SECOND LIFE & SOCIAL NETWORKS
AN INTRODUCTION
DATE BY
DEC 6 2007 DARREN CHASE

What is this stuff?
What are social networks and
Second Life?
Are there library or health
information services and resources
in Second Life?
Do libraries and health professionals
use online social networks?

Second Life
Second Life is a 3-D virtual world
entirely created by its Residents.
Since opening to the public in 2003, it
has grown explosively and today is
inhabited by millions of Residents
from around the globe.
- Second Life, What Is It? http://secondlife.com/

NAVIGATE SECOND LIFE
VIA AN AVATAR
INFO ISLAND SECOND LIFE LIBRARY

Second Life Libraries
Through the Alliance Second Life Library
project, a number of librarians from all
over the globe are taking second lives and
jobs in the Second Life 3-D virtual world
library . . . the residents in Second Life
appreciate having an in-world access to
the ALS services and materials.
- Lori Bell, et al. Get a (Second) Life Computers in
Libraries 27 (1) 2007

SECOND LIFE
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
INFO ISLAND HTTP://WWW.FLICKR.COM/PHOTOS/PATHFINDERLINDEN/227332083/

SECOND LIFE
CLEVELAND PUBLIC LIBRARY
READING ROOM HTTP://WWW.FLICKR.COM/PHOTOS/BRIANGRAY/2039399326/

Second Life
Health Information
. . . some medical and health education
examples from Second Life include Second
Life Medical and Consumer Health Libraries
(HealthInfo Island—funded by a grant from the
US National Library of Medicine), and VNEC
(Virtual Neurological Education Centre—
developed at the University of Plymouth, UK)
- Maged Boulos, et al. Second Life: an overview of the
potential of 3-D virtual worlds in medical and health
education Health Information & Libraries 24 (4) 2007

SECOND LIFE
HEALTH INFORMATION
HEALTHINFO ISLAND MEDICAL LIBRARY

SECOND LIFE
HEALTH INFORMATION
HEALTHINFO ISLAND HIV/AIDS AWARENESS DAY

SECOND LIFE
HEALTH INFORMATION
HEALTHINFO ISLAND CONSUMER HEALTH LIBRARY

Online Social Networks
Social software is software that meets at least two
of the following conditions:
It allows people to communicate, collaborate and
build community online
It can be syndicated, reused, or remixed, or it
facilitates syndications
It allows people to easily learn from and capitalize
on the behavior or knowledge of others
- Roy Tennant “Letting It All Hang Out: The Social
Network”

Social Networks

Libraries on
Social Networks:
share bookmarks, resources and
other content
connect with users, colleagues, and
stakeholders
provide access to services and
market the library in a “third space”

share
resources University of Michigan
Health Sciences Library
del.icio.us content

connect Medical Library Association
Facebook Group

third space
Birmingham
Public Library
YouTube Video

Social Networks for
Professionals
Social networking, popularized by teens
sharing information with their friends
online on Web sites such as Facebook
Inc., is now blooming in the business
world, thanks to new social networks that
enable professionals and executives . . .
to rub virtual elbows with colleagues.
- Jessica Vascellaro Social Networking Goes Professional
Wall Street Journal August 28, 2007; Page D1

Health Professional
Social Networks

Health Professional
Social Networks

Health Professional
Social Networks

Health Professional
Social Networks

Health Professional
Social Networks

Health Professional
Social Networks

Health Professional
Social Networks

Health Professional
Social Networks

Popularity Contest?
The popularity of Facebook and
MySpace is beside the point.
The social networking model is an
integrated feature of the Web.
Today’s health sciences students on
Facebook are tomorrow’s clinicians
on Sermo or other health
professional social networks.

Why Bother?
It is the library’s responsibility to be
fluent in social networks and other Web
2.0 applications in order to best serve
our online users.
As information experts librarians have
an important role to play in promoting
information literacy and sharing
access to the best resources in these
emerging environments.

RESOURCES
HTTP://WWW.IBIBLIO.ORG/SECRETLIBRARY/ILIB/?PAGE_ID=22
QUESTIONS?
THANK YOU CONTACT: DARREN.CHASE@STONYBROOK.EDU