A Study on the Analysis of Public User Expectations for the Metaverse Library Services

1 Introduction

The Metaverse first appeared in Neil Stephenson’s novel Snow Crash (1992), and began with a picture of people borrowing virtual bodies and avatars to enter a virtual country called “Metaverse” (Jeong et al. 2021). In the early 2000s, with the emergence of Google’s 3D map service “Google Earth” and the 3D virtual world “Second Life,” interest in the 3D Web increased and discussions on the Metaverse began in earnest as a new future space for social and economic activities. (Figures 1–4)

Figure 1:

The recent Metaverse implementation.

Figure 2:

The screenshots of Olathe Second Life Library.

Figure 3:

Hansung Book-niverse, a Metaverse library at Hansung University.

Figure 4:

Hansung Book-niverse, a Metaverse library at Hansung University.

In May 2006, the Metaverse Roadmap Summit was held under the supervision of the Acceleration Studies Foundation (ASF). The contents of the event and the discussion on the concept and outlook of Metaverse were published in the Metaverse Roadmap report in 2007 (Acceleration Study Foundation 2007). Microsoft and Google were in a hurry to develop the next generation of the Metaverse. In Japan, related services and products such as “splume,” “meet-me,” and “HOME” have already been released or are about to be released (Seo 2008).

“Metaverse” is a compound word consisting of meta, meaning transcendence and virtuality, and universe, meaning the world. It refers to a three-dimensional virtual world in which social and economic activities continue as in reality. In other words, it includes performing various activities using one’s own alter ego, or avatar, in a virtual world built on the Internet. It advocates another world under the name “Mirror World” (Lee 2021b). Unlike MMORPGs, which selectively operate within a set system, users engage in various organic activities such as communication, business, and seminars within the Metaverse. They build buildings, party, trade goods, and participate in lectures and seminars in virtual spaces. With a similar concept, Second Life briefly drew attention in the early 2000s and waned, but it is in full swing again. In 2003 Linden Lab’s Second Life, graphics were not sophisticated, and communication speed was not supportive, so the service was not smooth but it was still recognized as a service with a wow factor, worth using at least once (Han 2021). In particular, as telecommuting, teleconference, and webinars have become commonplace due to the recent COVID-19 crisis, the aforementioned services are gaining momentum. This is because with the development of science and technology, related technologies such as sensors, virtual reality, and augmented reality have emerged, and the sense of reality has increased. Various services such as real estate transactions are provided on each Metaverse site. Buildings and shops are built, and educational institutions such as schools, movie theaters, performance halls, and various amusement facilities are created to provide a place where people can interact with each other.

These Metaverses are largely divided into games and platforms. Users play games based on virtual characters they create in game-based Metaverses such as Minecraft, Roblox, and Animal Crossing. Platform-based Metaverses, such as SKT JUMP and NCsoft Universe, focus on social interaction functions, and users communicate through avatars, form social relationships, and hold performances or conferences. They also shop using virtual currency at stores.

This study attempted to explore the possibility of applying this concept of Metaverse to libraries. To this end, representative Metaverse implementation cases and library implementation cases, including previous studies related to Metaverse, were investigated and comprehensively analyzed. Finally, we attempted to collect opinions on the service direction to be pursued when Metaverse libraries are implemented, and based on these results attempted to propose a future image of the Metaverse library.

In this context, we have investigated the perceptions of teenagers and those in their twenties who comprise the main users of the Metaverse services, and based on their perceptions of the Metaverse, we sought answers to the following research questions:

2 Previous Studies

By looking at the preceding studies covered in this chapter, it can be seen that the Metaverse is being utilized in a wide variety of areas, including virtual currency, educational institutions, arts, and games. It can be seen that it is related to all areas, including politics, economy, society, and culture. In the end, it may be suggested that everything in the present world can be implemented as a virtual world.

First, in Korea, about 13 years ago, Seo (2008) looked at the concept and development prospects of the Metaverse, focusing on the U.S. Metaverse Roadmap and Japan’s IT Roadmap. In addition, the significance and limitations of Linden Lab’s Second Life, perhaps the closest to the concept of Metaverse among the existing virtual worlds, were discussed. In addition, Metaverse development trends in countries around the world aiming for second- and third-generation Second Life were analyzed. Through this, as a condition for the success of the development of the next-generation Metaverse, attention should be paid to the provision of abundant content, reinforcement of relevant functions, and the possibility of the development of the mirror world. In addition, it was pointed out that development and research on Metaverse are very insufficient in Korea, the country that boasts the world’s best IT technology. Seo proposed the concept of the Metaverse and four major elements of Metaverse, while presenting trends and prospects for Metaverse development at home and abroad. In the same year, Han (2008) presented a study that showed that the virtual world can be classified into the Ludic Virtual World, which emphasizes fantasy, playfulness, and gameability, and the Social Virtual Reality, which emphasizes reality, efficiency, and networkability.

