Second Life for School Librarians

I don’t have time for a Second Life

Future of Virtual Worlds for our Students

• Open source• Many, many distinct virtual world

that may or may not interact• Secure environments for students

Our tweens & teens come to socialize and game

Various educational applications are under development for our students

Everyone creates content…Virtual worlds are the future of the Internet, they are where are students are, and

where we need to be. Let’s start with PD.

Librarians in Second Life• An active, international community of various

types of librarians (18+ grid)• Virtual links to real life resources• Content that only exists in Second Life • Virtual reference desk services• Archiving• Networking and collaboration• Meetings and classes

Types of Library in RL: Public Libraries –

Cleveland Public Library

Types of Library in RL: Academic Libraries –

Princeton Library

Types of Library in RL: State Libraries – Kansas State Library

Types of Library in RL: School Libraries – Chicago Public Schools

Professional Library

Second Life LibrariesInfo Island

Second Life LibrariesCaledon Library

Learning Community Format

• Monthly drop-in orientation meetings to learn basics of SL

• Monthly learning community meetings featuring guest facilitators who are recognized leaders in school librarianship– One hour, 15 – 20 min

lecture followed by group discussion

– Occasional book raffles

Marla McGee and Barb Jansen speak about “Forging Powerful Partnerships for Student Success”

AASL-ISTE SIGMS Virtual Learning Community

Joyce Valenza – Web 2.0 for Librarians

David Loertscher – “The New Learning Commons – Where People Win”

Rhonda Trueman – Virtual Libraries in Second Life

Winter Shopping Spree – Extreme Avatar Makeover

David Warlick – “Cultivating a

Personal Learning Network”

Mike Eisenburg – “The Crisis Facing School Libraries and Librarians”

Chris Smith – “Keeping Current in a Global Environment” (Thailand)

Jon Mueller – “Assessing Critical Skills”

Will Richardson – “Googled Well: Helping Our Kids Lead Transparent Lives”

Marla McGhee & Barbara Jansen – “Keeping School Libraries Relevant in the Age of Accountability”

Keeping in touch with the Learning Community

We use:

SIGMS Listserv

AASL Listserv

LM_NET Listserv

Second Life Users Group

Plans for the 09-10 School Year

• Second Life Planning Committee• Wed, Sept 9th – Doug Johnson – “Are You a Format

Bigot?” – 8pm ET/5pm PT• Wed, Oct 14th – Alan November – “No More

Technology Planning” – 8pm ET/5pm PT• Nov – Pam Berger• Dec – Mystery Manor and Extreme Avatar Makeovers