Libraries Get a Second Life Library Services in a Virtual World

What is Second Life? Alliance Library System (ALS) established the first library in this new virtual world; Bradley University was the first academic library in SL. A 3-d virtual world ALS and virtual libraries have 2 main projects: adult Second Life (18 yrs and older) and Teen Second Life (for ages 13-17) SL is populated by close to 15 million avatars SL is a complete community with currency, culture, programs, businesses, recreation, buildings, and services Over 5,000 library visitors per day SL is also being used to facilitate meetings and education, i.e. ALA

Alliance Library System (ALS) established the first library in this new virtual world; Bradley University was the first academic library in SL.

A 3-d virtual world

ALS and virtual libraries have 2 main projects: adult Second Life (18 yrs and older) and Teen Second Life (for ages 13-17)

SL is populated by close to 15 million avatars

SL is a complete community with currency, culture, programs, businesses, recreation, buildings, and services

Over 5,000 library visitors per day

SL is also being used to facilitate meetings and education, i.e. ALA

Avatars In Second Life, an “avatar” is a digital character that represents you Avatars can walk, talk, fly, swim, anything you can do Each participant gets to create their own avatar – tall, short, male, female, buffed or not Every avatar is a resident of SL and you may have more than one avatar

In Second Life, an “avatar” is a digital character that represents you

Avatars can walk, talk, fly, swim, anything you can do

Each participant gets to create their own avatar – tall, short, male, female, buffed or not

Every avatar is a resident of SL and you may have more than one avatar

Birth of an avatar

The Transformation of Puglet Dancer

Second Life has its own currency – “lindens” $1 USD = about 265 lindens Can be used to purchase clothing, hair, houses, land Can run your own business Some people make a real life living in Second Life Check out economic statistics at http://secondlife.com/whatis/economy_stats.php Commerce in Second Life

Second Life has its own currency – “lindens”

$1 USD = about 265 lindens

Can be used to purchase clothing, hair, houses, land

Can run your own business

Some people make a real life living in Second Life

Check out economic statistics at http://secondlife.com/whatis/economy_stats.php

Librarians in Second Life Speaking specifically of the islands that are part of the Info Island Archipelago Many librarians are volunteers who are in Second Life on their own and do not represent their library Have about 200 total volunteers More and more educational institutions are entering SL Librarians want to partner with teaching faculty to use SL as an immersive learning tool

Speaking specifically of the islands that are part of the Info Island Archipelago

Many librarians are volunteers who are in Second Life on their own and do not represent their library

Have about 200 total volunteers

More and more educational institutions are entering SL

Librarians want to partner with teaching faculty to use SL as an immersive learning tool

How It All Started April 2006 – First rented building, first small plot of land Alliance Library System and Charlotte-Mecklenburg County Library agree to collaborate on project May 2006 – First island – Info Island I August 2006 – Info Island II donated October 2006 – Grand opening of Info Island I October 2006 – Eye4YouAlliance opens on Teen Second Life October 2006 – Cullom-Davis Library, Bradley University opens December 2006 – Eduisland built as rental for educators who wanted to work together and to be close to library December 2006 – HealthInfo Island built with NLM GMR consumer health outreach grant December 2006 – Cybrary City built for participating librarians donated by Talis

April 2006 – First rented building, first small plot of land

Alliance Library System and Charlotte-Mecklenburg County Library agree to collaborate on project

May 2006 – First island – Info Island I

August 2006 – Info Island II donated

October 2006 – Grand opening of Info Island I

October 2006 – Eye4YouAlliance opens on Teen Second Life

October 2006 – Cullom-Davis Library, Bradley University opens

December 2006 – Eduisland built as rental for educators who wanted to work together and to be close to library

December 2006 – HealthInfo Island built with NLM GMR consumer health outreach grant

December 2006 – Cybrary City built for participating librarians donated by Talis

How it kept going January 2007 – Sirsi/Dynix Announces Sponsorship of Info Island I and Eye4YouAlliance Island in Teen Second Life February 2007 - Built Rachelville February 2007 – Put up new ALS building February 2007 – Put up new opera building, ALA building, and machinima school March 2007 – Renaissance Island, an immersive education environment 2007 – Rich Idiot built to promote the book Why is This Idiot Rich and I’m Not by Richard Shemin

January 2007 – Sirsi/Dynix Announces Sponsorship of Info Island I and Eye4YouAlliance Island in Teen Second Life

February 2007 - Built Rachelville

February 2007 – Put up new ALS building

February 2007 – Put up new opera building, ALA building, and machinima school

March 2007 – Renaissance Island, an immersive education environment

2007 – Rich Idiot built to promote the book Why is This Idiot Rich and I’m Not by Richard Shemin

And kept going June 2007 – Bradley University Island 2007 – HealthInfo Island 2007 – Land of Lincoln to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Lincoln-Douglas debates and upcoming bicentennial of Lincoln’s birth

June 2007 – Bradley University Island

2007 – HealthInfo Island

2007 – Land of Lincoln to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Lincoln-Douglas debates and upcoming bicentennial of Lincoln’s birth

Why are Librarians in Second Life? To investigate library services in virtual worlds To attract new users to the traditional library through referral To provide library services 24/7 To meet librarians from around the world To be where many of our users and non-users are! To work with faculty to enhance the learning experience

To investigate library services in virtual worlds

To attract new users to the traditional library through referral

To provide library services 24/7

To meet librarians from around the world

To be where many of our users and non-users are!

