What in the world are libraries doing in virtual worlds?
- 1. The 3 rd Web
- 2. Examples of virtual worlds Second Life Teen Second Life Whyville There.com QWAQ Club Penguin Forterra Many more
- 3. What is Second Life? A 3-d virtual world Populated by over 14 million avatars Complete community with society, culture/programs, economy, buildings, services, shops Seen as the next distance learning platform Over 250 higher education groups
- 4. Overview of Alliance Virtual Library project Started in April 2006 to see if Second Life residents wanted library service 180,000 accounts at that time – now over 14 million Started in a small rental plot Now almost 50 library and partner islands Over 1000 self-identified librarians in SL Over 6000 reference questions per year Almost 2000 “Friends of the Library” in world
- 5. Abbey Zenith/Rhonda Trueman and Lorelei Junot/Lori Bell Partners in crime on Info Island
- 6. Puglet Dancer/Barbara Galik First academic library in sl, president of ALS board, director of Bradley library
- 7. Meet Maxito Ricardo Tom Peters in real life. Evaluates and coordinates grant projects in Second Life. Hosts book discussions
- 8. One of first libraries on Info Island
- 9. Now, no walls, ceilings, fly in!
- 10. Why are librarians in Second Life? Virtual worlds are the new 3d web Gartner group predicts by 2011, 80 percent of Internet users will be in virtual worlds To investigate library services in virtual worlds To meet some of our public who may or may not use the traditional library To shape the future of library services
- 11. How it all started April 2006 – rental of first plot of land and building May 2006 – first island donated – Info Island August 2006 – second island donated – Info Island II October 2006 – grand opening of Info Island I October 2006 – Eye4You Alliance opens in Teen Second Life December 2006 – Eduisland built for educators who want to rent land and be near educators
- 12. More on how it started December 2006 - Cybrary City provided by Talis for libraries to get a start December 2006 – HealthInfo Island started with a grant from NLM/GMR February 2007 – Imagination Island with Rachelville 200 8 – almost 50 library and partner islands; 1000 librarians in world; almost 200 friends of the library ; 5-8 events per week
- 13. Services offered: Reference – 80 hours of in-avatar service per week Programs and events – book discussions, genealogy programs, continuing education, speakers Exhibits Collections grouped by topic Training – for librarians and Second Life residents
- 14. Challenges to virtual world libraries Staffed by volunteers on their own time – burnout Funding and sustainability What types of library services do virtual world users want? Digital divide – hardware, software and bandwidth needed Highly addictive Not everyone understands virtual worlds
- 15. What we have learned Virtual world residents do use the library Collaboration is key Events and exhibits draw people SL is fun – the fun factor is important Networking is awesome! You meet people from all over the world you would not otherwise meet People still want books – many of our programs promote reading
- 16. ALA Island – pirate party, Banned Books Week 2007
- 17. Open air auditorium on Cybrary City, Info Island For continuing education events and programs
- 18. HealthInfo Island Medical Library ALS has received 4 grants from the National Library of Medicine – 1) to build a consumer health library; 2) to create an accessibility center; 3) to create an orientation center for people with disabilities and chronic health; 4) to create an AIDS community resource center
- 19. Immersive education and history ALS built Renaissance Island in February 2007 – a Globe Theater, Elizabethan era housing and shops – second life residents can role play, participate or attend events like Renaissance fairs, jousting, and talks by Henry VIII
- 20. Land of Lincoln To celebrate the bicentennial of Abraham Lincoln’s birth, ALS built a Land of Lincoln in Second Life and in Teen Second Life. The Second Life place includes a Lincoln-era White House, a typical plantation, a Lincoln Memorial, a 19 th century village, and various displays.