Week+I

Bell et al //Get a Second Life: Prospecting for Gold in a 3-D World//
Describes AVL (Info Island estb. May 2006) and intro to SL

p12 Users retain IP rights to digital creations residents "actively participate in the creation of media" "online communities often provide new environments for mutual support and learning, in some ways embodying the evolving roles of libraries within their real-life communities."

on funding for gaming... not ready funding in part because "funding agencies can't see the relationship it has to literacy, learning, digital storytelling, and content creation."

making services available where users are average age 35 educational institutions and main stream corporations have presence authors, musicians

p13 wanted collaborative library- work and coverage shared- modeled on statewide virtual reference services buildings created to reflect their theme/use/purpose (Mystery Manor) and Main library with themed floors interactive exhibits (to make topic come alive)

reference system- OCLC donated trial of "Question-Point chat" and email computers linked throughout the island services include- reg reference, questions about SL, they offer tours and orientations, book talks (interactive on Henry VIII), discussions, live programs, sponsors art gallery, open auditorium

p14 "extending the boundaries of traditional librarianship and engendering innovation" launch of AVL "unleashed a tremendous amount of creative professional energy across librarianship worldwide"

one of the primary goals of AVL is to collaborate with librarians around the world (RL libraries offering RL virtual ref 24/7 are part of consortia)

Challenges p 14- high learning curve, necessary time commitment to learn

p15 new computer and other tech requirements ("how do you sustain collaborative library that serves the globe")- SL is not universally accessible how to handle online digital library database links are all available but locally may not be to SL patrons when they try to access resources out of SL

"they [patrons] like AVL because its dynamic and interactive..."

"are buildings needed or can everything be in the open?" what is unique in SL that can be leveraged differently than it could be in RL

collaborative- can do more together than any of us can do alone

Parker, (2008). //Second Life: the seventh face of the library?//
(has examples of what libraries are doing in SL including current exhibits/descriptions of sims)

can libraries be welcomed in social networking applications? This is where their patrons are so there shouldn't they make the effort (esp vis a vis young users- the net generation)

not just empty presence solely to be able to say "we're here" but need meaningful content that is innovative and useful for patrons

p233 referring to '7 faces of info literacy' librarians need to be familiar with all of them interdependency on groups and individuals in the info literacy experience "librarians have moved from being custodians of physical collection of books to being managers of libraries as learning and social spaces."

what is the social function of the library there is a shift learning and teaching method to collaborative and participative approach (architecture of participation)
 * QUESTION**: what is it about this collaboration that is so appealing for both the student and the teacher/ the creator and the end user

ongoing issue for librarians- designing suitable spaces for learning and teaching "what scope do these new virtual worlds give us to rethink our strategies and roles?"

p234 what is the potential of SL to support learning and teaching immersive learning environments- "users integrate information to solve a problem" "discovery, analysis, interpretation, performance" //**many textures of learning**//

p235 "learning activities need to be built form scratch as there are no templates within in SL."- this provides the library to be there at the start to help plan and guide educational activities //**can the library develop best practices guidelines for others to use as a template for creative/constructive/collaborative learning**//

p236 are 3D worlds a threat or opportunity? Do they offer librarians a chance to do things differently?

p239 what is the role of communication in teaching and with student/teacher relationship? what are new modes of communicating (in SL) asking librarians to do differently? do they need to be careful about maintiain 'professionalism' in communication modes? consider the logisitics of communicating in SL (chat, voice, lack of facial cues, scripted gestures)

designing learning spaces also from a blank sheet- opportunity to invent fresh spaces for learning (and reaching patrons)

p240 think about multi media in sims/exhibits is staffing necessary? can exhibits operate without the 'personal touch?' how to compensate for lack of staffing?

think about the 'newbie' think about mentoring/partnering

Bell et al. (2008) //The Universal Library in a Virtual Universe//
primarily a description of AVL thus far as applied to the idea of another approach to creating a universal library- or library services that reach a global audience

immersive learning environments collaboration (to get the job done) increases pool of expertise combining services and experiences

