The Alexandrian Free Library
A Study in Virtual Community(Second Life Library Profiles)
The Alexandrian Free Library
• Is a: • Consortium of community-based
libraries• In, and beyond, Second Life
Who We Are
• Libraries for virtual communities• Arising from and rooted in the
communities we serve
The Caledon Library
• Is a branch of the Alexandrian Free Library
The Steelhead Public Library
• is a branch of the Alexandrian Free Library
The Winterfell Library
• is a branch of the Alexandrian Free Library
The Toussaint L’Ouverture Library of New Toulouse
• is an affiliate of the Alexandrian Free Library
The R. F. Burton Library of New Babbage
• is an affiliate of the Alexandrian Free Library
Who we are
• Libraries for virtual communities• Arising from and rooted in the
communities we serve
Presence
Services
• Commune, consult, aid, abet, advise• In, and beyond, Second Life
Exhibits
Collections
Events
Challenges
• Giving patrons something they can’t give themselves
Challenges
• Fitting in as the iconic library– While functioning as a modern library
Challenges
• Identifying evolving patron use patterns
Challenges
• Identifying community needs– Often needs that are not yet in practice
Opportunities
• Finding where library & museum techniques meet and supple,ent each other
• Presenting the historical record in ways that are graspable, yet lead into the broadest vista
Opportunities
• Turning the new bibliophile on to what’s out there
• Pleasures!– Of reading– Of knowledge– Expanding into the age of massive
networked digital content
Opportunities
• Patrons = Partners• Third place / adult play• Living imaginative lives, living literate
lives
Images from the Field
• Libraries, exhibits, and dances with wings
Images from the Field
• Consultation• Tea party• Library without Walls
URLs I: Tools• Twitter Box for SL
– http://ordinalmalaprop.com/twitter/– Twitter: http://twitter.com
• Blog-HUD Second Life blogging system– http://bloghud.com
• Caledon Library– http://thelibrarymilitant.net/
• Steelhead Public Library– http://library.steelheadcity.us
• Custom Search Engine– http://google.com/coop/cse?cx=015330499799466611175%3Aaf0xg9rscyg
• Feedback Gathering– http://caledonlibrary.wufoo.com/forms/caledon-library-aetheric-opinion-gathering-gizmo/– http://caledonlibrary.wufoo.com/forms/suggest-a-link-to-the-aether/– http://caledonlibrary.wufoo.com/forms/caledon-library-reference-links– http://tinyurl.com/SteampunkSites
URLs II: Community• Community Forums & Wikis
– http://steelheadsentinel.blogspot.com– http://www.caledoforums.com– http://www.caledonwiki.com
• Community Calendars– http://tinyurl.com/5zknb9– http://www.google.com/calendar/embed?src=gabrielle.riel%40comcast.net– http://tinyurl.com/5w3m8g
• Blogosphere– http://caerfyrddin.org/mostlycaledon.htm
• YouTube:– http://youtube.com/watch?v=RRj3HNx8_wA– http://youtube.com/watch?v=jFaeyQqftS0– http://youtube.com/watch?v=o57nvrgx-24– http://youtube.com/watch?v=3C7deS8u4J8
• The role of JJ Jacobson (MSI 2005) player by JJ Drinkwater, JJDrinkwater [at] gmail.com