LIS 568 Review - Google Arts & Culture
Bringing the World (and Beyond) to the School Library with Google Arts & Culture
As librarians, we are often looking for ways to bring creativity and engagement into the library space. Google Arts & Culture—a free, interactive platform that gives students access to some of the world’s most incredible artistic, historical, and cultural experiences. It’s an easy-to-use resource that gives students the chance to zoom in on Van Gogh’s brushstrokes, tour the pyramids of Egypt, or even step inside the Hubble Space Telescope (which, as a space nerd, I found incredibly cool).
Getting Started: Setting Up an Account & Accessing Google Arts & Culture
One of the best things about Google Arts & Culture is how easy it is to access. There’s no complicated setup—students and educators can start exploring immediately by visiting [artsandculture.google.com](https://artsandculture.google.com/) from any computer, tablet, or phone. However, creating an account (which just requires a Google login) unlocks additional features like saving favorite exhibits, creating collections, and participating in interactive activities.
In a school library setting, students can use their school-issued Google accounts to personalize their experience, bookmark resources for projects, and even share discoveries with classmates. The layout is simple and easy to navigate, making it accessible even for younger students, and there’s a search bar that helps users find content by artist, museum, location, or theme.
How Google Arts & Culture Can Be Used in a School Library
💡 Virtual Field Trips – Not every school has the budget for trips to museums or historical sites, but students can visit the Louvre, the Great Wall of China, or the International Space Station without leaving their library seat.
📚 Research & Primary Sources – Whether students are writing about the Renaissance or analyzing historical photographs, the platform provides primary sources, in-depth articles, and expert-curated exhibits.
🎨 Creativity & Self-Expression – Students can digitally explore art techniques or remix famous paintings
🚀 Exploring Space & Science – This was a personal favorite for me! Google Arts & Culture has stunning virtual reality experiences that let you walk on the moon, explore the Hubble Space Telescope, and see breathtaking images captured by NASA. As someone who has always been fascinated by space, I loved being able to step inside the Hubble and experience the vastness of the universe in a way I never could through a textbook. This feature is perfect for STEM activities in the library!
🧩 Interactive Games & Engagement – The platform includes fun educational games like puzzle challenges, crosswords, and hidden object searches inspired by famous artworks and artifacts. These can be great brain breaks or creative ways to encourage learning through play.
It’s particularly great for:
Elementary and Middle School (Grades 3-8): It can be used for art history lessons, cultural exploration, and geography. Younger students will enjoy the virtual tours, interactive features, and kid-friendly activities.
High School Students (Grades 9-12): Older students can dive deeper into art history, explore different movements, and even do research for projects. The content is rich enough to support more advanced learning on topics like cultural history and the evolution of art styles.
My Thoughts
What I love about Google Arts & Culture is how it makes learning feel like an adventure. It’s a game-changer for school libraries, turning them into spaces where students can explore the world (and beyond) in ways that aren’t always possible in a traditional classroom setting. The accessibility factor is huge—it’s free, easy to use, and doesn’t require any fancy tech beyond a basic computer or tablet.
That said, I think guidance is key. With so much content, students might need a little direction to make the most of their exploration. I can see myself curating “library challenges” where students complete a scavenger hunt across different exhibits or use the platform to supplement research projects.
Google Arts & Culture is an amazing resource that every school library should take advantage of. It’s engaging, visually stunning, and offers students a way to interact with art, history, and science beyond what’s available in textbooks. Whether they’re exploring world cultures, researching a project, or—like me—geeking out over space exploration, there’s something for everyone.
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