"Virtual Worlds, Real Libraries" - a must read for Second Life librarians

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"Virtual Worlds, Real Libraries" - a must read for Second Life librarians

Written by Dulcie Mills

Virtual Worlds, Real Libraries

Graphic by VERDE OTAARED. Composite image of the cover of "Virtual Worlds, Real Libraries" with Abbey Zenith (left) and Lorelie Junot (right).

When Lori Bell (SL Lorelei Junot) and Rhonda B. Trueman (SL Abbey Zenith) first rezzed their avatars into Second Life in the spring of 2006, neither one of them imagined that less than three years later, they would be co-editors of a book about virtual librarianship. Neither did they foresee that the small plot of land they'd named Info Island would grow into an archipelago of 54 islands, nor that they would ever be be referred to as "innovators" and "pioneers" in book reviews of their work, "Virtual Worlds, Real Libraries." Bell also never dreamed she'd come to be known as the "Founding Mother" of libraries in virtual worlds.

Bell explained that the idea for the book that features 26 contributors started when the publisher, Information Today, approached her in the fall of 2006 shortly after the Alliance Virtual Library Project began. "I hope the book will serve as a valuable information resource for both librarians and educators who want information about virtual worlds and those who may not be quite convinced. I hope it will also urge those who are not convinced to at least give it a try," she said. "I think after reading about some of the experiences of the contributors that they will be convinced to give it a try."

During an October 2008 talk to the Special Libraries Association (SLA) group in Second Life, Trueman gave some background on how, what is now known as the Information Archipelago, began. "In March of 2006 Lori Bell of Alliance Library System and Online Programming for All Libraries (OPAL) joined forces to extend the programs that they currently offered online to librarians and library users to Second Life. The plan was to start with programs and eventually offer library services," she said. "With the support of the Director of Alliance Library System, Kitty Pope, and the Chairman of the Alliance Library System board, Barbara Galik (Puglet Dancer in SL), the first real library is created in a virtual world." Trueman then related her changing roles from tour guide, decorator, head of collections, director of operations, "or Lori's partner in crime as she calls it" and now Director of the Library Resources and Services for Alliance Library System's five core islands. "Lori wanted to let the people here tell their stories to the outside world through the publication of a book about the efforts here," Trueman said. "She asked me to co-edit and opened the book up for contributions. Publishing a book was a first time experience for the two of us, but thanks to all of the contributors, Rachel Singer-Gordon and the wonderful publishing staff at Information Today we completed the book and are happy to see it published this month."

The book is divided into three sections: Virtual Worlds and Libraries; The Alliance Virtual Library Project; and Virtual Worlds and Education. In the introductory section, Tom Peters (SL Maxito Ricardo), CEO of TAP Information Services; a small company that helps organizations innovate, wrote the first chapter that deals with the concept of how libraries, librarians, librarianship, library science, library graduate education, library assocations and consortia and library vendors relate to multi-user virtual environments. Marty Grover (SL Fleet Goldenberg) wrote the next two chapters on Massively Multiplayer Online Worlds and Library Education and Museum Applications of Virtual Worlds, for Child, Tween, and Teen Projcts. The Alliance Virtual Library Project section consists of chapters on Management, Teaching, Reference Services, and Collections, as well as chapters on individual projects within the Information Archipelago including Caledon, Health Info Island, Renaissance Island, Land of Lincoln, and Eye4You Alliance on the Teen Grid. Also included were chapters on the genre-driven areas of the Sci Fi Portal and Mystery Manor. The final section, Virtual Worlds and Education, features academic librarians and educators relating their beginning experiences in virtual worlds and sharing the knowledge they have gained from those experiences. Barbara Galik, Executive Director, Cullom-Davis Library, Bradley University who is currently President of the Alliance Library System Board of Directors, but better known in Second Life as Puglet Dancer, writes a chapter that is a manual for those who are want to convince their organization to come into Second Life. Jeremy Kemp of San Jose State University writes about teaching the nation's first MLIS class in Second Life.

Trueman said that one of her favorite parts of the book is Chapter 5, "Rocky in Wonderland" that is written by Bill Sowers (SL Rocky Vallejo). "His chapter comes at Second Life from the point of view of someone completely new to virtual environments and tracks his experiences and growth," she said.

JJ Drinkwater and Hypatia Dejavu, two contributors to the book, spoke at a Second Life ALA group book talk on Virtual Worlds and Libraries. Dejavu who wrote Chapters 7 and 8, "Teaching in a Virtual Setting" and "Reference Services in a Virtual World," said, "In the reference section, we discuss where virtual world reference started and how far it's come at AVL. From very meager beginnings to one of the major services we provide. But more importantly the chapter talks about the contrast between SL reference, real life reference, and online virtual reference. And how SL reference seems to pull far ahead of online reference in terms of both patron and librarian satisfaction and communication.We're hoping to watch these kinds of programs expand with the virtual worlds." Drinkwater, author of Chapter 10, " Virtual Neighborhoods, Real Communities: The Caledon Branch Library and the Branch Library Program," said, ". . . my chapter was written about the Caledon Library back when it was a branch of SLL2. But it's mostly about being a community library -- how the interests of the community shape not just the library's collections, but the library's presence. This is true in any community, of course...but here in SL we get to explore librarianship that serves "themed communities."

Bell and Trueman (SL Junot and Zenith) also appeared on SLCNTV's "Meet an Author" program to discuss their book. They were interviewed by Adele Ward, the show's host who asked them questions regarding the Alliance Virtual Library project, the book, and their hopes for the future. In addition, Bell and Trueman took turns reading passages from "Virtual Worlds, Real Librarians." When asked about the strengths of the book, Bell mentioned the variety of projects that are described and the people involved. She said she felt that the biggest strength was "the variety of experiences" people shared. Regarding the challenges in writing the book, Trueman pointed out the problems faced trying to keep up with the changes in technology such as the introduction of voice into SL. "It was hard to keep the writing current," she said. "Just as we signed off on the edit . . . we had to change (our) name to Alliance Virtual Library," she said. But both Bell and Trueman were thankful for the assistance of their publisher, Information Today, to guide them through the publication process.

The list of contributors to "Virtual Worlds, Real Libraries," some of who used their real life names and others who preferred to write under their Second Life names, include Eric Gordon Bainbridge, Abbi Ball, Lori Bell, Guus van den Brekel, Skip Burhans, Kelly Czarnecki, Barbara A. Galik, Rachel Gollub, Marty Grover, DaisyBlue Hefferman, J. B. Hill, J. J. Jacobson, Jeremy W. Kemp, Mary-Carol Lindbloom, Max Lundy, Louise Ochoa, Susan Payne, Carol Perryman, Tom Peters, Kitty Pope, Geri Purpur, Todd Spires, Jami Schwarzwalder, Bill Sowers, Samantha Thompson, Rhonda Trueman, and Deni Wicklund.

The book is availabe through the publisher,Information Today, Amazon and other booksellers. There is also a website for more information and updates: Virtual Worlds, Real Libraries. The SLCN video can be viewed here.

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