Do we remove all the walls? Second Life Librarianship

Do we remove all the walls?Second Life librarianship

Kathryn Greenhill http://librariansmatter.com

Kathryn Greenhill

Emerging Technologies SpecialistMurdoch University

February 2008

LibrariansMatter.com


Let’s fly


(embedded video)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0aI5zQtRh9E



•Definition - MUVE•Limitations of Second Life•Possibilities for Second Life•Australian Libraries Building•Library objects•Advantages for librarians•What we learned

Outline


Multi

User

Virtual

Environment

MUVE


•Client/server•Real time•Multiple user•Each user’s own POV•3D rendering•Graphics, sound, networking•Aim = Immersion

MUVE elements


•SL Teen Grid•There•Habbo Hotel•Kaneva•Activeworlds•Whyville•Webkinz•Club Penguin

Other MUVEs


Limitations of Second Life


OVERHYPED

Second Life is


•80 Percent of Active Internet Users Will Have A ``Second Life'' in the Virtual World by the End of 2011 - Gartner

•Educause/NMC Horizon Report 2007

But…


Growth is levelling off

Although…


Source: Linden Labs. Second Life economy posts solid growth in Q4: http://blog.secondlife.com/2008/01/17/second-life-economy-posts-solid-growth-in-q4/


Where our users are

NOT


Library 2.0

…unless it matches your users’ needs

NOT


•Broadband•Fast processor•High end graphics card

Access


90%

Churn rate


•Not really…•Fewer than 100 people per event per island

Scalable ?


…a creepy post-apocalyptic wasteland

John Blyberg said it was like ….


It’s evolving …Remember this ….


(Audio of dialup modem connecting)

FreeFull of librariansHas critical massAvailable right now

It is …


Worth investigating

Can only be understood by doing


Possibilities of Second Life


What can you do in Second Life?


Avatars

Islands

Buildings

Objects


Avatars• Talk • Modify • Move


Objects• Build• Upload • Buy, sell and trade • Animate• Script


Environment• Streamed media• Join groups and

network• Events


2003 Second Life April 2006 Shopfront libraryOct 2006 Infoisland – 2 islandsNov 2006 Australian Libraries

buildingFeb 2007 9 islandsJuly 2007 40 islands

SL Library History


What are libraries doing in Second Life?


Reference


Outreach programs


Collections


Classes and seminars


Slideshare.netSearch: sirexkat

More on what librarians are doing ….


Australian Libraries Building



First – Social, met people



Second– Did things with objects



Scripted Objects



(embedded video)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOh5UF9-kmg



Advantages for librarians who experiment in

Second Life


Learn new interface

Advantages


Understand users who game

Advantages


Break down professional isolation

Advantages


Increase coding skills

Advantages


Fun creative expression

Advantages


Join collaborative learning community

Advantages


Network about real life library topics

Advantages


Find expert professional support

Advantages


Nimble thinking and adapatable

Advantages


What we learned about information in a MUVE


Tom Peters, report into first year of SL library…


If Second Life crashed tomorrow, or all users moved away…


•…thus resulting in tremendous loss of person hours spent building and designing in Second Life, most librarians seem to agree that the experiential and theoretical knowledge gained during this first collective exploration of virtual worlds would be a sufficiently valuable thing to take away to make the project worthwhile “

Source: Peters, Tom 2007 A Report on the First Year of Operation of the Alliance Second Life Library 2.0 Project also known as the Alliance Information Archipelago: April 11, 2006 Through April 18, 2007 10 August 2007 TAP Information Service, Chicago.


•People want to interact with people

•Not with things

It’s a social network


•If you build it, they MAY come, but you’ll have to be there.

It’s a social network


•Events•Reference desk•Casual get togethers•Outdoor settings•“Friending” and using network•Collaboration around subject matter, not geography•Dance meetings•Volunteers working on own interests.

What works


•Static collections with no people•Closed off buildings•Clickable objects without “how to”•Solo exploration•Buildings without identity

What doesn’t work


•Create “willing suspension of disbelief”

Challenge


Immersion ….

Challenge



…vs. possibilities of the interface

Challenge




Evolution of the building


















Spot the problem






Questions ?Kathryn Greenhill http://librariansmatter.com

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Do we remove all the walls? Second Life Librarianship