Second Life & Virtual Reference:Are We There Yet?

AALL Annual Meeting 2008, Session G-5

Meg Kribble - kribblem@nsu.law.nova.eduEmerging Technologies, Reference, & Instructional Services Librarian

Nova Southeastern University - Shepard Broad Law Center

What is Second Life?

Like games, but different

Interact with avatars

IM-style chat or voice option

Photo by wiccked on Flickrhttp://flickr.com/photos/wiccked/88501680/

No!

Unnecessary layers

Patrons not there

Patrons not there

Computer and software requirements

Learning curve

Time commitment

Dedicated space

Small rented plot on Cybrary City 2: $400 annuallySmall island purchased from Linden Lab: $700 + $147.50 monthly

How to staff?

Who is that masked avatar?

Reference Questions in Second Life

• Where is everybody?

• Where are the cool places?

• What other legal places are there to visit?

• I have a dispute with my landlord; can you help?

Resources often link to web

Galileo Law Directory

...is also available on the web

So, why are we talking about it?

Future patrons

Adventurous patrons

Body language, cues

“Not in world” tools

Future virtual worlds

3-D Web Virtual Worlds

Thank youA current version of these slideswill be available for download at

http://slideshare.net/mak506