It is evident that research of the Metaverse platform was very actively carried out in 2021. Kim (2021b) predicted the conditions of the Metaverse for sustainable growth from the three theoretical perspectives of the platform. In order for the platform to continue to grow, it must grow above the threshold, and for this, the following three perspectives must be considered: a two-sided market perspective encompassing both demand and supply sides; a perspective of platform typology that divides the platform into a transaction platform that enters the market from a narrow area and grows into an open interface convergence service, and an innovation platform that provides universal tools or technologies and accommodates third-party innovation in various areas; a life-cycle perspective of the platform for birth → expansion → leading → self-renewal. Han (2021) comprehensively examined the development status of Metaverse platforms and later proposed innovation plans for information, companies, and public institutions based on the Metaverse. In particular, he argued that if public services are implemented on the Metaverse platform, users will be able to implement intuitive and convenient services beyond temporal and spatial limitations. A study by Park (2021) suggests the direction of use based on the current situation. In addition, a study by Lee (2021a) proposed the rapid rise of Metaverse in a non-face-to-face state.

In addition, the studies on the concept and type of Metaverse were conducted. In 2015, Kim and Choi (2016) proposed a plan to develop history education content through four types of Metaverse. They argue that technological systems such as Metaverse need to be introduced to properly understand the times because history, the subject of history education, targets the past. Cho (2021) said that the Metaverse, a new dimension of digital virtual space, will produce an explosive value creation that humans have not yet enjoyed. It is also argued that people will form a community and communicate here and that they will create a new life in the space of digital twins, like in yet another Second Life. Kim (2021c) dealt with the concepts of virtual currency and the virtual world Metaverse. He gave an explanation of Earth 2, a representative example of a virtual real estate sales project, and other examples, including Fortnite game sites, BTS Dynamite, and Blackpink’s Ice Cream dance. In Earth 2, real estate is sold by mapping the actual earth 1:1 and dividing it into 10 m × 10 m size tiles. But he argues that people, like they would with virtual currency, should approach virtual real estate carefully.

In this world of evolution, Kim (2021) argued that marketing should also evolve into Metaverse-based marketing. He noted developments in graduation marketing cases (UC Berkeley, Soonchunhyang University), political marketing (Joe Biden in Animal Crossing), and game meta marketing (League of Legends). Ko, Yoo, and Hwang (2021) also presented Metaverse marketing cases and proposed successful Metaverse marketing strategies. In addition, Jeong et al. (2021) discussed how architecture should develop in the upcoming Metaverse world, and Kim (2021a) discussed the future of the game industry.

It can be said that the Metaverse library began with the Second Life library. In April 2006, the Alliance Library System and Online Programming for All Libraries collaborated to launch Second Life Library 2.0 in the online world, and in August 2006, they purchased an island on the Teen Grid on Teen Second Life. Second Life is a virtual world descending from multiplayer online games. Second Life Library 2.0 has collaborated with librarians around the world and other educational partners such as TechSoup, World Bridges, and New Media Consortium. Second Life Library 2.0 provides traditional library services such as references, book discussions, and search support, while also exploring what it means to be a virtual library in a virtual world (Hedreen et al. 2008). The Metaverse is an augmented reality platform used to build interactive learning experiences. In the Metaverse library, users can see the surrounding environment through a smartphone camera and see overlapping icons, pictures, or cartoon characters. For example, one can see his/her head floating above the circulation desk. The overlapping image may appear according to a geographic location (in this case, a specific location in the library). Through conversations, characters can ask viewers to answer questions such as quizzes or perform specific tasks that can be implemented on a computer, such as providing photos with related works, ISBN, or barcodes.

However, when analyzing previous studies, there were a few papers related to the implementation of the Metaverse library. In addition, it was investigated that there was no study conducted on how to implement the Metaverse library and how its users would react when the Metaverse library is established. Therefore, it would be meaningful to derive which services and programs can be provided if the Metaverse Library is established.

3 Metaverse Implementation Cases

The Acceleration Studies Foundation in the U.S. has classified the Metaverse into four types: augmented reality, lifelogging, mirror world, and virtual world. It has argued that several types are evolving into new types of services by mutually converging and breaking down boundaries.

Recent Metaverse implementation shows that there are countless cases, and it can be seen that the fields of application are diverse. It can be applied to all parts of our lives, such as art, literature, physical education, and the economy. According to predictions by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), the spread of the Metaverse, the AR and VR markets are projected to grow from $46.4 billion (about 52 trillion won) in 2019 to $476.4 billion (about 540 trillion won) in 2025 and $1.5 trillion (about 1700 trillion won) in 2030 Kim and Jung (2021).

