairs, supported bringing Paolo Tosolini to SIUC. She said she saw it as a great opportunity for SIUC to expand its resources.
Tosolini used common, inexpensive computer programs to create new multimedia applications.
The term multimedia refers to the practice of combining different types in an innovative project that combines different types of media photography, video graphics, text, and others with a computer-based application.
The Toolbook Users Conference in Seattle has invited Tosolini to present Cybrary at the conference in September, when Tosolini expects the project to be finished.
Advertisement*
Susan Logue, the director of the project and a member of the team working closely with Tosolini, described the success of the program. What we are working with is the cutting edge this is a pretty significant step for the library, she said. We are making a lot of progress reaching multimedia.
Tosolini’s work ends next week, but Morris Library will continue research for the future of Cybrary.
Advertisement