This is a very interesting terminology difference. I'm on the organizing group for that virtual symposium, and real-time mediated access to documents using a document camera setup is the scope for that. However, virtually all of the US colleagues I've spoken to would call that "virtual reference" instead, and use "virtual reading room" to mean something like "virtual access to digitized materials, with access controls".

Tom, we have both of those services here and I'd be happy to talk about that or connect you with my colleagues in Special Collections who run those services.

-Esmé

> On Oct 6, 2022, at 12:19 PM, Proffitt,Merrilee <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> 
> Hello Tom,
> 
> Although this may not be what you are looking for, RLUK has done a significant amount of work around Virtual Reading Rooms, which they define as:
> 
> Virtual Reading Rooms (VRRs) provide human mediated, real time consultations primarily for unique and distinctive collections which are not loanable or digitised. Via visualisers and online video conferencing platforms, VRRs provide a surrogate research experience, initial scoping of collections prior to digitisation or an in person visit, or a means of co-locating joint research for distributed collaborators.
> 
> There is an upcoming "relay symposium" on the topic and there is more information on their website.
> 
> https://iarla.org/2022/09/international-sprint-relay-symposium-creating-a-toolkit-for-vrr-services/
> 
> I hope this is useful!
> 
> Best regards,
> 
> Merrilee
> 
> 
> Merrilee Proffitt (she/her)
> OCLC * Senior Manager, OCLC Research Library Partnership
> 
> M +1-510-684-4717
> orcid.org/0000-0002-2322-8337 
> 
> The OCLC Research Library Partnership provides a unique transnational 
> collaborative network of peers to address common issues as well 
> as the opportunity to engage directly with OCLC Research. Join with us!
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Code for Libraries <[log in to unmask]> On Behalf Of Tom Cramer
> Sent: Thursday, October 6, 2022 9:07 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: [External] [CODE4LIB] Virtual Reading Rooms
> 
> Can anyone offer recommendations on institutions or individuals that are up on the state of the art for virtual reading rooms? And/or any recent readings or presos on VRRs? 
> 
> Thanks, 
> 
> - Tom