SECOND LIFE®

Virtual Worlds … Virtual LibrariesMOBAC Future Technologies Workshop … May 2, 2008 Danielle Kane

Libraries• Public

• Special

• Academic

• Hybrid

Virtual Worlds• Why

• Challenges

• Space

Participants

UCLA Library

Second Life Public Library

Caledon Whitehorn Library

UCB ALA Columbia University Alliance Library System California State University – Pomona Nature Publishing Group Harvard University UCI SJSU SLIS MIT Fairport Public Library The Bay School of San Francisco Drexel University IEEE UCLA New York University Topeka & Shawnee Co. Public Library Chapman University SUN Library Stanford New Media Consortium UCD UNC School of Info & Library Science Ball State University Pepperdine University St. Louis County Library UCSC

What do SL Libraries do?Reference• Desk is staffed• Software• Email a librarian

Outreach Programs• Writers / book talks• Exhibits• Events

Collections

• External links

• Web tools

• Items made for SL

• Database trials

Classes & Seminars

• About using SL

• For librarians

Public Libraries

Groups• SL Public Library (18 members)• Public Libraries in Second Life (74 members)• Librarians of Second Life (902 members)

• Alliance Library System

Info Island International

Alliance Library System• Libraries • Reference• Services• Collections

Special Libraries

SL Consumer Health Library• National Library of Medicine grant

Academic Libraries

Collections

ServicesNo CollectionsNo Services

Stanford UCSC

VS.

Second Life LibrariesAccessible

Contextual

Browsable

Social Center

Visual

Global

Evolving

Second Life Libraries

Hybrid Models

• Mix of….• Fully immersed• Completely Unique

The Caledon Library

http://www.thelibrarymilitant.net/blog/

Collections of:• Victorian source material• Research materials• Secondary materials

Sponsors events:• Celebrations• Story sessions• Lectures• Displays

My Role…

• Creating exhibits• Building collections• Staff meetings• Discussions

Associations

Schools

Why Bother?

• Increased collaboration & interaction• Networking• Partnerships• Exploration• Expanding Skills• Preparation for the future

• Explore collaborative service models

• Use SL as a mode of networking by attending conferences and talks

• SL projects don’t need to be large, start small

• Join the Google Group alliancesecondlife

• Think of added value, what can your library contribute in terms of unique resources

• Explore Second Life:– What would you need to know to move to another MUVE– Envision instruction in 5+ years and a MUVE is more integrated

• Get an account, create an avatar and explore the educational and library spaces

How you can get involved…

Challenges…

FundingStaff

InfrastructureComputing Requirements

PerceptionsManagement

Learning CurveTime

Uncertainty / ChangesLag Monster

Item LossNew Capabilities

BreakageEvaluation

Land for projectsCampus: Second Life (Linden Labs)• Apply for free temporary space on Adult or Teen grids

when available• http://www.simteach.com/wiki/index.php?

title=Campus:Second_Life

Private Islands or Mainland Plots (Linden Labs)• http://secondlife.com/community/land-islands.php• 50% discount for verified real world educators and

schools/academic institutions or 501(c)3 non-profit

Info Archipelago (Alliance Library System & Partners)• Move your own island to the Info Archipelago OR• Lease small or large parcels: $100-400 year (lots)http://alliancelibraries.info/secondlife.htm

Resources for More Information• Directory of Libraries and Organizations

http://infoisland.org/directory/

• Second Life Website http://secondlife.com/

• InfoIsland.org http://infoisland.org/

• The Library Militant: Caledon Library News http://www.thelibrarymilitant.net/blog/

Second Life URL’s (SLurl)• Caledon Whitehorn library

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Caledon%20VictoriaCity/47/206/23

• ALA Islandhttp://slurl.com/secondlife/ALA%20Island/128/107/29

• InfoIsland Internationalhttp://slurl.com/secondlife/Info%20Island%20International/29/238/43

• NMC http://slurl.com/secondlife/NMC%20Orientation/69/107/32

Conclusion

Danielle Kane

SL: Mica Braun

Kaneda@ucsc.edu