Bell et al (2007). //Who's on Third in Second Life? From Library 2.0 to Library 3-D//
talks about relevancy of libraries in SL from the perspective of AVL
 * should libraries be there
 * what kind of services do residents expect/want
 * how are SL services unique/different compared to RL
 * challenges (skills needed)

immersive learning environments communication models (how does SL change/affect traditional communication?) collaboration
 * //keeping librarians on cutting edge of new technologies (relevancy, ability to influence policies affecting new technologies)//**

Greenhill (2008). //Do We Remove All the Walls? Second Life Librarianship//
primarily a description of of the evolution of the Australian Libraries Building and library services in SL discusses implementing themes/projects/displays relevant to Australian librarianship and being part of broader librarian community in SL includes questions to ask to see if SL (or MUVE) is appropriate for a library to consider (p388-89)

"Second Life experimentation for librarians" first step is learning how to do it, second was getting feedback from others

p385 New Interface allows for librarians to be on the cutting edge of new technologies and applications helps develop familiarity and comfort with technology

networking and professional collaboration

fun and creative expression (encourages learning new things) p387 flexibility of thought, need "nimble and exercised minds" forward thinking innovative bold adaptable

suggests every library should have staff member dedicated to staying abreast of new technologies and how or if they should be incorporated into library service would keep library relevant and able to meet future needs/expectations of patrons
 * //(shows need for broadband... policy issue)//**

p388 example of multi-layer learning- 'steps to research represented by granite steps'

p389-90 "willing suspension of disbelief" "allows combinations of landscapes and objects that would never happen in real life" also avatar design moving outside the norm

SL still in the experimental phase which gives librarians the opportunity to shape what is to come

Peterson (2008) //Librarianship in Virtual Worlds//
audience is RL librarians considering a presence for their organization in a virtual world introduction- "As a profession, librarianship needs to work through its tendency toward denial... and begin exploring how librarianship can survive and thrive in virtual worlds."

are VWs going to be dominated by 'free lance professional' rather than representatives of specific institutions? (how does the ALA respond to that?) early years seem "to belong to creative individuals not organizations."

incoming organizations that exist in RL may be guilty of bringing in 'baggage.' Are they unable to think differently (as an organization)? Do you need to start new to be innovative?

p6 suggests that RL libraraies should dive in now rather than wait to see what will hapapen with VWs- //**(at that point they will be dominated by 'natives' with little room left for the late comers Is this important and if so why? I have a general sense that it is...)**//

in the "rough and tumble wild west phase" (where no one knows exactly where VWs are heading and what it means to libraries (will mean) should library have a wait and see attitube "fence sitting" suggests this is what happened with the intial advent of the Web "Other libraries... perhaps trying to learn from hard lessons about fence-sitting while the Webd as a rich information environment developed without siginificant input fomr trianed information professionals" SO- exactly the right time to become involved

p7 Virtual Communities "novelty and surreality of experiences" may be the draw but the sense of community "may be what keeos them coming back"

business failures according to Gartner Research Group in part because of focus on 'coolness factor' vs trying to understand the demographics and expectations of the user group //**(this is what libraries do naturally)**// also lack of clear objective

virtual community ios a moving target - more so than in RL communities

group forming tendency (of users)

p8 new ways to experience familiar acitivites (possible in VWs)

p9 VWs develop cultures and to serve them libraries will need to understand the perceptions, mores, etc

Three Types of Libraries: how libraries develop, orgainize, deliver, archive content, services, and systems in RL, 2D Web, and 3D VW

VW librarianship looks at traditional aspects in untraditional ways (budgets, buildings, personnel, collections, services, archiving, technology)

Chapter 3- what are the condition that make VW 'ripe' for librarianship? people communication infrastructure transportation infrastructure presentation infrastructure windows and portals (onto other areas) economy property rights/enforcement zoning record/archive creating/delivering information experiences

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