Libraries in Second Life

Second Life is a massive virtual world with many opportunities for learning and entertainment. Over 60 colleges and universities have a virtual presence there, and are joined by more than 500 librarians. If you are just starting out in this MMOG (massively multiplayer online game), this guide should get you up and running. Follow the SLURLs (Second Life URLs) by clicking or pasting them into your browser’s address bar and then clicking the “teleport now” button on the page to go to that location, (note: you will need to have established a SL account first & have the program installed).

Library services in Second Life can be found at the following SL locations:

• Info Island 1
• Info Island 2
• Edu Island
• Caledon Library
• Healthinfo Island
• Imagination Island - Rachelville
• ALA Arts Island
• Cybrary City 1
• Cybrary City 2

Second Life libraries are examples of immersive learning environments. Users can interact with the services in practical ways, such as walking around a virtual space. Libraries in Second Life often put on digital exhibitions as part of their services, for example an exhibit displaying virtual represenations of Van Gogh paintings, including Starry Night.The aim of virtual library services is to attract new users to traditional libraries as well as establishing links with librarians from all over the world.Most of these services are run by volunteers.

There have been numerous initiatives to create educational spaces within Second Life. There are Victorian areas in which residents dress in period clothes, an Egyptian tomb and a Renaissance Island created by the Alliance Second Life Libraries. Central Missouri State University has also received funding to create a reproduction of 1920s Harlem.

Libraries can also put on virtual events such as conferences, seminars and lectures. In 2008 and 2009 Alliance Library System (ALS) organised a conference called Virtual Worlds: Libraries, Education and Museums Conference. It took place in the New Media Consortium Conference Center in Second Life and was designed to “provide a gathering place for librarians, information professionals, educators, museologists, and others to learn about and discuss the educational, informational, and cultural opportunities of virtual worlds” Virtual libraries which are independent, run by volunteers and not affiliated with a traditional library are often the most successful ones in Second Life. Second Life-only virtual libraries tend to be more successful than the Second Life branches of public libraries. Users suggest that the libraries in Second Life serve a niche population, which results in difficulties with marketing.Staff of public libraries have different perspectives on SL when they are experimenting with it, which results in general conflict.

In order to have a successful virtual library in Second Life there are six different elements that should be considered.These are:

• Location

• Timing

• Funding

• Techniques

• Organisational baggage

• Computing technology