Libraries in Virtual Worlds:Libraries in Virtual Worlds:Purpose & PotentialPurpose & Potential

Texas Woman’s UniversityTexas Woman’s University

School of Library and Information StudiesSchool of Library and Information Studies

Valerie Hill Valerie Hill (V(Valibrarian Greggalibrarian Gregg) ) & Hyuk-Jin Lee& Hyuk-Jin Lee

IntroductionIntroduction

► This This presentationpresentation examineexaminess the Alliance Library the Alliance Library System’s successful first year in the virtual world of System’s successful first year in the virtual world of Second Life. Second Life. Analysis of the year-end report shows the rapid growth of Analysis of the year-end report shows the rapid growth of

50 libraries entering a “new frontier” where virtual 50 libraries entering a “new frontier” where virtual services, resources, and exhibits are possible through a services, resources, and exhibits are possible through a new creative medium. Teleport to immersive learning new creative medium. Teleport to immersive learning environments such as “The Land of Lincoln” which features environments such as “The Land of Lincoln” which features the life and times of President Abraham Lincoln.the life and times of President Abraham Lincoln.

► Valibrarian Gregg, a Second Life librarian (and real Valibrarian Gregg, a Second Life librarian (and real life librarian) shares her journey learning in a virtual life librarian) shares her journey learning in a virtual world to help understand the purpose and potential world to help understand the purpose and potential for public libraries. for public libraries.

Research PurposeResearch Purpose

►Virtual worlds seem to be the latest Virtual worlds seem to be the latest trend, with places for people of all ages. trend, with places for people of all ages. How could this new mode of learning and How could this new mode of learning and

communicating benefit the field of communicating benefit the field of librarianship, particularly in public libraries?librarianship, particularly in public libraries?

Very little research has yet been done on Very little research has yet been done on virtual world libraries, but this project virtual world libraries, but this project explores potential for providing resources explores potential for providing resources virtually through a creative immersive virtually through a creative immersive medium.medium.

SL library project experienceSL library project experience

► SSix monthsix months for for exploring the library projects exploring the library projects evolving in Second Life, working in collaboration evolving in Second Life, working in collaboration with the Alliance Library System (also know as with the Alliance Library System (also know as Alliance Information Archipelago.) Alliance Information Archipelago.)

► First hand experience as a volunteer reference First hand experience as a volunteer reference librarian at the Info International Island Reference librarian at the Info International Island Reference Desk provided the presenter with understanding of Desk provided the presenter with understanding of virtual librarianship, virtual world skills, and virtual librarianship, virtual world skills, and understanding of potential for information storage understanding of potential for information storage and delivery through the medium. and delivery through the medium. Statistics from the reference desk’s first year show the Statistics from the reference desk’s first year show the

growth of patron visitors and volunteer staff.growth of patron visitors and volunteer staff.

Alliance Second Life Library 2.0 Alliance Second Life Library 2.0 ProjectProject

((also known as Alliance Information Archipelagoalso known as Alliance Information Archipelago))

►What are libraries & librarians doing in What are libraries & librarians doing in virtual worlds such as Second Life? virtual worlds such as Second Life?

►What was the goal for the project?What was the goal for the project?

►Does the year-end evaluation present Does the year-end evaluation present evidence of success? evidence of success?

Alliance Library System opened a MUVE (multi-user virtual environment) library presencein April 2006. Librarians from around the globe volunteered to contribute. The American Library Association has virtual land nearby and numerous public libraries have constructed virtual buildings.

Alliance Second Life Library Alliance Second Life Library ProjectProject

The first year: April 2006 – April 2007The first year: April 2006 – April 2007

► Initiated and managed by Alliance Initiated and managed by Alliance Library System in IllinoisLibrary System in Illinois

►Rapidly developed from nothing to 20 Rapidly developed from nothing to 20 islands in the first yearislands in the first year

Reference Desk Statistics for Second Reference Desk Statistics for Second LifeLife

Info International IslandInfo International Island

Patrons and volunteers have steadily increased with a peak during summer.

Alliance Second Life Library ProjectAlliance Second Life Library ProjectMission StatementMission Statement

► Explore the issues of providing library services in a virtual Explore the issues of providing library services in a virtual worldworld

► Evaluate services currently offered by real world libraries in Evaluate services currently offered by real world libraries in the light of features offered in virtual reality environments the light of features offered in virtual reality environments and the information needs of VR residentsand the information needs of VR residents

► Examine how libraries will remain relevant when more Examine how libraries will remain relevant when more business and education activities take place virtuallybusiness and education activities take place virtually

► Promote the real library and online services to residents of Promote the real library and online services to residents of Second LifeSecond Life

► Learn what kinds of library services are desired in virtual Learn what kinds of library services are desired in virtual spacespace

Major AccomplishmentsMajor Accomplishments

► Volunteer Explosion from Volunteer Explosion from 0-5000-500 from all over from all over the worldthe world

► Land Development from Land Development from 0-200-20 islands islands► Exhibits and Events by individuals and Exhibits and Events by individuals and

collaborative groupscollaborative groups► Reference Service provides live help to avatarsReference Service provides live help to avatars►Government & Management – librarians Government & Management – librarians

volunteer to oversee scheduling & managing volunteer to oversee scheduling & managing the islands, events, resources, and programs in the islands, events, resources, and programs in teamsteams

Were the goals of the Alliance Were the goals of the Alliance Project met?Project met?

