Libraries on the MUVE in Second Life. Internet Librarian ..

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Libraries on the MUVE in Second Life

• Internet Librarian Preconference Workshop
  Saturday, October 27, 2007 in Monterey,
  California
• Conducted by
• Barbara Galick (Puglet Dancer in SL), Bradley
  University
• Jill Hurst-Wahl (Jillianna Suisei in SL), Hurst
  Associates, Ltd.
• Tom Peters (Maxito Ricardo in SL), TAP
  Information Services
• Kitty Pope (Kitty Phillip in SL), Alliance
  Library System

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Introductions

• Barbara Galik
• Executive Director, Cullom-Davis Library, Bradley
  University
• Puglet Dancer in Second Life
• Jill Hurst-Wahl
• CEO, Hurst Associates
• Jillianna Suisei in Second Life
• Tom Peters
• CEO, TAP Information Services
• Maxito Ricardo in Second Life
• Kitty Pope
• Executive Director, Alliance Library System
• Kitty Phillip in Second Life

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Map of the Alliance Information Archipelago
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What is a MUVE?

• Multi user virtual environment (MUVE)
• Virtual world (simulation) with avatars
• Real ? Virtual

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History

• Text-based ? graphical
• MMORPG Massive multiplayer online role playing
  game (e.g., World of Warcraft)
• 2003 ? Second Life open to the public
• Oct. 2007 ? 10 million registered avatars
• 30K-40K online at any time

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Comparison Charts

• TechCrunch
• 18 virtual worlds
• e.g., Webkinz, Neopets
• For children to mature adults
• Virtual Worlds Review (outdated)
• 28 virtual worlds
• e.g., The Sims Online, Virtual Magic Kingdom

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What are Libraries Doing in MUVEs?

• Learning about this new interface
• Experimenting / prototyping
• Supporting other MUVE-related efforts
• Supporting MUVE communities
• Providing a common space for residents
• Rethinking space services

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What is the Role of Librarians?

• Info mediators guides
• Teachers of information literacy
• Trusted advisors
• Potential partners / collaborators
• We know how to build bridges

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Risks

• Perceived as
• Investing in a fad
• Servicing people who are not your users
• Wasting money time
• Just a game

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Risks ? Reality

• Universities businesses are MUVEing
• A MUVE as our next Internet browser?
• Need to build an informed opinion
• Need to understand what services can be like in a
  MUVE
• Need to be ready to serve our users where they
  want to be served
• Better to learn now, than play catch-up

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Critical Skills Qualities

• Basic technology skills for the MUVE
• Communication, navigation, building, etc.
• Learn teach simultaneously
• Respect, forgiveness, patience
• Creative thinking

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Virtual librarianship in MUVEs requires

• Organizational and professional commitment
• Funding
• A specific set of skills

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History Phase ISummer 2006

• Volunteerism booms
• Librarians from all over the world
• Most donate their time and participate
  independently of their institution

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History Phase IIFall 2006

• Talis donates an island for libraries ? Cybrary
  City
• Libraries begin to develop their own presences
  and donate 2 hours per week in return for space

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History Phase IIIWinter 2006

• Libraries want bigger spaces in Cybrary City and
  are willing to pay
• Development of global collaboration at an
  institutional level

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History Phase IIIWinter 2006

• InfoIsland archipelago becomes truly
  international
• Multi-lingual reference services
• Interactive programs

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History Phase IIISummer 2007

• Libraries purchase their own islands
• Bradley University
• Cleveland Public Library
• Stanford University libraries
• Approximate cost 2,000 per year

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Institutional Commitment

• Administrative buy-in is 1
• Be prepared to defend your presence in virtual
  worlds
• Build a project team
• Integrate the team into the whole organization
• Funds to support a pilot program

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Funds needed for

• Hardware
• A high-end computer with advanced graphics,
  memory, and bandwidth
• Island purchase and setup
• Approx. 900 setup and 150/month thereafter
• Building construction
• Anywhere from 50-500

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Funds needed for

• Staffing
• Public relations
• In Second Life and in the real world/first life
• Content development
• Displays i.e. WWII posters
• Exhibits i.e. Marie Antoinette
• Events i.e. author readings and book
  discussions

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Funds needed for

• Training
• Second Life presents a steep learning curve that
  takes time and patience to conquer

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Necessary Skills

• Multi-tasker
• Strategic communicator
• Comfortable with constant change
• Inquisitive
• Excellent teaching skills

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Necessary Skills

• Comfortable working from home and/or in a
  non-traditional setting within a flexible
  schedule
• Ability to work independently and on a team
• Sense of humor

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Summary

• Organizational and professional commitment
• Funding
• A specific set of skills

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People are the content of websites.To survive,
libraries must share in this adventure.
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Libraries must take an active role in developing
the virtual world.
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Assessment Librar-Things in VWs

• Librarians (as free-lance and/or pro-bono
  individual professionals)
• Libraries
• Parent organizations of libraries
• Library Consortia
• Library-Related Organizations (e.g.,
  associations, regional systems)
• Library Schools
• Library Vendors

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Assessment What to Evaluate?