To work with faculty to enhance the learning experience

What types of services do libraries provide? Reference – in avatar, virtual, and email Programs – weekly programs on an array of topics Exhibits – World War II posters, Alzheimer’s Disease, art shows Collections grouped by topic – web resources and Second Life formatted books Book discussions and author visits

Reference – in avatar, virtual, and email

Programs – weekly programs on an array of topics

Exhibits – World War II posters, Alzheimer’s Disease, art shows

Collections grouped by topic – web resources and Second Life formatted books

Book discussions and author visits

Programming and Events Lifeblood of the second life library – keep people coming back Second Life Literary Festival Ball at Lincoln era White House Ongoing book discussions Art shows Author talks

Lifeblood of the second life library – keep people coming back

Second Life Literary Festival

Ball at Lincoln era White House

Ongoing book discussions

Art shows

Author talks

Reference Info Island recognized as one of central education centers in Second Life because of live staffing at reference desk In 2007, 6769 patrons were served They asked 1921 SL directional questions, 2292 SL reference questions and 186 real life directional questions Reference desk is staffed 80 hrs/wk by about 40 volunteers

Info Island recognized as one of central education centers in Second Life because of live staffing at reference desk

In 2007, 6769 patrons were served

They asked 1921 SL directional questions, 2292 SL reference questions and 186 real life directional questions

Reference desk is staffed 80 hrs/wk by about 40 volunteers

Collection Development Most collections are made up of urls for websites on a topic Each subject area contains interactive displays as well as a surrounding ambience Special exhibits for special celebrations such as Martin Luther King Day

Most collections are made up of urls for websites on a topic

Each subject area contains interactive displays as well as a surrounding ambience

Special exhibits for special celebrations such as Martin Luther King Day

The Islands of the InfoIsland Archipelago Continues to grow and have recently moved the Archipelago to allow for more expansion About 7 or 8 islands are waiting to join Mixture of islands owned by ALS and other nonprofit institutions such as libraries, colleges and universities, museums, etc. Still have places where libraries can have a space for a short period of time to establish a base, learn and explore opportunities

Continues to grow and have recently moved the Archipelago to allow for more expansion

About 7 or 8 islands are waiting to join

Mixture of islands owned by ALS and other nonprofit institutions such as libraries, colleges and universities, museums, etc.

Still have places where libraries can have a space for a short period of time to establish a base, learn and explore opportunities

From one island to almost 50 Info Island International with an information desk and other areas with information on various cultures to reflect the international flavor of second life Renaissance Island, an immersive learning environment for 16 th century Tudor England Land of Lincoln to celebrate the bicentennial of Lincoln’s birth

Info Island International with an information desk and other areas with information on various cultures to reflect the international flavor of second life

Renaissance Island, an immersive learning environment for 16 th century Tudor England

Land of Lincoln to celebrate the bicentennial of Lincoln’s birth

Islands continued Eduislands 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 and Cybrary City 1 and 2 for libraries and other educational institutions to work together to have their own presence in second life Virtual Ability island to assist disabled to exist in Second Life

Eduislands 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 and Cybrary City 1 and 2 for libraries and other educational institutions to work together to have their own presence in second life

Virtual Ability island to assist disabled to exist in Second Life

HealthInfo Island Medical library Consumer health library Accessibility center Path of support to work with other health support groups in Second Life Training programs on how to find good medical information on the Internet Blog entry in Consumer Reports blog http://blogs.consumerreports.org/health/2008/06/finding-an-onli.html

Medical library

Consumer health library

Accessibility center

Path of support to work with other health support groups in Second Life

Training programs on how to find good medical information on the Internet

Blog entry in Consumer Reports blog http://blogs.consumerreports.org/health/2008/06/finding-an-onli.html

American Library Association in Second Life ALA Arts InfoIsland donated Successful celebration of Banned Books Week Build of ALA Island by SJSU graduate students Members of ACRL in SL meet regularly to discuss what can be done in SL and recently had panel discussion SLA will be here in 2008

ALA Arts InfoIsland donated

Successful celebration of Banned Books Week

Build of ALA Island by SJSU graduate students

Members of ACRL in SL meet regularly to discuss what can be done in SL and recently had panel discussion

SLA will be here in 2008

Teen Second Life Eye4You Alliance Island thrives under leadership of Kelly Czarnecki Land of Lincoln Teen Grid added to celebrate bicentennial of Lincoln’s birth Successful college fair and many other events held

