Virtual World Law Librarianship: Summer Wrap Up Kate Fitz, coordinator Sacramento County Public Law Library

Kate Fitz, coordinator

Sacramento County Public Law Library

Speakers Kate Fitz SL: ‘Cat Galileo’ Diane Murley SL: ‘Jezzie Woodget’ Lyonette Louis-Jacques SL: ‘Montserrat Biedermann’

Kate Fitz SL: ‘Cat Galileo’

Diane Murley SL: ‘Jezzie Woodget’

Lyonette Louis-Jacques SL: ‘Montserrat Biedermann’

Exploring SL with AALL Workshop Goals: Learn to navigate Second Life Review how other libraries and legal groups are using Second Life Create exhibits, displays and other items using Second Life’s building tools Brainstorm on how law librarians can use virtual worlds’ potential Project Wiki: http:// vwlawlibrarians.wetpaint.com

Workshop Goals:

Learn to navigate Second Life

Review how other libraries and legal groups are using Second Life

Create exhibits, displays and other items using Second Life’s building tools

Brainstorm on how law librarians can use virtual worlds’ potential

Project Wiki: http:// vwlawlibrarians.wetpaint.com

What is a virtual world? “ A Virtual World has game-like immersion and social media functionality without game-like goals. At its heart is a sense of presence with others at the same time and place.” “ The Problem with Virtual Worlds” Nick Wilson, Metaversed, Oct. 23 2007 http:// tinyurl.com/yvtmge

“ A Virtual World has game-like immersion and social media functionality without game-like goals. At its heart is a sense of presence with others at the same time and place.”

“ The Problem with Virtual Worlds” Nick Wilson, Metaversed, Oct. 23 2007 http:// tinyurl.com/yvtmge

Virtual worlds: Entertainment Pre-scripted storylines and content such as quests and mini-games Character advancement while progressing through content – “leveling up” Often attempt to exclude “Real Money Transactions” (it’s cheating to pay $$ for game currency)‏ Generally ad-free

Pre-scripted storylines and content such as quests and mini-games

Character advancement while progressing through content – “leveling up”

Often attempt to exclude “Real Money Transactions” (it’s cheating to pay $$ for game currency)‏

Generally ad-free

Virtual worlds: Socializing – and advertising No storyline; less pre- made content; tools for “user-generated” content No set progression for “leveling up” a character Generally encourage “Real Money Transactions” including selling their own currency for $$ Advertising partnerships common

No storyline; less pre- made content; tools for “user-generated” content

No set progression for “leveling up” a character

Generally encourage “Real Money Transactions” including selling their own currency for $$

Advertising partnerships common

Custom worlds: Professionally built (at professional rates)‏ Can be games, social, educational, promotional Businesses commission for training, meetings, job fairs, etc. “ Walled gardens” – each world self-contained

Can be games, social, educational, promotional

Businesses commission for training, meetings, job fairs, etc.

“ Walled gardens” – each world self-contained

Virtual world creation platforms: Tools to “do it yourself” (if you’re a programmer)‏ Standardized platforms for “plug and play” worlds Still require some programming Open source Interoperability is a goal (at least within each platform)‏

Standardized platforms for “plug and play” worlds

Still require some programming

Open source

Interoperability is a goal (at least within each platform)‏

Why virtual worlds? “ You’ve practically got to be a gamer to use most of these tools — setup can be arduous, navigating in a 3-D environment takes practice, and processing and bandwidth requirements remain high. But within five years, the 3-D Internet will be as important for work as the Web is today. Information and knowledge management professionals should begin to investigate and experiment with virtual worlds.” “ Getting Real Work Done in Virtual Worlds” Forrester Research, Inc. Jan. 2008 http://tinyurl.com/6z5uut

“ You’ve practically got to be a gamer to use most of these tools — setup can be arduous, navigating in a 3-D environment takes practice, and processing and bandwidth requirements remain high. But within five years, the 3-D Internet will be as important for work as the Web is today. Information and knowledge management professionals should begin to investigate and experiment with virtual worlds.”

“ Getting Real Work Done in Virtual Worlds” Forrester Research, Inc. Jan. 2008 http://tinyurl.com/6z5uut

Why Second Life? Best known, largest user base (Other than pure game worlds like World of Warcraft) User-generated content: buildings, vehicles, furniture, books, gadgets... (BUT.... high learning curve) Free! (BUT... Technical requirements a barrier for many)

Best known, largest user base (Other than pure game worlds like World of Warcraft)

User-generated content: buildings, vehicles, furniture, books, gadgets... (BUT.... high learning curve)

Free! (BUT... Technical requirements a barrier for many)

Who’s there now? 1,224,482 individual people in the past 60 days 14,872,969 people total Librarians, educators, lawyers, governments, media

SL as legal testing ground ® ©

How lawyers can use virtual worlds Networking, rainmaking (especially for tech clients), continuing education, meetings, maybe even arbitration…

Networking, rainmaking (especially for tech clients), continuing education, meetings, maybe even arbitration…

Networking, conferences, continuing ed, modeling new facilities and services, public outreach, marketing.... and ??? How law librarians can use virtual worlds

Networking, conferences, continuing ed, modeling new facilities and services, public outreach, marketing....

and ???

