Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Telepresence Robotics In An Academic Library: A Study Of Exposure And Adaptation Among Patrons And Employees, Lumarie Guth, Patricia F. Vander Meer

University Libraries Faculty & Staff Publications

Purpose

Librarians are working with telepresence robotics for various uses, particularly as a communication method inhabiting a space between video chat and face-to-face interactions. The library at Western Michigan University partnered with the Western Michigan University Communication and Social Robotics Lab to showcase this emerging technology in a high-traffic setting utilized by students of every level and major. The purpose of this paper is to discuss patron reactions to this technology exhibition in the library, beta testing of a telepresence robot in various public services tasks, and library employee attitudes toward this unfamiliar technology before and after one-on-one training.

Design/methodology/approach …