Virtual Worlds Law Librarians Workshop Wrap Up

Virtual World Law Virtual World Law Librarianship: Summer Wrap Librarianship: Summer Wrap UpUp

Kate Fitz, coordinatorKate Fitz, coordinatorSacramento CountySacramento CountyPublic Law LibraryPublic Law Library

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SpeakersSpeakers

Kate Fitz Kate Fitz SL: ‘Cat Galileo’SL: ‘Cat Galileo’

Diane Murley Diane Murley SL: ‘Jezzie Woodget’SL: ‘Jezzie Woodget’

Lyonette Louis-JacquesLyonette Louis-JacquesSL: ‘Montserrat Biedermann’SL: ‘Montserrat Biedermann’

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Exploring SL with AALL Exploring SL with AALL

Workshop Goals:Workshop Goals:1.1. Learn to navigate Second LifeLearn to navigate Second Life2.2. Review how other libraries and legal groupsReview how other libraries and legal groups

are using Second Lifeare using Second Life3.3. Create exhibits, displays and other items using Create exhibits, displays and other items using

Second Life’s building toolsSecond Life’s building tools4.4. Brainstorm on how law librarians can use Brainstorm on how law librarians can use

virtual worlds’ potentialvirtual worlds’ potentialProject Wiki:Project Wiki: http://http://

vwlawlibrarians.wetpaint.comvwlawlibrarians.wetpaint.com

http://vwlawlibrarians.wetpaint.com/

http://vwlawlibrarians.wetpaint.com/

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What is a virtual world?What is a virtual world?

““A Virtual World has game-like A Virtual World has game-like immersion and social media immersion and social media functionality without game-like goals. functionality without game-like goals. At its heart is a sense of presence with At its heart is a sense of presence with others at the same time and place.”others at the same time and place.”

““The Problem with Virtual Worlds”The Problem with Virtual Worlds”Nick Wilson, Metaversed, Oct. 23 2007Nick Wilson, Metaversed, Oct. 23 2007

http://http://tinyurl.com/yvtmgetinyurl.com/yvtmge

http://tinyurl.com/yvtmge

http://tinyurl.com/yvtmge

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Virtual worlds: Virtual worlds: EntertainmentEntertainment

• Pre-scripted storylines and content such as quests and mini-games

• Character advancement while progressing through content – “leveling up”

• Often attempt to exclude “Real Money Transactions” (it’s cheating to pay $$ for game currency)

• Generally ad-free

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Virtual worlds:Virtual worlds:Socializing – and advertisingSocializing – and advertising

• No storyline; less pre-made content; tools for “user-generated” content

• No set progression for “leveling up” a character

• Generally encourage “Real Money Transactions” including selling their own currency for $$

• Advertising partnerships common

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Custom worlds:Custom worlds:Professionally built Professionally built (at professional rates)(at professional rates)

• Can be games, social, educational, promotional

• Businesses commission for training, meetings, job fairs, etc.

• “Walled gardens” – each world self-contained

Virtual world creation platforms:Virtual world creation platforms:Tools to “do it yourself” Tools to “do it yourself” (if you’re a programmer)(if you’re a programmer)

• Standardized platforms for “plug and play” worlds

• Still require some programming

• Open source • Interoperability is a

goal (at least within each platform)

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Why virtual worlds?Why virtual worlds?“You’ve practically got to be a gamer to use most of these tools — setup can be arduous, navigating in a 3-D environment takes practice, and processing and bandwidth requirements remain high. But within five years, the 3-D Internet will be as important for work as the Web is today. Information and knowledge management professionals should begin to investigate and experiment with virtual worlds.”

““Getting Real Work Done in Virtual Worlds” Getting Real Work Done in Virtual Worlds” Forrester Research, Inc. Jan. 2008Forrester Research, Inc. Jan. 2008

http://tinyurl.com/6z5uut

http://tinyurl.com/6z5uut

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Why Second Life?Why Second Life?

Best known, largest user base Best known, largest user base (Other than pure game worlds like (Other than pure game worlds like World of Warcraft) World of Warcraft)

User-generated content: buildings, User-generated content: buildings, vehicles, furniture, books, gadgets... vehicles, furniture, books, gadgets... (BUT.... high learning curve) (BUT.... high learning curve)

Free!Free!(BUT... Technical requirements(BUT... Technical requirementsa barrier for many) a barrier for many)

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Who’s there now?Who’s there now?

1,224,482 individual people in 1,224,482 individual people in the past 60 daysthe past 60 days14,872,969 people total14,872,969 people totalLibrarians, educators, lawyers, Librarians, educators, lawyers, governments, mediagovernments, media

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SL as legal testing groundSL as legal testing ground

®®

©©

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How lawyers can useHow lawyers can usevirtual worldsvirtual worlds

Networking, Networking, rainmaking rainmaking (especially for (especially for tech clients), tech clients), continuing continuing education, education, meetings, maybe meetings, maybe even even arbitration…arbitration…

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Networking, Networking, conferences, conferences,

continuing ed, continuing ed, modeling new modeling new facilities and facilities and

services, public services, public outreach, outreach,

marketing....marketing....and ???and ???

