New Wave Library

Research Paper Abstract
Virtual worlds are computer generated environments that simulate the ‘real’ world. They are inhabited by avatars, graphical representations of users. Many different virtual worlds exist. Some of them are built to closely resemble the real world while others depict fantasy worlds. The research paper focuses on Second Life, an extremely popular virtual world that has recently attracted attention of many outside the traditional gaming community, librarians among others. The paper explores the current presence of libraries and librarians in Second Life and the potential and challenges of providing library services in virtual environments.

About Second Life
Second Life is a massively populated virtual world created by Linden Research, Inc. and launched in 2003. According to the information on the Second Life website the number of Second Life users, that are called residents, is currently 12,833,029. The world in Second Life is completely built and owned by its residents. Residents can buy land, build buildings, and even start their own business. Second Life has its own economy since residents retain the rights to their digital creations and thus they can buy, sell, and trade those with other residents.

Links
Second Life – http://secondlife.com/
Teen Second Life – http://teen.secondlife.com/
Second Life Library – http://infoisland.org/
Second Life on Wikipedia – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Life

You say you want a revolution
Well you know
We all want to change the world*

Web 2.0 has been this buzz word; buzzing around and delivering the sensation of something new and exciting, and promising: things are going to change, the Internet is going to change, the world is going to change, nothing is going to be the same again. Now, when Web 2.0 has been around for a while the question ought to be asked: how radically did the Internet (and the world) indeed change? Did we see a revolution happen right in front of our eyes? Or have we been witnessing a more subtle evolution?
The heart of Web 2.0 is its participatory nature. The sheer amount of a user created content that exists in today’s online environment is unprecedented. Web 2.0 utterly succeeded in enabling virtually anyone (with a computer and an internet connection) to publish their ideas and creations online. But when we look some years back into the stone age of the Internet we still can find people sharing their ideas via the means of the Internet. Yes, on a much smaller scale and in a much more cumbersome way. But still, users created their own websites to share themselves with the world (I used to have one too) and communicated with others via email.
Of course, blogs, instant messaging, social networking software epitomize another level of online participation. And I admit I simply cannot get enough of some of the cool applications Web 2.0 gave to us. (Recently, I discovered del.icio.us. So much better than ancient bookmarks. And so much easier to share.) Still, it is my personal belief that Web 2.0 perfected (albeit, in a very impressive way) what the Internet has always been about: connection.

* John Lennon/Paul McCartney

It is cold and dark outside. The wind is blowing and it seems that it is never going to stop snowing. I am sitting at the kitchen table. There is no light on, only the screen of my laptop illuminates the room. Nobody is outside in the street. Nobody is in the house. But I don’t know it. I am playing volleyball on a sunny beach with a group of my friends. We play, we talk, we laugh. I am happy. Then I notice the time. I part with my friends, log off, and close my laptop. After my eyes adjust to the darkness of the room I get up from the table and find the switch. I turn the light on.

We have all heard it many times, outrage voices: I can’t believe you let them play computer games in the library. They’re so loud; libraries should be for reading; for studying. And we also heard: we [libraries] have to move on; people don’t read so we have to give them what they want; technology is our future.

Really? I mean, do we really have to choose one way over another? Cannot libraries be the place where you can read books (Harry Potter as well as Tolstoy), work on your dissertation, ask about the nearest battery recycling place, and play Guitar Hero? Do we have to burn our books because we bought new computers and set up a ‘download your ebook’ service? Or is it that because we have books we cannot have Wiis as well?

As you beloved reader can guess, I do not believe that there is any conflict between the technology and our library tradition. It is not one or another. It is about building on our tradition. It is embracing technology in accord with our tradition. It is, well, what libraries were always about: embracing the new so we can enhance ourselves and thus better serve our users. Let us be libraries.

Blog about your work and you may end up being fired. Post comment about your school on Facebook and you may end up being expelled. Post pictures of yourself partying hard on MySpace and you may not get that dream job of yours even though the job interview went so smoothly.

