Our Public Outreach Programs
As an institution whose IC desire is "dissemination" (it's in the name, after all...), we offer a variety of outreach programs and public-facing opportunities to allow for the sharing of the knowledge we collect and curate. This is explored through some of the various in-character plots that our players take the lead on when it comes to making decisions on how VIRD presents itself to the public and how it acts as a worldly resource. A result of these player-made decisions is the return of our public-facing nights, where we open ourselves to the greater RP community to provide an academic locale where players can explore research topics, share interests and personal studies, or just get a chance to show off some of the less "exciting" developments a character might make in the realm of academia.
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Our goal with these public-facing events is to offer our players fresh perspectives and experiences for their in-character development, as well as live up to our name and our FC's in-character goals to help other RPers outside of our sphere get the boost of resources they might need for their own personal development. Players outside our community are welcome to engage with us on any of the following hooks and established public-facing resources.
Single Level General Collection
As curators of the Great Gubal Library, VIRD offers to the public some basic access to its general collection where visitors can freely peruse our well-varied stacks that rotate content regularly. This is located on a single floor for convenience, with the rest of the library's contents available per request--Just ask a staff member if you don't see what you're looking for on the shelves!
Warded Special Collection
Have interest in a text or relic that's not in our general collection? Ask one of our staff members to retrieve it for you and bring it to one of our magically warded special collection rooms, where these sensitive items can be temporarily viewed in the safety of our library after guests cleanse themselves at the nearby sink. Once you're finished, our staff will take care of returning it to its special place.
Networking Opportunities
With the varied staff we have on hand and its connections to Sharlayan, VIRD is a great place to get to know people and leave a good impression on others in your field. Whether it's networking with fellow visitors or VIRD associates, guests will have plenty of opportunity to make a name for themselves and their interests.
Open Lectures
We aren't a traditional school by any means, but part of our dissemination efforts includes providing free lectures presented by our very own research staff, giving them the opportunity to share topics that they're particularly well-versed in and allowing visitors the unique chance to ask questions of an expert. Visit our carrd for an up-to-date schedule and more information on individual lectures.
Morning Star Cafe
A relic of VIRD's own past, the Morning Star Cafe once took up a larger square fulm-age of space when the Institute acted as a combination library/cafe to attract more attention from the public. Since redirecting our focus, we've downgraded our cafe to serve more basic drinks and foods, available both to staff and public visitors. Ask for 'Servingway' at the 2nd floor cafe counter!
Special Presentations & Events
Every now and then, VIRD will open its halls to a greater showcase of its staff and their personal research with a Research Showcase, where visitors can interact with presenters to ask questions as they show off their knowledge and findings in shorter, more intimate presentations at individual booths or tables.
What Our Visitors Say
D'eta Tia, Treasure Hunter
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