A representative example of Metaverse implementation is Roblox, a Metaverse virtual reality game platform. When you connect to Roblox, you enter a three-dimensional virtual space with your avatar and enjoy your daily life. You can also play another game implemented within the game. There are 50 million games in Roblox and about two million people developing games. The game world in these games has become another society within a society (https://blog.roblox.com/).

“Decentraland” is a virtual reality platform based on the Ethereum blockchain. Transactions are made through a cryptocurrency called “MANA,” land is limited, and so prices are set according to demand. In this world, people participate in activities including movies, exhibitions, and parties on their own land to increase liquidity and generate profits.

NVIDIA’s real-time 3D design collaboration platform, “Omniverse,” can quickly implement a virtual world or Metaverse that allows for collaboration with multiple developers. Simulations in various industrial fields are also possible through Digital Twin.

Microsoft’s remote collaboration platform, “Mesh,” is a Metaverse platform based on Mixed Reality (MR) that helps users in different regions feel as though they are working in the same space through avatars. Real objects and virtual information can be viewed simultaneously, enabling collaboration overcoming time and space constraints in various areas such as medical, manufacturing, and design. Examples include patient surgery, equipment repair, and prototype review. In addition, various Metaverse-based collaboration platforms such as Space and Glue are also being developed.

Among these various cases, we would like to focus more on some of the cases with a long history and a dramatic increase in users. Such cases are expected to help discover implications for the application to libraries in the future.

4 Research Design and Methodology

Kwon (2021) has proposed a response strategy in the Metaverse era in terms of content. In other words, he has said that the various content currently tied to printing media, video media, and auditory media will move further into the Metaverse as the current generation of teenagers grows up. It has been said that converting it quickly can sell more content to current teenagers who are familiar with the Metaverse.

Users can create virtual characters with their identity in a Metaverse, go where they want to go, and do what they want to do. In addition, the Metaverse is a space where you can make what you want to make as well as engage in economic activities if necessary (Choi 2021).

Jeong (2021) has said that the library will build a virtual library on the Metaverse platform, providing users with a sense of immersion as if they had visited the library in person, and with a new reading experience. Based on this, it would also be possible to devise a plan to use the Metaverse platform to respond to social issues, the main cause of which are temporal and spatial constraints such as non-face-to-face education gaps and local alienation due to geographic gaps.

At first, the subjects of the questionnaire selected to investigate the perception of the Metaverse Library were the general public. This is because the Metaverse library users will be ordinary people. The survey was conducted on social media organizations in a specific region, and the reason as to why the social media were selected was that there was a limit to finding the survey target directly due to COVID-19. The size of the social media organizations is approximately 3,000, yet only 57 responded. The reason is that many respondents claimed that they could not respond because they were not aware of the Metaverse library. Due to COVID-19, the survey was conducted online.

Next, the contents of the survey were developed. In this study, literature and data including previous studies and Metaverse implementation cases were investigated. Based on this, future directions for the Metaverse libraries were derived. To this end, the perception of Metaverse and Metaverse libraries was investigated. Finally, a direction of programs and services that can be provided by the Metaverse libraries was proposed (Table 1).

Based on previous studies and case analysis, a survey structure was developed to investigate the general perception of the Metaverse and the perception of the Metaverse library as shown in Table 2. It consisted of survey items that investigated whether respondents had heard of the Metaverse, how they understood the Metaverse, and how they felt about the Metaverse. The survey could be a message about the expandability of Metaverse.

Next, if Metaverse libraries were established, the services and programs available, cooperation and communication, equipment and devices, materials, and content were investigated. In addition, opinions and feelings about the Metaverse libraries were inquired. Through a simple survey structure, we tried to understand the possibility of activating Metaverse libraries to be built in the future.

5 Analysis Result

6 Discussion and Suggestion for Future Research

The Metaverse is not just an innovation dependent on any one technology, but rather a virtual ecosystem created through a combination of various digital technologies such as AR, VR, AI, and big data and the convergence of value chains between industries (Kim 2021b). The avatar represents a user as a subject participating in the virtual world, creates various content through abilities and communication methods different from reality, and leads the Metaverse world.

Recently, many people are having various experiences in a world implemented in the Metaverse, and there are many cases in which the general public implements the Metaverse and hosts various programs. In 2021, the Korea Library Association also held a library competition in the Metaverse, and the results were not bad.

This study began as the concept of Metaverse began to emerge, and awareness and experience of the Metaverse has spread rapidly even during the length of this study. Reflecting on this situation, we would like to propose discussions and future studies.