We all know the phrase ‘drink responsibly’. What are you talking about, you ask. We always drink responsibly, we are responsible people. And how is it related to the web and social networking, anyway? Well, I know that you drink responsibly, no doubt about that. But are you enjoying social networking websites responsibly? What if your boss is going to read your blog? Are you ok with that? Or are you going to start panicking because in your last post you blogged about how all your great and innovative ideas are simply struck down by your reactionary supervisors? And what if the dean of your collage checks out your Facebook account? Is she going to be impressed by that picture of yours where you are holding a pitcher full of beer in each hand? I know you did not drink the beer. But will she know it? And you know, I could go on and on. But instead I will just say:

Social networking website users be aware! Schools and companies are watching!

Thread: La Liga: Real Madrid vs. Valladolid. Started: 2/9/2008. Views (by 2/15/2008): 1,862. Replies (by 2/15/2008): 146. Location of the people that posted in this thread: Ceylon, Poland, Trinidad, Brazil, Estonia, Toronto, Netherlands, Serbia, Spain, Missouri, San Diego, Nepal, New York, Uruguay, Sweden, Latvia, Russia, London…

This is just a random thread (one of many) from the football (soccer) forum I wrote about in my last post. I thought that it illustrates well one thing I personally find great (or perhaps the greatest) about online communities: it brings people from all around the world together. Not so many years ago who would think that I would be able to discuss a game in Spanish football league with fans from Brazil, New York, Sweden? That I would be able to interact with them during the game, so it almost feels like I am watching the game with them? And trust me, it is an enthralling feeling to have so many people from different places in the world watching and talking about the same game. Suddenly a win or a lost feels quite different than when you are watching a game only by yourself (or with your wife who usually falls asleep when soccer is on).

The winners tease the losers; that is the nature of any sport. But somehow the threads do not morph into a disrespectful bashing of the supporters of the opposing team. And that is very important for us, librarians, to notice and to acknowledge: that the users themselves are capable of taking charge of their online communities. We can give patrons a platform for them to come together (similar to the football forum I talked about or any other online community), we can guide them in their efforts to participate (set the rules they need to adhere to, moderate discussion boards, etc.), but we cannot control them. It must be the patrons’ space not the librarians’. Only then we can create truly participatory library services.

(My First Experience with Virtual Communities)

Football! Football (for American readers, soccer) was that reason why I, hesitantly, approached the online community unknowing what to expect. First, I spent long difficult minutes thinking of the best login name. Then I logged on. And I saw the football message board. So many discussion threats. So many members. So many login names. And so many avatars. How I wanted one too. You know, to be like others. To belong. So I spent many difficult minutes thinking about the best possible avatar. And then I created one. After that I was ready to post for the first time. But where to start? General football discussion? Post match and in game chat? Mediaroom? The club house? Transfer talk? So many choices…Now, I visit the football forum every single day. I post quite frequently too. Usually, I add to some interesting threat, occasionally I start a new threat too. Last week one threat I had started received a 5 star rating (out of 5). A couple of days later I got a personal response to one of my posts. I felt happy. I felt accepted. I felt like I belonged.

(Reflections on Library 2.0 & Participatory Services)

“Don’t burn the library till you’ve read all the books” sings Michael Hutchence of INXS on their CD Welcome to Whenever You Are. But what if I don’t want to read all the books, you ask. Can I burn the library? Well, just wait a second. I will show you that libraries are more than ‘just’ books. Libraries are, actually, pretty cool places. You don’t believe me? Than take your laptop to your favorite chair, make yourself comfortable, and listen (well, read) what I have to say.

Ok, ready? Let’s start with the website everyone knows and likes, Amazon. I know you like reading the customer reviews too. And sometimes you even write one. Well, imagine that your library lets you do the same. Yes, you can easily comment on any book, CD, and DVD library has. And of course, you can read what other people think about them too. Really. Check out this link to see what people think about the latest Harry Potter book. Yes, there are 238 comments.

And did you hear about Bookspace? It’s a great place where you can ‘meet’ people and share with them your ideas. You can discuss your favorite books there, browse other people’s book lists, create your own, and share comments about books.

Now, thinking about it, do you know what is really cool? Podcasting. You can subscribe to library podcasts featuring movie and book reviews made by librarians and people like you. Yes, that’s right. If you come to the library you might get the chance to create your own podcast. And that is cool!

So, what do you think? Aren’t libraries great? Wouldn’t it be a shame to burn them down? And there is still much more cool stuff I didn’t mention. But I must go. You know, there is this Gaming On thing at my library going on today and I really want to get to play the Guitar Hero III.

Check out a collection of signs every library student is surrounded by.

Or is it not?