Alliance%20Second%20Life%20%20%20Library%202.0:%20%20%20Going%20Where%20the%20Users%20Are

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Alliance Second Life Library 2.0
Going Where the Users Are

• Lori Bell, Michael Sauers, and Tom Peters
  Session C105 Internet Librarian Conference
  Monday, October 23, 2006, Monterey, California

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The Launch Graphic in SL
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Lori Bell

• Director of InnovationAlliance Library
  SystemEast Peoria, Illinois

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What is Second Life (SL)?

• A 3-dimensional virtual reality world
• Populated by nearly 1 million avatars
• A complete community society, culture, economy,
  buildings, goods, services
• Operated by Linden Labs
• Not a game!

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Info Island
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Why Are Librarians Involved in SL?

• Many SL avatars are pursuing info-related
  activities
• Increasingly used by higher ed. for more
  interactive distance learning
• Its a creative and artistic outlet
• Satisfies the desire to build and design a
  library organization from scratch

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Parvenu Tower on Info Island
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What Are Librarians Doing?

• Designing, building, and decorating buildings and
  external landscapes
• Designing and implementing communication methods
  (chat, IM, VoIP, data portals, etc.)
• Reference services
• Collections and Interactive Displays
• Events tours, training, lectures, etc.
• Trials of Databases and Services

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Ref Desk at Info Island Landing
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An Indoor Historical Exhibit
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Timeline

• April 2006 First Alliance Second Life Library
  built
• May 2006 Info Island donated
• August 2006 2nd island donated
• September 2006 QuestionPoint trial and overall
  SLL reference service began
• October 2006 Grand Opening HealthInfo Island
  Cybrary City

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Branch Library in Caledon
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Its All About Partnerships

• Between two or more libraries
• Tech Soup
• ICT Library
• World Bridges
• New Media Consortium
• Institutions of Higher Education
• Museums

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Michael Sauers

• Internet TrainerBCRAurora, Colorado

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Minimal Requirements

• PC
• Internet Connection Cable or DSL
• Operating System Windows XP (Service Pack 2)
• OR Windows 2000 (Service Pack 4)
• Computer Processor 800MHz Pentium III or Athlon,
  or better
• Computer Memory 256MB or better
• Video/Graphics Card
• nVidia GeForce 2, GeForce 4mx, or better
• OR ATI Radeon 8500, 9250, or better

• Mac
• Internet Connection Cable or DSL
• Operating System Mac OS X 10.3.9 or better
• Computer Processor 1 GHz G4 or better
• Computer Memory 512MB or better
• Video/Graphics Card
• nVidia GeForce 2, GeForce 4mx, or better
• OR ATI Radeon 8500, 9250, or better

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Recommended Requirements

• PC
• Internet Connection Cable or DSL
• Computer Processor 1.6GHz Pentium 4 or Athlon
  2000 or better
• Computer Memory 512MB or better
• Video/Graphics Card
• nVidia GeForce FX 5600, GeForce 6600, or better
• OR ATI Radeon 9600, X600, or better

• Mac
• Internet Connection Cable or DSL
• Computer Processor 1.6GHz Pentium 4 or Athlon
  2000 or better
• Computer Memory 512MB or better
• Video/Graphics Card
• nVidia GeForce FX 5600, GeForce 6600, or better
• OR ATI Radeon 9600, X600, or better

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(No Transcript)
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Reality Check 1

• If you dont have the recommended hardware its
  going to be a frustrating experience.

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Reality Check 2

• If you cant follow several conversations and are
  easily annoyed by tyops

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Reality Check 3

• You dont have to spend real money, but it helps.
• You can get a stipend even with a free account,
  but its not much.
• Textures uploaded for L10 each
• Clothing, presentations, building
• Current exchange rate aprox. 1 L190

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Reality Check 4

• The more people at an event/in a location the
  greater the lag will be.

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InfoIsland Grand Opening
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Reality Check 5

• Your boss and co-workers will probably not view
  this as work so youll be contributing personal
  time.

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Reality Check 6

• The more fun youre having, the more time youll
  want to spend on the grid.

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InfoIsland Grand Opening
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Reality Check 7

• People are generally polite but theyll still
  fall on your head.

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Reality Check 8

• Dont plan on keeping track of acquaintances
  based on their appearance as many change their
  avatars regularly.

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Reality Check 9

• Updates, updates, updates.
• Trying to log in for an event at the last minute
  only to find out you need to download a new
  version first.

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Reality Check 10

• System problems
• Grey Goo
• Purchased items disappearing

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Reality Check 11

• Sometimes it just doesnt work.

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Tom Peters

• Founder and CEOTAP Information ServicesBlue
  Springs, Missouri

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What We Are Learning

• Islands, Buildings and Grounds
• Staffing
• Governance Management
• Collections
• Catalogs
• Reference Services
• Exhibits
• Events
• Privacy, Safety, Security
• Professional Development

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Espresso Bar in Main Library
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Addressing Fundamental Questions

• What types of library services do SL avatars
  want, need, and expect?
• What types of library buildings and locations are
  needed?
• Are collections needed? What types of
  information objects?
• How to create links between in-world activity and
  real-world information resources?

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Outdoor Discussion on NMC Campus
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Challenges

• Volunteer Labor (self-inflicted burnout)
• External Funding
• Expertise Mining
• Disaster Preparedness
• Implementing Library 2.0 concepts
• Rapidly evolving environment and human
  understanding of that environment

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Talis Sci Fi Fantasy Building
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Predictions, Bloody Predictions

• Library services to avatars will thrive.
• Architecture will evolve away from real-world
  architecture.
• Libraries will include elements from museums,
  theme parks, etc.
• Exhibits and events will be more useful than
  traditional collections.
• Immersive, experiential learning experiences
  (e.g., walk-in books 3D interactive mash-ups).

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Librarian Avatars Cut the Rug!
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Questions and Discussion
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Info Island as Gathering Place
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Eiseldoras Bookmaking Workshop
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Presentation Training
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Contact Us

• Lori Bell
• Director of Innovation, Alliance Library
  System
• Email lbell_at_alliancelibrarysystem.com
• Web www.alliancelibrarysystem.com
• Phone [phone] x2128
• Michael Sauers
• Internet Trainer, BCR
• Email msauers_at_bcr.org
• Web www.bcr.org
• Phone [phone] x110
• Tom Peters
• CEO, TAP Information Services
• Email tpeters_at_tapinformation.com
• Web www.tapinformation.com
• Phone [phone]