Skill Review: Worthington Libraries

Worthington Libraries is an interactive skill created for the library system by Pellucent Technologies LLC. as an initiative to connect with its members and enhance civic engagement. Using alternative voice assistive technology, Worthington Libraries was designed, developed, and debuted as an attempt to promote equal access to information across its community members. This voice skill is an extension of the library’s exemplary services to showcase how a customized voice skill can benefit members and keep them updated on upcoming events.

The voice skill offers its patrons the option to ask for information suited to their interests and at their convenience. It provides information on library hours, events, and programs across the library locations within Worthington Libraries. The skill has been devised to answer the user querying for specific information of a particular library branch regarding book sales, event types for preschoolers to adults, upcoming events, library services, and much more. Be it writing workshops for creative minds or storytime for children, all of the needful information is categorically updated so that the information regarding the benefits extended by the library reaches all of its community members irrespective of where they are. Worthington Libraries provides a delightful welcome back experience to its returning users with a different version each time thereby leaving no room for monotony. Another interesting feature the voice skill offers is the ability to set custom reminders for upcoming events besides consistently updating the library patrons on the repertoire of accessible information. The only downside was the rare and random unresponsiveness when the skill was unable to understand the spoken command of the user.

The VOGO Voice team scores this skill a 4.75 out of 5 stars based on our rating system. The skill reflects the ability to elicit interest and drive considerable civic participation by means of serving the library patrons with updated information on community enriching programs and much more across its various library locations. While it provides timely information on events and programs across three Worthington Library locations, you’ll have to try for yourself to see how consistent the updates are; and whether the ability to set reminders was a worthwhile option.