Second Life & Info Island: Library Service in a Virtual World 03 April 2007 Michael Sauers Nebraska Library Commission Rhonda Trueman Johnson & Wales University

What is Second Life? Second Life is a 3-D virtual world entirely built and owned by its residents. An environment

Statistics 19 March :05SLT

Is Second Life a Game? For me, it is a game because its a form of entertainment. There are games in Second Life (Super Lag Ball) There is no manufactured conflict, no set objective. Its an entirely open- ended experience. Its an OS

Recommended System Requirements Internet Connection*: Cable or DSL Computer Processor: 1.6GHz Pentium 4 or Athlon or better Computer Memory: 512MB or better Video/Graphics Card**: –nVidia GeForce FX 5600, GeForce 6600, or better –OR ATI Radeon 9600, X600, or better NOTE: Second Life does NOT currently support Windows Vista

Account Options Free –Additional free accounts are $9.95 –L$225 signup bonus Premium –$9.95/mo –L$1000 signup bonus –L$300/week stipend

Quote What is there to teach? You just log in and do it. Sara, age 13

Avatars!

In-world Communication Text chat IM Stream in audio and video In-world voice coming soon

Economy Linden Dollars (L$) Liquid Market –Buy L$ with real US$ –Sell L$ for real US$ $1=~L$240

Owning Land Must have a premium account to own land. Islands are priced at US$1,675 for 65,536 square meters (about 16 acres). Monthly land fees for maintenance are US$295. We offer a discount to verified real world educators and academic institutions (e.g., universities/schools) or 501(c)3 non-profit organizations that will be using the regions to support their organization's official work. For these organizations, small islands are priced at US$980 for 65,536 square meters (about 16 acres), and monthly land fees for maintenance are US$150.

83 sq miles

Building Create a prim Shape it, color it, texture it Apply physics and lighting

Scripting Avatar and object control –Movement (sexy walk, pose, dance, combat) –Permissions (ownership, copy, modify) –Audio/Video –Event sensing –Output

Who owns what I create? You retain all rights to your intellectual property.

Camera View You dont have to look through your eyes.

Learning Environments Walk through molecular models Meditate in a Shinto temple Heart Murmur Simulation Live in Victorian times Live in Ancient Rome Visit the Globe Theatre

Events US Congress Henry VIII Book discussion groups Author events –Kurt Vonnegut, Dean Koontz Concerts –Jay Z, U2, Duran Duran, Suzanne Vega vaught/ / on.com/2007/03/14/de an-koontz-comes-to- second-life/

Par-tay!

Groups Librarians of Second Life Podcaster Island Stroke victims Wheelies The Land of Doctor Who

Machinima

Info Island Alliance Library Systems April 2006 – Rented space May 2006 – InfoIsland Currently: 10 ALS Islands 9 Associated Islands

Places & Faces InfoIsland InfoIsland 2 Health InfoIsland Cybrary City Cybrary City 2 EduIsland EduIsland 2 ALA/ Arts Island Imagination Island Renaissance Island Eye4YouAlliance Island (Teen Grid)

Service Outreach –Public –Academic –Special Conversation –Events –Workshops –Displays & Exhibits –One-on-one interactions

Benefits Networking Partnerships & Collaboration Events, workshops, discussion groups Meeting space Creative Space Continuing education Library education

Individual Library Space –Academic Johnson & Wales University Stanford Engineering Library Claremont College Digital Library –Public Kansas State Library Society Hill (SC) Public Library Public Library of Charlotte Mecklenburg County (NC) –Special Law Medical Nebraska Library Commission Cybrary City 1 & 2

Cybrary City – Library Schools UNC Chapel Hill UNC Greensboro University of South Florida San Jose State University University of Michigan University of Pittsburgh City University of NY

ALA Headquarters and Washington Office Come to SL David Lankes from Syracuse University delivered ALA's Washington Office's first interactive presentation in Second Life

Reality Checks

1.If you dont have the recommended hardware its going to be a frustrating experience. 2.If you cant follow several conversations and are easily annoyed by tyops… 3.You dont have to spend real money, but it helps.

Reality Checks 4.The more people at an event/in a location the greater the lag will be. 5.Your boss and co-workers will probably not view this as work so youll be contributing personal time. 6.The more fun youre having, the more time youll want to spend on the grid.

Reality Checks 7.People are generally polite but theyll still fall on your head. 8.Dont plan on keeping track of acquaintances based on their appearance as many change their avatars regularly.

Reality Checks 9.Updates, updates, updates. –Trying to log in for an event at the last minute only to find out you need to download a new version first. 10.System problems –Grey Goo –Purchased items disappearing –The world goes offline

Getting Started Sign up for a free account and play! InfoIsland.org Podcasts –Whos on Second –Second Life Library Videos on YouTube

Thank you! Michael Sauers a.k.a. TravelinLibrarian Mandelbrot Nebraska Library Commission Rhonda Trueman a.k.a. Abbey Zenith Johnson & Wales University, Charlotte del.icio.us/travelinlibrarian/secondlife