Global Librarianship in Second LifeGlobal Librarianship in Second LifeUsing virtual environmentsUsing virtual environments

Presentation for the Association for Rural and Small Libraries, Sacramento, CA 2008

What Is Second Life? What Is Second Life? A social networking tool that is multi-user, A social networking tool that is multi-user,

online, and an interactive 3D environment online, and an interactive 3D environment created by Linden Labs created by Linden Labs (www.secondlife.com)(www.secondlife.com)

A virtual “community” with content A virtual “community” with content created by its users for building, events, to created by its users for building, events, to take classes take classes

Used for education, professional Used for education, professional development, and recreation with its own development, and recreation with its own economy (Lindens)economy (Lindens)

A meeting place to plan, chat in text or A meeting place to plan, chat in text or voice, network, share informationvoice, network, share information

International Virtual ReferenceInternational Virtual Reference Reference Interviews Reference Interviews Job ShadowingJob Shadowing InternshipsInternships Students complete Students complete

assignmentsassignments ToursTours Give and receive Give and receive

informationinformation Share library methodsShare library methods Provide support for Provide support for

each other and each other and patronspatrons

Meet peopleMeet people

Second Life is not…Second Life is not… perceived as a game for residents (there are no perceived as a game for residents (there are no

“winners”).“winners”). replacing a real life or traditional library.replacing a real life or traditional library. necessarily expensive – free office space, for necessarily expensive – free office space, for

instance is available for a trial.instance is available for a trial. without software issues, problems, and glitches.without software issues, problems, and glitches. as easy to use as other social networking tools.as easy to use as other social networking tools. liked by everyone; there is hesitation or a failure liked by everyone; there is hesitation or a failure

to see the value in virtual environments.to see the value in virtual environments. fully understood as a networking or collaboration fully understood as a networking or collaboration

tool.tool.

Why Use Second Life? Why Use Second Life? The interactive nature of SL and the ability to The interactive nature of SL and the ability to

speak with and meet other people throughout the speak with and meet other people throughout the entire world helps mitigate the isolation often felt entire world helps mitigate the isolation often felt by rural librarians.by rural librarians.

Second Life is an opportunity to gain volunteer Second Life is an opportunity to gain volunteer experience in a virtual environment and learn experience in a virtual environment and learn library methodology.library methodology.

The culmination of librarian collections, creativity, The culmination of librarian collections, creativity, experiences, knowledge & skills are all combined experiences, knowledge & skills are all combined for the benefit of the patrons we serve and one for the benefit of the patrons we serve and one another.another.

Stay ahead of the learning curve and Stay ahead of the learning curve and demonstrate library leadershipdemonstrate library leadership

How are Librarians Using SL?How are Librarians Using SL? Hold Book discussionsHold Book discussions Conduct Virtual ReferenceConduct Virtual Reference Create virtual branchesCreate virtual branches Hold ConferencesHold Conferences Team TeachTeam Teach Train New librariansTrain New librarians Meet other professionalsMeet other professionals Create Poster sessionsCreate Poster sessions Write letters of Write letters of

recommendation recommendation Create video (machinima)Create video (machinima) To educate users about To educate users about

historical eventshistorical events

Make friends, colleaguesMake friends, colleagues Listen to musicListen to music Build homes/EntertainBuild homes/Entertain Build classroomsBuild classrooms Share and create Share and create

professional best practices professional best practices with one anotherwith one another

Earn money by building, Earn money by building, scripting, consulting, scripting, consulting, teachingteaching

Write grants togetherWrite grants together FundraiseFundraise Create prototypes Create prototypes

Global LibrarianshipGlobal Librarianship

Librarians and other professionals meet from all Librarians and other professionals meet from all over the world and work together to create a over the world and work together to create a community that meets user needs. Often our community that meets user needs. Often our

missions and goals intersect.missions and goals intersect.

Readers, Associations, & SchoolsReaders, Associations, & Schools

Examples of Virtual Collaboration Examples of Virtual Collaboration for Real Life Benefitfor Real Life Benefit

Homeless shelter staff and librarians working together to develop Homeless shelter staff and librarians working together to develop resources to deal with real life patrons – the homeless.resources to deal with real life patrons – the homeless.