How law librarians can useHow law librarians can usevirtual worldsvirtual worlds

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Summer workshopSummer workshop

Tutorials: self-pacedTutorials: self-paced Office hours: Wed., Thurs., Office hours: Wed., Thurs.,

Sat. morningsSat. mornings Video tutorials, live Video tutorials, live

instruction sessionsinstruction sessions Participant project: create a Participant project: create a

display or recordable display or recordable presentation in-worldpresentation in-world

Open house August 21Open house August 21

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So…. how did it go?So…. how did it go?

104 signed up for intro webinar; 70 104 signed up for intro webinar; 70 attendedattended

62 signed up on the workshop wiki62 signed up on the workshop wiki 26 joined the in-world workshop group26 joined the in-world workshop group At least 16 completed a portion of the At least 16 completed a portion of the

self-paced workshopself-paced workshop 9 final projects at the open house9 final projects at the open house

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Workshop Site in SLWorkshop Site in SL

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Wiki: Wiki: vwlawlibrarians.wetpaint.comvwlawlibrarians.wetpaint.com

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Participants’ perspectivesParticipants’ perspectives

Diane Murley Diane Murley SL: ‘Jezzie Woodget’SL: ‘Jezzie Woodget’

Lyonette Louis-JacquesLyonette Louis-JacquesSL: ‘Montserrat Biedermann’SL: ‘Montserrat Biedermann’

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Open house: Aug. 21Open house: Aug. 21

Open House slides hereOpen House slides here

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Dancing in the Fun ZoneDancing in the Fun Zone

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Pinball bumper carsPinball bumper cars

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Pinball bumper carsPinball bumper cars

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Mingling at the Open HouseMingling at the Open House

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Projects: Display or event Projects: Display or event using Second Life’s toolsusing Second Life’s tools

How United States Law Is Made (tripartite display)

Diane Murley(SL: Jezzie

Woodget)

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Social Bookmarking Slideshow/ Tutorial

Liz Glankler (SL: Tink

Rang)

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Interactive Map of World Law

Liz Glankler (SL: Tink

Rang)

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Animal Law Resources

Terri Wilson(SL: Panama Marama)

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“People Resources” in International Law

Lyonette Louis-Jaques

(SL: Montserrat Biedermann)

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Art Gallery: UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities

Amy Burchfield (SL: Heike Weissnicht)

Sue Altmeyer (SL:Senta Schwade)

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Law for Artists (web resources)

SL: Abierta Janus

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Treaties and International Agreements on the Web

SL: Helen Brun

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Lawton Chiles Library and Information Center (U. of Florida)Elizabeth Outler

(SL:Ruth Zabelin)Jessica Wittman

(SL: Scout Harbour)

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More project and office More project and office screenshotsscreenshots

http://http://vwlawlibrarians.wetpaint.com/page/Open+housevwlawlibrarians.wetpaint.com/page/Open+house

http://vwlawlibrarians.wetpaint.com/page/Open+house



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Or visit in-world!Or visit in-world!

http://slurl.com/secondlife/depo+6/220/205/454http://slurl.com/secondlife/depo+6/220/205/454

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Participant survey and Participant survey and comments:comments:

Uses: distance learning, meetings, Uses: distance learning, meetings, trainingstrainings

Issues: Authority of people and resources, Issues: Authority of people and resources, patrons not there, 2-D web presents same patrons not there, 2-D web presents same info with more convenienceinfo with more convenience

Accessing and getting started in SLAccessing and getting started in SL Amount of time required to learn SL and Amount of time required to learn SL and

to create and maintain presence thereto create and maintain presence there

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Lessons learned:Lessons learned:leading the learning experienceleading the learning experience More communication about class More communication about class

requirements and activitiesrequirements and activities Visual aids = good. In-world, and via Visual aids = good. In-world, and via

YouTubeYouTube Offer participants specific projectsOffer participants specific projects Require participation in chats or forum ?Require participation in chats or forum ? Better with a buddyBetter with a buddy Who’s who? Matching avatars and Who’s who? Matching avatars and

identitiesidentities

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Lessons learned: Lessons learned: Using SL for law librariesUsing SL for law libraries

Weaknesses:Weaknesses: Very significant entry barriers Very significant entry barriers

remainremain Access to collections is awkward; Access to collections is awkward;

the Web is superior for locating the Web is superior for locating and viewing materialand viewing material

Our patrons aren’t there (yet)Our patrons aren’t there (yet)

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Lessons learned: Lessons learned: Using SL for law librariesUsing SL for law libraries

Strengths:Strengths: Event programming vs static Event programming vs static

displaysdisplays Interactive tutorials or simulations Interactive tutorials or simulations Remote collaboration, guest Remote collaboration, guest

lectures, virtual field tripslectures, virtual field trips Exposure to international issues Exposure to international issues

and communityand community

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Plans for the future?Plans for the future?

Workshop wiki and in-world site will Workshop wiki and in-world site will remain available remain available

Virtual Worlds Law Library – several Virtual Worlds Law Library – several participants getting involvedparticipants getting involved

Continuing Legal Education in Continuing Legal Education in Second Life – next session is Second Life – next session is Tuesday, Sept. 9Tuesday, Sept. 9

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Workshop Wrap-upWorkshop Wrap-up

Questions & Answers

For more info: http://[email protected] Message ‘Cat Galileo’ in SL

mailto:[email protected]

Technology

Virtual Worlds Law Librarians Workshop Wrap Up