• A collection of information objects or
  experiences (e.g., a collection or exhibit)
• The built environment (terraforming, landscaping,
  buildings, furniture)
• Library services (reference, lectures)
• A particular library service provider
• A particular library service event

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Assessment What to Study?

• Usage
• Usability
• Usefulness
• Outputs
• Outcomes
• Avatar-patron attitudes
• Growth and viability

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Assessment Data Sources

• Session transcripts
• Surveys and questionnaires
• Counters on objects and land parcels
• External surveys, such as a real-world campus
  survey or Survey Monkey
• Proximity Sensors and other free/low-cost data
  collection devices
• Full-blown in-world third-part assessment services

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Assessment Demographic Info

• Librarians and non-librarians
• Age, sex, national origin, ethnicity, educational
  level, etc.
• Primary language
• How long the person has been in SL
• Other virtual worlds the person frequents
• Where they usually hang out in VWs

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Assessment Use of the Virtual Library in Context

• How did the avatar-patron learn about the
  library?
• Where the avatar-patron before s/he came to the
  library?
• Where did s/he go after leaving the library?
• What did they do with the info and info services
  they used in the library?
• What sort of take-aways do they want/need?

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Opportunities Moving Forward

• Continued rapid growth development
• Relatively easy and inexpensive to develop and
  test prototype services
• Diverse international community
• Trust, Authority, Comradeship, etc.
• What is the best way to create and organize
  information experiences in SL?
• Events and exhibits morph into immersive
  information seeking/use environments

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The Future

• VW libraries for children Whyville. Second
  Life?
• Keeping a pulse on virtual world development.
• Is there life after Second Life?
• Google Earth
• Integrating web resources into Second Life
• Moving from world to world interchangeably
• Moving created objects out of Second Life to web
• Second Life Google?
• Born virtual library-related organizations

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Future Directions Holo Emitters

• The Museum Problem Major investment in
  exhibits, but exhibit space is limited, with
  little opportunity to time-shift
• Create a scene in a virtual world on demand!
• Exhibits, collections, immersive learning
  environments, meeting spaces
• Free, open-source Second Life tool
• http//www.troymcconaghy.com/blog/2007/9/12/open-s
  ource-holo-emitter-for-sl.html

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Potential Long-Term Impact of Second Life and
Virtual Worlds in General

• On Information Literacy and the Use of Libraries
• Immersive Information/Learning Experiences
• On Literacy in general
• Gaming and Literacy
• On Online Communities

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A Prediction

• In most online and virtual communities of the
  future, the residents will add more value to
  their information system (library) than will the
  librarians.

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A Lemma

• In online and virtual information environments,
  the best way a library can serve a community is
  by helping the community to serve itself.

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What Should Libraries Do?

• Become involved in online and virtual communities
  now, during the formative stages.
• Think about, discuss, explore, and test how
  libraries and librarians can help online and
  virtual communities to help themselves.

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Contact Information

• Barbara A. Galik
• Executive Director
• Cullom-Davis Library
• Bradley University
• 1501 W. Bradley Ave.
• Peoria, IL   61625
• Phone [phone]
• Fax [phone]
• Email barbara_at_bradley.edu

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Contact Information

• Jill Hurst-WahlHurst Associates, Ltd.,
  www.HurstAssociates.comHurst_at_HurstAssociates.com
  Digitization 101blog www.Digitization101.comTel
  [phone]AOL IM jillNYS Skype
  jill.hurst.wahl

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Contact Information

• Tom PetersTAP Information Services1000 SW 23rd
  StreetBlue Springs, MO 64015816-228-6406TAPinfo
  rmation_at_yahoo.com www.TAPinformation.com
  Skype tapeters4466

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Kitty PopeExecutive DirectorAlliance Library
System [phone] x2101 kpope_at_alliancelibra
rysystem.comwww.alliancelibrarysystem.com