“Second Life” & Academic

Libraries?!! YES!!

Esther Grassian (aka Alexandria Knight)

UCLA College LibraryRev. 30 March 2010

Alexandria Knight

Agenda

What is Second Life (SL)? Who’s Involved? Examples: Academic Library &

Librarian Involvement & Fun

What is “Second Life” (SL)?

Somewhat Like “WOW” Modifiable MMORPG 769,000 Unique SL Users Logged

In (Dec 2009)

Virtual World?

Community Standards Objects Designed by Residents Intellectual Property Rights

Respected (Lawrence Lessig)

More…

L$260= US$1 User-to-User=US$567 Million in 2009 65% > 2008 Gross Resident Earnings=US$55

Million 11% > 2008 95% of Earnings = Profit!

SL Demographics 16 Million Registered Users - 150

Countries Age:

45% = 18-24 34% = 25-34

50% = U.S. Participants (6/09) 481 Million Hours in SL (2009)

Some considerations…

Access Requirements Internet Connectivity Platform Development & Revision Open Source Alternatives Learning Curve & Time

Commitment Sleaze Factor…

Businesses…

More…

Entertainment

Bazaars Bars Be wary… Mature areas

Texas Stampede Bar

“Metaverse Messenger” Kiosk

Academic Libraries in SL

Current Usage Benefits Potential

Higher Ed

UC Irvine Library Texas Women’s University Stanford University Library Austin Community College UCLA Library Many more…

UC Irvine-Anteater Island

Texas Women’s University

Stanford University Library

Austin Community College

UCLA Library

UCLA Library in SL Service Plan

Building & enhancing… library/faculty partnerships research collections

Enhancing services & focusing on information literacy

Promoting our role as a vibrant enterprise

up pops a notecard with links to UCLA library web pages…

Critical Thinking: Research Studies &

Sims

Are they real? Are they authoritative?

Fictional!

“This exhibit is for your entertainment only. None of the medical information presented here should be taken as true.”

Kemp, Jeremy. “Notices and Disclaimers—SimTeach”

Realistic attempt to replicate…

“…the building contains a closely researched recreation of visual and aural hallucinations, based on interviews of real schizophrenics.”

Peter Yellowlees, MD & programmer, UC Davis, “A Lever to Move the Mind”

Mellon Seminars-Digital Hum’s

Dante Hotel – Lynn Hershman

Reference Service

UCLA Library = Vibrant Enterprise

Professional Participation Global Networking

ALA Island

ACRL in SL

Review

What is Second Life (SL)? Who’s Involved? Examples To conclude…

Why Get Into SL?

Offer Reference Service Teach & Promote Information

Literacy Promote Collections Support Research, Teaching &

Learning Participate Professionally Network Globally

Go To Your Users!