Poets & other writers develop programs, readings, discussions, Poets & other writers develop programs, readings, discussions, and make their content availableand make their content available

Grant writing & FundraisingGrant writing & Fundraising Virtual Conferences, panelist discussions, professional Virtual Conferences, panelist discussions, professional

developmentdevelopment Volunteer environmental attorney offering a resource center and Volunteer environmental attorney offering a resource center and

programs for how to create a “green” library building.programs for how to create a “green” library building.

Cybrary City 1 – One of 40 Islands Owned and Managed by Alliance

Library Systems

Coming soon, Cybrary Square for rural libraries new to Second Life

The ARSL BuildingThe ARSL Building

RSS FeedRSS Feed Photo Slider Photo Slider

Encouraging visitors to Encouraging visitors to sign up for Facebook sign up for Facebook pagepage

Meeting spaceMeeting space Bulletin Board to leave Bulletin Board to leave

messagesmessages Visitor CounterVisitor Counter In world Rural In world Rural

Librarian’s Group Librarian’s Group

Islands In Second Life (sims)Islands In Second Life (sims)

Some Islands are themed, like Land Some Islands are themed, like Land of Lincoln, Imagination Island, of Lincoln, Imagination Island, (children’s lit) or Renaissance Island, (children’s lit) or Renaissance Island, Virtual Ability, Smart Investing, or Virtual Ability, Smart Investing, or Health Info IslandHealth Info Island

Others are designed for beginning Others are designed for beginning libraries, like Cybrary City 1libraries, like Cybrary City 1

Themed sims allow users to be Themed sims allow users to be immersed in time in history or topic immersed in time in history or topic

Who is in Second Life? Who is in Second Life?

Universities Universities Around 900 self-Around 900 self-

professed librarians professed librarians work or are in SLwork or are in SL

Non-profitsNon-profits BusinessesBusinesses MusiciansMusicians ArtistsArtists Every type of librarian Every type of librarian

one can imagine one can imagine including Department including Department of Transportation of Transportation LibrariansLibrarians

UMaine Resource Center on Black Bear Island

MaintainIT

Librarians in Virtual WorldsLibrarians in Virtual Worlds

The Gartner Group predicts that by The Gartner Group predicts that by 2011, 80% of Internet users will be in 2011, 80% of Internet users will be in a virtual world.” a virtual world.” ~Trends Report 2008, Alliance ~Trends Report 2008, Alliance Library System, p. 13Library System, p. 13

Opportunity to help sustain our Opportunity to help sustain our profession with a new way to profession with a new way to communicate with each other and communicate with each other and our patrons. our patrons.

Examples of Content & InteractivityExamples of Content & Interactivity

RSS Feed to Library of RSS Feed to Library of CongressCongress

Photos that are Photos that are “clickable” whereby “clickable” whereby an option is given to an option is given to open a browser and open a browser and be directed to that be directed to that Website. Website.

Live helpLive help Photos of real life Photos of real life

eventsevents

Notecards from in Notecards from in world with any world with any information you desire information you desire (cut and pasted from (cut and pasted from Word, for instance)Word, for instance)

E-content (books)E-content (books) Media streamsMedia streams Radio stationsRadio stations Stations to pay real Stations to pay real

life fines in Linden life fines in Linden dollarsdollars

Initial Purpose for our libraryInitial Purpose for our library

The purpose of our The purpose of our virtual library in virtual library in Second Life is to Second Life is to provide meaningful provide meaningful content, services, content, services, and collaborative and collaborative activity for the activity for the benefit of the benefit of the library profession library profession and current or and current or future users. future users.

Real Life ImpactReal Life Impact Some patrons use Second Life as a means to Some patrons use Second Life as a means to

socialize or learn socialize or learn Library staff in SL may attend more conferences, Library staff in SL may attend more conferences,

workshops, and informative meetings workshops, and informative meetings Skill of staff is increased, thereby improving serviceSkill of staff is increased, thereby improving service Raise awareness of and for our individual community Raise awareness of and for our individual community

strengthsstrengths Economic and community development best Economic and community development best

practices are shared practices are shared Global networking for local actionGlobal networking for local action People with disabilities have a greater support People with disabilities have a greater support

networknetwork Sense of communitySense of community The return of myth to our cultureThe return of myth to our culture

Mistakes Made by ResidentsMistakes Made by Residents

Form inaccurate conclusions about Form inaccurate conclusions about the positive or negative aspects of the positive or negative aspects of virtual environments based on virtual environments based on limited experiences, the media or too limited experiences, the media or too few interactions with experienced few interactions with experienced residents. residents.

