Lightning Talk
Lightning Talk Title:
Immersive Media Literacy & Intergenerational Engagement: Challenges Opportunities & Possibilities for Public Libraries
Presenter:
Beck Stewart
Date:
Tuesday 12 May | 11:30am – 12:00pm
Lightning Talk Description:
Public libraries have long been regarded as the people’s universities. They provide equitable access to knowledge, creativity, and connection. As technology reshapes how people learn, communicate, and participate in society, libraries are evolving to meet the needs of the digital age. Immersive technologies such as virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR) are entering public library spaces, offering new ways for communities to explore, create, and share stories. This presentation draws on PhD research to examine the challenges, opportunities, and possibilities of using immersive technologies in public libraries, focusing on intergenerational engagement, information systems, and the emerging field of immersive media literacy.
Immersive media literacy is a new and largely unexplored area in public education. It focuses on discovering how people interact with immersive and interactive digital environments. Its potential to support learning, creativity, and critical reflection is still being investigated. This exploration arises at a time when digital media literacy is only beginning to be recognised as a civic priority. Yet, paradoxically, the growing demand for digital literacy and emerging technologies coincides with significant challenges for the arts and humanities. The disciplines that cultivate these critical and creative skills face funding shortages and structural uncertainty across the educational and pedagogical continuum. Immersive media literacy intersects with information systems, combining technical knowledge with creativity, critical thinking, and digital information management. Public libraries are vital civic spaces in this context. They support experimentation, reflection, and ethical engagement with technology, ensuring that immersive learning and digital participation remain accessible to all.
Drawing on studies in South Australian public libraries and aged care settings between 2024 and 2025, this presentation shows how immersive experiences can connect generations through shared learning, discovery, and storytelling. Libraries acted as social hubs, facilitating connections through tools, community, and knowledge. When carefully facilitated, immersive technologies seemed to encourage curiosity, empathy, and community understanding, while also helping reduce social isolation and support lifelong learning.
Challenges remain. Cost, infrastructure, and access to skilled staff can limit innovation. Ongoing professional development is critical. Librarians and programme officers require training in immersive media literacy and information systems. Training enables them to operate technologies and design inclusive, ethical, and accessible experiences. Developing these capabilities ensures libraries remain relevant and responsive within a rapidly changing technological and cultural landscape.
The opportunities are substantial. Libraries are trusted, wholesome environments of community, knowledge, and empathy where people of all ages can explore emerging technologies together. Intergenerational engagement transforms technology use from passive to collaborative and human-centred. Supporting immersive media literacy across age groups strengthens digital confidence, creativity, and community resilience.
Attendees will gain practical insights drawn from PhD research into technical facilitation for organisations, strategies for building staff capability, and fostering meaningful intergenerational connections. The session presents the emerging field to librarians at different stages of practice across regions. Participants can consider how immersive technologies might be introduced, adapted, and used to support learning, creativity, and community engagement, while nurturing understanding, curiosity, and imagination across generations.
Beck Stewart
PhD researcher, Adelaide University
Presenter Bio
Beck Stewart, a PhD researcher at Adelaide University, is an interdisciplinary academic, information and innovation researcher, educator and transmedia designer. Her work integrates arts, theatre, immersive technologies, and human-centred research. She trained at the BRIT School, London, in Performing Arts and Technology, specialising in Theatre Management and Production. She holds a BSc (Hons) in Film Production Technology, an MA in 21st Century Media Practice, and two postgraduate qualifications in Higher and Further Education. Her expertise spans creative practice, design, pedagogy, and technological innovation, focusing on research that generates social and cultural impact.
In the UK, Beck held roles as an Educator and lecturer at Coventry University, as well as guest speaking at Warwick University, University of the Underground, Purchase College New York. As well as Keynote Speaking For Adobe Education in Japan 2019. She mentored students across technical, creative, and reflective disciplines, guiding emerging practitioners to explore theatre, arts, design, and immersive technologies. Her teaching emphasises ethical, inclusive, and human-centred approaches, encouraging critical, creative, and collaborative engagement with emerging technologies and design processes.
Her PhD research investigates intergenerational engagement and knowledge sharing in immersive environments. She examines how virtual, augmented, and mixed reality can enhance learning, creativity, empathy, and social connection across generations. Her work integrates immersive media literacy, information systems, and design thinking with ethical practice, exploring how immersive experiences foster community understanding, reduce social isolation, and support lifelong learning.
As a casual Digital Programmes Officer at the Public Libraries of South Australia, State Library, Beck supports digital creative practice, digital literacy skills, and information sharing across the library network. She is also an Adobe Education Leader, reflecting her experience with digital tools and technology-enabled learning.
Beyond formal roles, Beck has produced 360 films, interactive exhibitions and delivered workshops in multi-media, curated immersive experiences in learning, and led social engagement programs. She advocates for digital literacy, empathic human-centred design in learning, ethical technology adoption, and collaborative learning.