Mobile augmented reality in modern libraries: Prospects and challenges

Augmented Reality (AR) is one of the cutting edge technologies which has its unique application in the modern high tech libraries. The paper presents an overview of the concept of AR which offers a combination of real-world scenario and computer generated virtual environment. The concept behind the technology, comparison of AR with Virtual Reality, promoting factors and application areas especially in the field of Library and Information Science (LIS) are discussed. The merits, constraints, software tools and examples of AR based applications in libraries are also examined with a futuristic outlook.