Recently I read an article in Library Journal about Second Life. I actually had some mixed feelings about this article; which did not have any thing positive to say about the virtual world. The author claimed that he had been “wasting a part of my life that I’ll never get back”, and that “we have a fair amount of people in our profession who really need to get a life.” This is a statement; among others that I have issues with. The only comment that the author made that I did somewhat agree with is the question of, “what are we hoping to accomplish with Second Life?”
I appreciate Second Life for what it is, and yes there are some aspects that I don’t like. Some examples that really need work are the graphics, which are not very visually pleasing and the controls for the avatars need an overhaul. I’m no stranger to computer games yet I am constantly running into things with my avatar.
Having been an active member of virtual worlds for the past two years I can say that I don’t believe them to be a waste of time. In my own opinion I think that that virtual worlds have a lot of potential for libraries and for communication. My own foray into virtual worlds such as World of Warcraft and City of Villains have led me to unexpected people from all over the world. For example; in World of Warcraft; one of my guild members (regular people you play with) started talking about a paper he was working on and asked for assistance. I; being the energetic library student that I am; immediately conducted a reference interview and was able to guide him to relevant websites and databases that he had access to to get him the information. All of this was conducted in game through typing and using a voice chat program. This is an experience I hope to repeat in the Second Life environment. People are using Second Life as a conference place, a learning center and in a host of other ways.
I think that libraries should branch out and attempt to become a presence on games that are as far reaching as these. I give great applause to those who are already involved in Second Life, but what about other virtual worlds? Let your presence be known in the video game world and open yourself for business. A vast majority of people who play MMORPG’s are students (usually men) in high school or college. Last time I checked they were a demographic that were being targeted by libraries for potential users. Well here they are folks, come and get them. Start a library guild and let your services be known, hey you can even play the game and mabey you’ll have some fun!
I read the same article, and have to say I got a laugh out of it. I am not interested in Second Life for no other reason than the fact that my first life is interesting enough. I have a large network of friends and business contacts, I own a home that requires lots of maintenance time, a daughter who requires plenty of maintenance as well, a wife who maintains herself well with out my input, an elderly father who requires some assistance, school of course and precious little time for online gaming. I suppose I’m missing out, and if online gaming had happened 20 years ago when I didn’t have so many real time commitments, I’m sure I would have been in the vanguard of the movement, being a hardcore Dungeons and Dragons player. That was was long ago, and we got together at least once a month, 5 or 6 of us, all together, in one room, using paper, pencils and books to keep track of the progress of the game. It was a lot of fun. I wouldn’t knock anyone for being into Second Life or online gaming. It’s not a waste of time if you have the time.
Way cool, being a virtual librarian! Do any of the virtual games have librarian/researcher characters/avatars? Does that skill provide currency in the game? I don’t know anything about any of them (except that my kids are immersed in them) so how can librarians professionally use such things to their advantage?
I tend to agree with bgood. Personally I don’t have time for 2nd life, and similar virtual worlds. I agree that the benefit of meeting different people from around the world could ultimately be a positive result of virtual gaming. But to me, 2nd life is just a game. If you have time for it great– if not, no big deal. I think the same time and effort that is put into reaching out to individuals virtually could be expended “in real life” with individuals that you cross paths with at work, school, shopping, or the library. You get out of life what you put into it. If you want to seek comaraderie virtually– great. But for me, I’d rather pass on 2nd life. I don’t have enough time in my 1st life right now….
I read the article too, and your right it leaves you with mixed feelings about Second Life. I was glad you brought this discussion into our blog assignments, because ever since we were introduced to Second Life, on the first weekend we met, I left the class with mixed feeling about this new virtual tool.
That weekend I met with relatives to celebrate Mother’s Day and I discussed with them about our class. I wondered where the kids were at? Not surprised at all, I was told they were inside the house glued to the computer socializing on Club Penguin.
That’s when it hit me. The virtual society is already here and I just have to explore it and then share it with others. Kids & young adults are exploring these social venues. I guess I could accept 2nd Life as a virtual tool to help entertain and educate the patrons that enjoy video games and for those who enjoy using the computer for a long period of time. I could add it to the list of many virtual social gatherings online. I think it was a great experience you encountered on 2nd Life.
Comment #3 – Second Life
Hey there. I met you—briefly—at the ALA. Congrats on the blog. Nice visual design.
I think people often use technologies for the wrong things at first. So, there’s a big SL library with posters on the wall about Womens History Month.
But SL is a *lousy* content management system. I gather you didn’t go to the talk on SL at ALA. I didn’t either, but Abby—LibraryThing’s librarian—did. And we had a long talk with the SL representative. LT experimented with “head boxes” on SL—boxes that floated above your head showing one or more of your favorite books. He was very into that idea—the mixture of the social and the possibility for content on the back-end. I imagine a second-life library island where, the books you’ve taken out recently float above your head. It might even be fun to marry the quintessentially *physical* world of Dewey with second life. Lounges for the discussion of Philosophy, Psychology and Religion, etc. with yours and others books left around these rooms as appropriate.
Thinking out loud…