First, from previous studies and case studies, it was found that there are not many studies or examples of functions and services that can be implemented in Metaverse libraries. Although there are many special lectures or forums related to the Metaverse, there seems to be no elaborately designed research. Therefore, it is necessary for more researchers or practitioners to come up with research or implementation cases from various perspectives.

This study attempted to investigate the public’s perception of the Metaverse or the Metaverse library. The general perception of the Metaverse itself and the perception of the Metaverse library were investigated. Specifically, we investigated whether they have heard of the Metaverse, how they understand the Metaverse, and how they feel about the Metaverse. In addition, we tried to understand opinions and feelings about the services, programs, cooperation and communication available, equipment and devices, materials and contents, and the Metaverse libraries itself as Metaverse libraries are established. It was also attempted to find out whether there was a difference in perception according to the user’s IT ability or Internet usage level.

As a result, first, many respondents heard of the Metaverse, but very few experienced it. However, the level of understanding of the Metaverse by respondents was high, and the feelings felt about the Metaverse were relatively positive. Regarding the Metaverse, which is understood as a new world, we can predict that the Metaverse can be activated as it is not repulsive to respondents and they have high expectations for it.

Second, with the establishment of Metaverse libraries, expectations for programs or services to be provided were high, and like with physical libraries, expectations for library cooperation or communication were high. The reason for these positive results is that avatars will replace actual users in Metaverse libraries, which will reduce communication difficulties with librarians felt in physical libraries and difficulties in service or program needs.

Third, it was analyzed whether there is a difference in perception according to IT ability or Internet use ability. It was found that the awareness of the Metaverse or Metaverse library was higher depending on the ability to use the Internet rather than IT ability. In particular, the higher the Internet use ability, the higher the difference in emotion or awareness of the Metaverse at a significant level. In addition, it was found that expectations for programs or services to be provided by Metaverse space or Metaverse libraries were high.

From the above research results, it can be seen that the general public’s expectations for the Metaverse world, which has rapidly entered our lives, are high. However, the key may be how quickly to elaborately implement and provide services that can meet the needs of users. More than a decade ago, the current Metaverse world and Metaverse libraries were popular for a time through the Second Life platform (Hedreen et al. 2008), but were buried without being widely spread due to problems with construction costs or Internet speed. Now, the Metaverse and Metaverse libraries are spreading again, which may also end in a temporary fad due to the same problem or other problems.

In order to disseminate Metaverse libraries and increase the quality and quantity of user services by utilizing the Metaverse’s advantages, it is necessary to effectively utilize and supplement each of its strengths and disadvantages in connection with current physical libraries.

7 Conclusion

Now, libraries should serve users who talk about “techno-sapiens” or “phono-sapiens” DNA (Data, Network, AI), not physical DNA in the human body. Existing generations have to adapt to these changes, and Generation MZ, born in the digital world, is playing Roblox or Minecraft rather than on playgrounds. They are doing what we used to do in the real world in a new virtual space, whether forming communities, building buildings, or buying and selling goods in Roblox, Fortnite, Zepeto, Minecraft, and Animal Crossing. Decentraland, which trades real estate based on blockchain and generates profits through movies, parties, and concerts on its own real estate, will be subject to benchmarking when introducing Metaverse libraries and will act as an indicator of their feasibility.

As mentioned in the discussion section, the users think that the new services and programs will be greater in number and much easier to use in the Metaverse library, in line with Cho’s (2021) claim that the users will create a new life in the space of digital twins.

Libraries should introduce a breakthrough change in services in consideration of the characteristics of users. Therefore, this study attempted to explore the possibility of applying the concept of the Metaverse to libraries. To this end, representative Metaverse implementation cases and library implementation cases were investigated and comprehensively analyzed, including previous studies related to the Metaverse. After that, we tried to collect opinions on the service directions to be oriented when Metaverse libraries are implemented, and based on this, the future image of Metaverse libraries was proposed. In future studies, it will be realistic to actually implement Metaverse libraries and propose specific improvement directions for users using the libraries.

When examining the previous studies at home and abroad, it was found that there were not many studies related to the Metaverse library. Therefore, this study is a very early one conducted in the library field, and has many limitations. First, the survey was conducted in a situation where the users did not experience the Metaverse library. Second, the differentiation of the survey subjects was not clearly achieved. Third, the Metaverse library service was limited based on the functions and services implemented in the general Metaverse, not on the implementation of the Metaverse library. Therefore, in the future studies, it is necessary to conduct more in-depth examination to overcome such limitations.

Based on this study, several more can be proposed as future studies. First, it is necessary to study how Metaverse affects politics, economy, society, and culture. Second, it is necessary to study what technologies are applicable to libraries among Metaverse technologies and how libraries are applicable based on Metaverse-related technologies. Third, with the establishment of the Metaverse library, it is also necessary to study what services the library can develop and provide and how much its scope can be expanded.