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Abstract

Virtual reality (VR) has emerged as a transformative technology across various domains, including education, entertainment, and cultural heritage institutions. While libraries and museums have actively explored VR’s potential to enhance user engagement and accessibility, its adoption in archival settings remains limited. This study examines the perspectives of academic archivists regarding the acceptance and implementation of VR in archives, identifying key factors that influence their willingness to adopt or reject the technology. Through qualitative interviews with five archivists from the University of Arizona and Arizona State University, this research explores the perceived benefits, challenges, and institutional barriers associated with VR integration. The findings reveal that while VR has the potential to enhance accessibility, reduce physical wear on archival materials, and improve outreach, significant concerns remain regarding financial constraints, technological infrastructure, sustainability, and the archival profession’s traditional emphasis on physical materials. Additionally, archivists’ express skepticism about whether VR truly improves research outcomes or merely introduces unnecessary complexity. Ethical and environmental concerns, including the high energy consumption of VR infrastructure and its impact on marginalized communities, also emerge as critical considerations. The study highlights the need for institutional support, funding sustainability, and targeted training programs to facilitate VR adoption. Ultimately, this research challenges the overly optimistic narratives in the literature and emphasizes the importance of balancing technological innovation with archival principles and long-term feasibility. The study concludes with recommendations for future research and policy considerations to support the integration of VR in archives while addressing archivists' concerns.

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