Eye4You Alliance Island thrives under leadership of Kelly Czarnecki

Land of Lincoln Teen Grid added to celebrate bicentennial of Lincoln’s birth

Successful college fair and many other events held

2008 Initiatives February 2008 – held Literary Festival February 2008 – Talis Cybrary Island for new international island for libraries and information organizations to establish presence in Second Life March 2008 – Virtual Worlds conference April 2008 – Two year celebration June 2008– Stepping into History conference July 2008 –Investing InfoIsland, funded by ALA/FINRA to promote the library as an unbiased source of investing information August 2008—Only Yesterday grand opening, American experience of the 1930s -- from the migrant camps to the golden age of radio and Hollywood film Land of Lincoln development and events in Second Life and Teen Second Life

February 2008 – held Literary Festival

February 2008 – Talis Cybrary Island for new international island for libraries and information organizations to establish presence in Second Life

March 2008 – Virtual Worlds conference

April 2008 – Two year celebration

June 2008– Stepping into History conference

July 2008 –Investing InfoIsland, funded by ALA/FINRA to promote the library as an unbiased source of investing information

August 2008—Only Yesterday grand opening, American experience of the 1930s -- from the migrant camps to the golden age of radio and Hollywood film

Land of Lincoln development and events in Second Life and Teen Second Life

Challenges Funding and Sustainability Staffed by volunteers thus burnout is an issue It is like the gold rush – everyone is going to stake their claim – partnerships are key Steep learning curve Explore What types of library services do virtual world users want? Not everyone understands when you are in SL you are working – you might be having fun too; sometimes convincing bosses of this is challenging Hardware and connection required – must have fairly new computer and use broadband connection Can be highly addictive and takes a lot of time

Funding and Sustainability

Staffed by volunteers thus burnout is an issue

It is like the gold rush – everyone is going to stake their claim – partnerships are key

Steep learning curve

Explore

What types of library services do virtual world users want?

Not everyone understands when you are in SL you are working – you might be having fun too; sometimes convincing bosses of this is challenging

Hardware and connection required – must have fairly new computer and use broadband connection

Can be highly addictive and takes a lot of time

What Have We Learned Virtual world residents do want a library – we built it and they are coming in droves! Collaboration is the key and partnerships are essential Exhibits are very popular and author programs attract a crowd SL is fun – it’s this fun factor that is encouraging such amazing growth. The speed with which this is unfolding is unbelievable! Believe it or not, people still ask for books in a virtual world

Virtual world residents do want a library – we built it and they are coming in droves!

Collaboration is the key and partnerships are essential

Exhibits are very popular and author programs attract a crowd

SL is fun – it’s this fun factor that is encouraging such amazing growth.

The speed with which this is unfolding is unbelievable!

Believe it or not, people still ask for books in a virtual world

Collaboration is not only key but king Talis – funded Cybrary City to help libraries establish a presence OCLC – provided test of Question Point Sirsi-Dynix – sponsored Info Island for one year and Eye4You Alliance NMC – allowed us to use beautiful conference space

Talis – funded Cybrary City to help libraries establish a presence

OCLC – provided test of Question Point

Sirsi-Dynix – sponsored Info Island for one year and Eye4You Alliance

NMC – allowed us to use beautiful conference space

Buzzword for 2008 and for libraries in virtual worlds: Immersive education experiences – change the current learning model to one of immersive participation, roleplay, observation through building, reenacting, writing, and participating

Immersive education experiences – change the current learning model to one of immersive participation, roleplay, observation through building, reenacting, writing, and participating

Second Life/Info Island blogs Second Life Library – http://infoisland.org YouthTech Eye4YouAlliance blog – http://eye4youalliance.youthtech.info Health InfoIsland blog – http://healthinfoisland.blogspot.com/

Second Life Library – http://infoisland.org

YouthTech Eye4YouAlliance blog – http://eye4youalliance.youthtech.info

Health InfoIsland blog – http://healthinfoisland.blogspot.com/

Educational Uses Immersive learning Professional development Collaboration Global events without traveling Interaction and searching Presentation tools ICT Library

Immersive learning

Professional development

Collaboration

Global events without traveling

Interaction and searching

Presentation tools

ICT Library

Future trends Google’s Lively Open Source Businesses/publishers in Second Life

Google’s Lively

Open Source

Businesses/publishers in Second Life

Questions/Comments/Contact information Questions/Comments? Barbara (Puglet Dancer) Contact Info [email_address] [email_address] On Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn,etc Guus (Namro Omran) Contact Info [email_address] http:// SecondLifeSearch.blogspot.com On Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.

Questions/Comments?

Barbara (Puglet Dancer) Contact Info

[email_address]

[email_address]

On Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn,etc

Guus (Namro Omran) Contact Info

[email_address]

http:// SecondLifeSearch.blogspot.com

On Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.