Summer workshop Tutorials: self-paced Office hours: Wed., Thurs., Sat. mornings Video tutorials, live instruction sessions Participant project: create a display or recordable presentation in-world Open house August 21

Tutorials: self-paced

Office hours: Wed., Thurs., Sat. mornings

Video tutorials, live instruction sessions

Participant project: create a display or recordable presentation in-world

Open house August 21

So…. how did it go? 104 signed up for intro webinar; 70 attended 62 signed up on the workshop wiki 26 joined the in-world workshop group At least 16 completed a portion of the self-paced workshop 9 final projects at the open house

104 signed up for intro webinar; 70 attended

62 signed up on the workshop wiki

26 joined the in-world workshop group

At least 16 completed a portion of the self-paced workshop

9 final projects at the open house

Workshop Site in SL

Wiki: vwlawlibrarians.wetpaint.com

Participants’ perspectives Diane Murley SL: ‘Jezzie Woodget’ Lyonette Louis-Jacques SL: ‘Montserrat Biedermann’

Open house: Aug. 21 Open House slides here

Open House slides here

Dancing in the Fun Zone

Pinball bumper cars

Pinball bumper cars

Mingling at the Open House

Projects: Display or event using Second Life’s tools How United States Law Is Made (tripartite display) Diane Murley (SL: Jezzie Woodget)

Projects: Display or event using Second Life’s tools Social Bookmarking Slideshow/ Tutorial Liz Glankler (SL: Tink Rang)

Projects: Display or event using Second Life’s tools Interactive Map of World Law Liz Glankler (SL: Tink Rang)

Projects: Display or event using Second Life’s tools Animal Law Resources Terri Wilson (SL: Panama Marama)

Projects: Display or event using Second Life’s tools “ People Resources” in International Law Lyonette Louis-Jaques (SL: Montserrat Biedermann)

Projects: Display or event using Second Life’s tools Art Gallery: UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities Amy Burchfield (SL: Heike Weissnicht) Sue Altmeyer (SL:Senta Schwade)

Projects: Display or event using Second Life’s tools Law for Artists (web resources)‏ SL: Abierta Janus

Projects: Display or event using Second Life’s tools Treaties and International Agreements on the Web SL: Helen Brun

Projects: Display or event using Second Life’s tools Lawton Chiles Library and Information Center (U. of Florida) Elizabeth Outler (SL:Ruth Zabelin) Jessica Wittman (SL: Scout Harbour)

More project and office screenshots http:// vwlawlibrarians.wetpaint.com/page/Open+house

http:// vwlawlibrarians.wetpaint.com/page/Open+house

Or visit in-world! http://slurl.com/secondlife/depo+6/220/205/454

http://slurl.com/secondlife/depo+6/220/205/454

Participant survey and comments: Uses: distance learning, meetings, trainings Issues: Authority of people and resources, patrons not there, 2-D web presents same info with more convenience Accessing and getting started in SL Amount of time required to learn SL and to create and maintain presence there

Uses: distance learning, meetings, trainings

Issues: Authority of people and resources, patrons not there, 2-D web presents same info with more convenience

Accessing and getting started in SL

Amount of time required to learn SL and to create and maintain presence there

Lessons learned: leading the learning experience More communication about class requirements and activities Visual aids = good. In-world, and via YouTube Offer participants specific projects Require participation in chats or forum ? Better with a buddy Who’s who? Matching avatars and identities

More communication about class requirements and activities

Visual aids = good. In-world, and via YouTube

Offer participants specific projects

Require participation in chats or forum ?

Better with a buddy

Who’s who? Matching avatars and identities

Lessons learned: Using SL for law libraries Weaknesses: Very significant entry barriers remain Access to collections is awkward; the Web is superior for locating and viewing material Our patrons aren’t there (yet)

Weaknesses:

Very significant entry barriers remain

Access to collections is awkward; the Web is superior for locating and viewing material

Our patrons aren’t there (yet)

Lessons learned: Using SL for law libraries Strengths: Event programming vs static displays Interactive tutorials or simulations Remote collaboration, guest lectures, virtual field trips Exposure to international issues and community

Strengths:

Event programming vs static displays

Interactive tutorials or simulations

Remote collaboration, guest lectures, virtual field trips

Exposure to international issues and community

Plans for the future? Workshop wiki and in-world site will remain available Virtual Worlds Law Library – several participants getting involved Continuing Legal Education in Second Life – next session is Tuesday, Sept. 9

Workshop wiki and in-world site will remain available

Virtual Worlds Law Library – several participants getting involved

Continuing Legal Education in Second Life – next session is Tuesday, Sept. 9

Workshop Wrap-up Questions & Answers For more info: http://vwlawlibrarians.wetpaint.com [email_address] Instant Message ‘Cat Galileo’ in SL