The Reader’s Garden, Info IslandThe Reader’s Garden, Info Island

Bi-monthly virtual book discussions Bi-monthly virtual book discussions and talksand talks

Bring readers from all over the globe Bring readers from all over the globe togethertogether

Alliance Virtual LibraryAlliance Virtual Library

From 1/28/07 to From 1/28/07 to 7/18/08, the AVL 7/18/08, the AVL Reference Desk Reference Desk counted 13,658 counted 13,658 visitorsvisitors

Statistics are Statistics are tracked such as SL tracked such as SL & real life & real life directional or directional or reference reference questionsquestions

Virtual Reference StatisticsVirtual Reference Statistics

9,691 reference questions were 9,691 reference questions were asked at the Alliance Virtual Libraryasked at the Alliance Virtual Library

Second Life directional questions are Second Life directional questions are

the most frequently asked (3,720), the most frequently asked (3,720), followed by SL reference questions followed by SL reference questions (3,669)(3,669)

Critical Failure FactorsCritical Failure Factors The learning curve is steep many discourage new The learning curve is steep many discourage new

librarians from participating.librarians from participating. The computer spec requirements exceed patron The computer spec requirements exceed patron

computerscomputers Firewalls and filters block Second LifeFirewalls and filters block Second Life Griefers (avatars that purposely harass, damage, Griefers (avatars that purposely harass, damage,

or disrupt)or disrupt) Too few volunteers doing too much of the workToo few volunteers doing too much of the work More qualitative and quantitative Research is More qualitative and quantitative Research is

neededneeded

Ways to Help Ensure SuccessWays to Help Ensure Success Contact established mentors & librarians in world Contact established mentors & librarians in world

at the beginningat the beginning Continuously assess real life impact or benefits Continuously assess real life impact or benefits Attend classes on and in Second LifeAttend classes on and in Second Life Use trial and error Use trial and error Create a team of friends, skilled SL users, and Create a team of friends, skilled SL users, and

professionalsprofessionals Be patient with yourself, it takes time to learn Be patient with yourself, it takes time to learn

and remember that benefits outweigh the angst and remember that benefits outweigh the angst of the learningof the learning

VolunteerVolunteer Understand that there is a time commitment for Understand that there is a time commitment for

your library to be successfulyour library to be successful

Sources Sources Pope, K. Pope, K. Trends Report 2008Trends Report 2008. Alliance Library . Alliance Library

Systems. Systems. www.alliancelibrarysystem.comwww.alliancelibrarysystem.com Robbins, S. & Bell, M. (2007). Second Life for Robbins, S. & Bell, M. (2007). Second Life for

Dummies. Wiley Publishing, Inc.Dummies. Wiley Publishing, Inc. Bettger, S. (2008). Bettger, S. (2008). Non Profits and Second Life: Non Profits and Second Life:

Promoting Causes Inside Second Life For Real Promoting Causes Inside Second Life For Real World ImpactWorld Impact. Giving Circles Network. (Not yet . Giving Circles Network. (Not yet released)released)

Thanks is owed to Karl Robbins (Karl Nostram) for Thanks is owed to Karl Robbins (Karl Nostram) for the photos used in this presentation.the photos used in this presentation.

For the curious…For the curious…

See the Alliance Library System Website, See the Alliance Library System Website, www.alliancelibrarysystem.comwww.alliancelibrarysystem.com

See the Second Life website, See the Second Life website, www.secondlife.comwww.secondlife.com

Mark & Emily Turner Memorial Library Mark & Emily Turner Memorial Library Second Life Section, Second Life Section, www.presqueisle.lib.me.uswww.presqueisle.lib.me.us

Presentation is available by emailing Presentation is available by emailing pimelibrarian@gmail.compimelibrarian@gmail.com

Contact Information In WorldContact Information In World

Sonja Morgwain (Sonja Plummer-Sonja Morgwain (Sonja Plummer-Morgan)Morgan)

Karl Nostram (Second Life Mentor)Karl Nostram (Second Life Mentor) Lorelei Junot (Lori Bell in real life and Lorelei Junot (Lori Bell in real life and

Director of Alliance Library Systems)Director of Alliance Library Systems) Any of the librarians, staff, volunteers Any of the librarians, staff, volunteers

at the Alliance Virtual Library at the Alliance Virtual Library Reference Desk Reference Desk