There are Little Free Library book-sharing boxes on all seven continents, but now we’ve ventured into a new frontier: the metaverse! The San José State University School of Information has announced the launch of “Freedom to Read,” a virtual reality exhibition space that counters the forces that seek to challenge, restrict, and ban books by bringing together communities and offering ways to connect and provide access to books. Included in this virtual reality space is a Little Free Library station where you can learn more about the LFL network and how to start your own Little Free Library.
Accessible from any device, including computers, smartphones, tablets, and VR headsets, the “Freedom to Read” metaverse allows users to step into an immersive virtual world where they can engage with authors, librarians, and publishers as they share stories of censorship, resistance, and triumph.
Launched in conjunction with Banned Book Week, September 22-28, the “Freedom to Read” VR banned book metaverse premiered online on September 23, 2024.
“Freedom to Read” is funded by SJSU’s iSchool, spearheaded by Dr. Anthony Chow, who is on the Little Free Library Board of Directors. The project is in partnership with Little Free Library, the American Library Association, United Against Book Bans, Books Unbanned, Brooklyn Public Libraries, and XR Libraries.
Explore the “Freedom to Read” metaverse at https://framevr.io/freedom-to-read.