►Data collected in-world shows that by year Data collected in-world shows that by year end, the average number of avatars visiting end, the average number of avatars visiting the Alliance Information Archipelago was the Alliance Information Archipelago was 5,000 daily.5,000 daily.

►Goals for volunteers and patrons exceeded Goals for volunteers and patrons exceeded expectationsexpectations

► Public libraries provide links to physical Public libraries provide links to physical resources and build a virtual presenceresources and build a virtual presence

What if Second Life disappears at What if Second Life disappears at

some point?some point? According to the year-end report, According to the year-end report, most librarians feel that the most librarians feel that the “experiential and theoretical “experiential and theoretical knowledge gained during this first knowledge gained during this first collective exploration of virtual collective exploration of virtual worlds would be a sufficiently worlds would be a sufficiently valuable thing to take away to valuable thing to take away to make the project a worthwhile make the project a worthwhile effort.”effort.”

““Keep it real!”Keep it real!”

►Appreciate the physical worldAppreciate the physical world►Limit time spent in virtual worldsLimit time spent in virtual worlds►Avoid griefers (in-world Avoid griefers (in-world

troublemakers)troublemakers)►Learn, create, and shareLearn, create, and share

Libraries in Virtual Worlds:Libraries in Virtual Worlds:

PurposePurpose

►Learning and Literacy for a Learning and Literacy for a communitycommunity

►Sharing and Networking with other Sharing and Networking with other communitiescommunities

►Resources and CreativityResources and Creativity

►Communication in new mediumCommunication in new medium

Learning and LiteracyLearning and Literacy

Literacy has become more than reading and writing, but also utilizing images, text, sound, and other media. Here Valibrarian works with other librarians on an Immersive Learning Environment: The Land of Lincoln, which highlights the life of President Abraham Lincoln.

Sharing and NetworkingSharing and Networking

Through networking, these librarians share skills, working together to build desks for a one-room schoolhouse. Public libraries and school libraries work together to build learning environments.

Resources and CreativityResources and Creativity

Opportunities include concerts and publishing: art, music, poetryand all forms of creative expression! Public libraries in Second Life offer patrons exposure to the world of reading, writing, listening, viewing and multi-media.

Communication in New Communication in New MediumMedium

Meeting other avatars in virtual places makes working, learning, and socializinga pleasant experience. Here Valibrarian meets with her real life family, although separated by 2,000 miles in RL (real life).

Libraries in Virtual Worlds:Libraries in Virtual Worlds:

The PotentialThe Potential

Historical Places and Events can be simulated. Anything you can imagine can be built in Second Life. Renaissance Island has buildings from Shakespeare’s time period, complete with a replica of the Globe Theatre. Bring these places to life at the public library!

Wise use of resourcesWise use of resources

Second Life is built on a grid which is housed on servers. Designing and building,without expensive materials, opens the potential for resources to new possibilities.

Patron ServicesPatron Services

Traditional services are provided in a non-traditional setting at the virtual reference desk. Public librarians, academic librarians, and special librarians work together as volunteers. Real life reference and virtual reference questions are answered.

Types of Questions Asked

Second Life directions Real Life directionsSecond Life reference Real Life reference

Cultural Displays and Cultural Displays and ExhibitsExhibits

A public library can link to a variety of exhibits or create an exhibit of local artwork and cultural heritage.

Alliance Information ArchipelagoAlliance Information Archipelago

Librarians (public, academic, medical, school, and special) working in collaboration from around the globe gather here for discussion.

Findings so farFindings so far

► This study provides evidence that virtual This study provides evidence that virtual worlds are currently growing with thousands worlds are currently growing with thousands of individuals creating avatars and of individuals creating avatars and collaborating online. collaborating online.

► Learning from other librarians and educators Learning from other librarians and educators can greatly benefit librarians who are can greatly benefit librarians who are interested in a virtual world presence. Joining interested in a virtual world presence. Joining a collaborative network brings libraries a collaborative network brings libraries together and provides opportunities for together and provides opportunities for sharing resources beyond our expectations.sharing resources beyond our expectations.

Bibliography

Bell, Lori with Kitty Pope and Tom Peters. (2007) Get a [Second] life! Computers in Libraries, 27(1), 10-15.

Bell, Lori. (2007) A Report on the First Year of Operation of the Alliance Library 2.0 Second Life Library Project also known as Alliance Archipelago Island.

Balkin, Jack M. and Beth Simone Noveck. (2006) The State of Play. New York: University Press.

Baudrillard, Jean. translated by Sheila Faria Glaser. (1994) Simulacra and Simulation. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press.

Gee, James Paul. (2003) What Video Games have to Teach Us About Learning and Literacy. New York: Palgrave Macmillan,.

Godfrey, Krista and Donna Dinberg. (2007) Brave New World or 500 Librarians Can’t be Wrong! Feliciter. (4), 214-215. Canada Library Association.

Stephenson, Neal. (1992) Snow Crash. New York: Doubleday.

Turkle, Sherry. (1995) Life on the Screen: Identity in the Age of the Internet. New York: Simon & Schuster.