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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.
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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
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
What is a MUVE? • Multi user virtual environment (MUVE) • Virtual world (simulation) with avatars • Real Virtual
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
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• TechCrunch • 18 virtual worlds • e.g., Webkinz, Neopets • For children to mature adults • Virtual Worlds Review (outdated) • 28 virtual worlds • e.g., The Sims Online, Virtual Magic Kingdom
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
What is the Role of Librarians? • Info mediators & guides • Teachers of information literacy • Trusted advisors • Potential partners / collaborators • We know how to “build bridges”
Risks • Perceived as: • Investing in a fad • Servicing people who are not your users • Wasting money & time • Just a game
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
Critical Skills & Qualities • Basic technology skills for the MUVE • Communication, navigation, building, etc. • Learn & teach simultaneously • Respect, forgiveness, patience • Creative thinking
Virtual librarianship in MUVEs requires: • Organizational and professional commitment • Funding • A specific set of skills
History: Phase ISummer 2006 • Volunteerism booms • Librarians from all over the world • Most donate their time and participate independently of their institution
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
History: Phase IIIWinter 2006 • Libraries want bigger spaces in Cybrary City and are willing to pay • Development of global collaboration at an institutional level
History: Phase IIIWinter 2006 • InfoIsland archipelago becomes truly international • Multi-lingual reference services • Interactive programs
History: Phase IIISummer 2007 • Libraries purchase their own islands • Bradley University • Cleveland Public Library • Stanford University libraries • Approximate cost: $2,000 per year
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
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
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
Funds needed for… • Training • Second Life presents a steep learning curve that takes time and patience to conquer
NecessarySkills • Multi-tasker • Strategic communicator • Comfortable with constant change • Inquisitive • Excellent teaching skills
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
Summary Organizational and professional commitment Funding A specific set of skills
People are the content of websites.To survive, libraries must share in this adventure.
Libraries must take an active role in developing the virtual world.
Assessment: Librar-Things in VW’s • 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
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
Assessment: What to Study? • Usage • Usability • Usefulness • Outputs • Outcomes • Avatar-patron attitudes • Growth and viability
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
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 VW’s
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?
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
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
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-source-holo-emitter-for-sl.html
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
In most online and virtual communities of the future, the residents will add more value to their information system (library) than will the librarians. A Prediction
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.
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.
Contact Information Barbara A. Galik Executive Director Cullom-Davis Library Bradley University 1501 W. Bradley Ave. Peoria, IL 61625 Phone: 309-677-2850 Fax: 309-677-2558 Email: barbara@bradley.edu
Contact Information • Jill Hurst-WahlHurst Associates, Ltd., www.HurstAssociates.comHurst@HurstAssociates.comDigitization 101blog: www.Digitization101.comTel: (315) 243-4403AOL IM: jillNYS Skype: jill.hurst.wahl
Contact Information • Tom PetersTAP Information Services1000 SW 23rd StreetBlue Springs, MO 64015816-228-6406TAPinformation@yahoo.comwww.TAPinformation.comSkype: tapeters4466
Kitty PopeExecutive DirectorAlliance Library System(800) 700-4857 x2101kpope@alliancelibrarysystem.comwww.alliancelibrarysystem.com