Heres a project in development by InteractiveSpaces who are an interdisciplinary research center bringing together architecture, engineering, and computer science with the research mission to create new concepts for future interactive spaces. They also bring together companies and public researchers in a R&D activities leading to new products and services for specific domains.

Interactive Children's Library

To view the video click the link

Aims

The project will develop prototypes of new IT services and physical installations embedded in the physical spaces of the library that challenge, support and promote curiosity in kids play and learning activities . The prototypes will be sufficiently open, understandable and robust to be part in the activities of children of all ages. The basic outset for the research and innovation processes is that the developed technologies are not just deployed, understood and used, but appropriated in use – the artefacts get their full function and meaningfulness in use by the children and librarians.

The future Interactive Children's Library should give room for and encourage the physical activites of children, while pursuing to connect this with the basic services of the library e.g. story telling, information and access to a rich variety of media.

Website

Background

The children's library has traditionally been a “library in the library” where everything, ideally, is planned for the use by children. In recent years the children's library has changed its focus from providing and planning children's achievement of knowledge and skills, to support children's self-initiated development, play and imagination. This is among other things reflected in the material offered and prioritised by the library especially in regard to the offerings of interactive media and services.

The first prototype is named “Story Surfer”, and is an interactive floor and table measuring 5×3,6 metres, and is a book browser for children.