Designing A Library In Second Life For April 8 2010 Fla

Designing a Library in Second LifeJoe Floyd & Ilene Frank

Tampa Library, University of South Florida

To Begin with… What’s a 3D virtual world?

• A computer-simulated world modeled on the “real world” with gravity, topography, locomotion, and actions.

• A virtual world is persistent.

• The world is shared – i.e. multi-user

• Users are represented by an avatar

• Avatars can make persistent changes in-world and communicate in real-time.

What is Second Life?

Second Life is….

• A 3D virtual world where residents can do… anything they’d like.

• Allows residents to create and own their environment, their own avatars.

• Not a “game” - Nothing to win!

• A place to explore, play, build, work, learn, shop, socialize…

http://infoisland.org/directory

http://education.secondlife.com

Resources for Educators in Second Life

Some Libraries in Second Life

See http://edudirectory.secondlife.com/ and http://infoisland.org/directory

American Library AssociationBradley UniversityCollege of DuPageFlorida State UniversityGlenview Public LibraryInternet Public LibraryMcGill University LibraryMcMaster University Library Norgesbiblioteket (Norway)Orange Country Public LibraryOtis College of Art and DesignSJSU School of Library & Information ScienceStanford UTopeka and Shawnee County Public Lib. (Kansas)University of Florida

Ilene’s avatar visits McGill Univ Library site in Second Life

What other libraries are doing

• Exhibits• Marketing library

resources and services• Reference• Instruction • Meetings

Steps to set up a library in Second Life

• Get approval to plan and build

• Decide on intended uses and audience

• Consider the site we are using

• Decide on library design and construction

Getting Approval to Set Up a Library

• Tampa librarians had permission from administrators to explore Second Life starting in June 2006

• We were able to make developing a library in Second Life part of our job assignment.

• We had a free building and very cheap “land” from 2006 - 2009

• Once we decided to request a move to a USF island, we discussed a partnership with Center for 21st Century Teaching Excellence – the group on campus running some USF islands.

• We haven’t been asked to submit a formal, written proposal - but that could happen.

• We will meet with C21stTE and library administrators to finalize plans

What is the Audience for the Tampa Library in Second Life?

• We are partnering with the Center for 21st Teaching Excellence.

• Center for 21st Teaching Excellence mandate for Second Life space is university faculty and getting them interested in using Second Life for teaching. (Their purpose is not to attract new students to the University.)

• Therefore, our library audience is university faculty.

Our Intended Use for the Tampa Library in Second Life?

• The mission of our library is to provide faculty with information about USF library resources and services that would support their classroom instruction and research. Working in partnership with Center for 21st Century Teaching Excellence, we will introduce faculty to Second Life and the ways it can be used for teaching and research.

• Highlight Special collections

• Link to library resources: catalog & databases

• Provide contact with Reference Librarians

• Highlight library services such as: document delivery, library instruction sessions, new book lists, bibliographies, etc.

Examples of What Other Libraries are Doing in Second Life

Exhibits

Central Florida Memory Project

Alliance Book of the Month Display

Book Displays

Highlighting special collections

(L) Japanese Art: UNC (R) Stanford Library Virtual Archive

Linking to Library Resources

Providing Guides to Resources

Highlighting Free Digital Collections

Providing Reference Service

Teaching Information Literacy

Give Quizzes

Hold Meetings

How can we do the same kinds of things? Tools for the Job!

• Joe has been busy collecting tools we might need for our library on Second Life

Mailbox : Click to contact librarian

Slide Viewer: Show Powerpoint Slides, Pictures, etc.

Landmark Giver - used to provide users with links to other places on Second Life

URL Giver: Used to provide users with links to resources outside of SL

Notecard Giver: Used to provide written information

What about Design & Construction?

• Will you rent or buy land?

• How much space will be available?

• Will you buy building or create your own?

• How will the library fit in with the environment?

• How will the building be furnished?

Some Libraries try to recreate their real life libraries…..

Shimberg Library at USF – in Real Life above.

Shimberg Library in Second Life

USF Health Sciences

USF Health Sciences in Second Life

USF Health Sciences in real life

Bradley University Library

FSU Library

Some libraries use buildings that are NOT like real life….

Sci Fi and Fantasy Portal

University of Florida : Library West

The site we will use on one of the USF Islands• Our building needed to fit in with existing beach theme at USF islands run by

the Center for 21st Century Teaching Excellence

Buildings Near Our Site

Prefabs by Mudshake Under Consideration

Advantages: Buildings are available for little money – and ready to be set up

Joe and Friends: Building Ideas

Joe and his friends played with 2 beach themed ideas for our building. Advantages: These buildings use fewer “prims” – the units that make up objects like buildings. Using fewer prims means more prims for other things.

Library Building 1

Library Building 2

Where we are now with our project?

• We have been promised a site on one of the USF islands

• We have several choices of buildings.

• We have ideas for services to provide.

• We’re waiting for approval to proceed!

For Additional Information..

Contact us:

Joe Floydjfloyd@lib.usf.eduJoe Cupola on Second Life

Ilene Frank ifrank@lib.usf.eduIlene Pratt on Second Life