ALA in Second Life

[Tom Peters]

What do you think ALA should be doing in Second Life? What divisions and units should be active and involved in the development of librarianship in MUVEs (multi-user virtual environments)?

[Aaron Dobbs]

There's some literature on the web on how distance education sessons can take advantage of SL and other MUVEs.

ALA has already done some sessions in SL -- but the Divisions and RTs could do more with the medium.

I'd like to see more instruction/virtual conferences/socialization. We (libraries and the association) are "in" pretty early and have the opportunity to take a lead in exploring and developing many possibilities available in SL and other MUVEs.

[Dinnie Devonshire]

I am going to paraphrase a post a sent earlier today to Mark Bard at OITP (Galen Nortensius in SL) on this topic.

SL is very much like an ALA conference experience. In SL, we see each other "in the halls", go to sessions, join interest groups, have meetings, start projects, present ideas we are passionate about. Perhaps, given the similarities, we could do some of the other things ALA conferences are known for: mentoring, talking one-on-on or in small groups about ALA assn. and division membership, encouraging engagement with committees in RL, etc.

Many SL activities relate directly to ALA divisional activities: reference, genealogy, collection development, outreach, youth services, technology, etc. Where are the ALA divisions related to these activities; are they in-world? Should we form an ALA-SL chapter? Could we have an ALA "mini-conference" in-world? Could that be a viable alternative for those who cannot travel? Would that attract new members?

I would gladly attend a meeting to discuss ALA-SL concerns. I have served on ALA committees, and I have an abiding interest in the well-being of the association. Being in Canada has its disadvantages when it comes to full participation in ALA (travel funding being but one of those); but as a long-time member, I do what I can. I would cheerfully pitch in virtually to help determine what ALA, as an association with global reach, might do within SL.

Donna Dinberg / Dinnie Devonshire in SL
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
[e-mail]

[Donavan Vicha]

Thank you! I was wondering what was going on in all those cybraries! I want very much to avoid creating an office for the Reference & User Services Association that would be a cubicle nightmare and completely miss the ambience of SL's virtualness. It should really be more like a membership booth at conference, providing all the brochures, handouts, etc., and be a source of up-to-date information. But it should also reserve some space for a dance floor as well as a lecture area, providing social networking opportunities along with educational ones.
Donna, let's definitely set a time to talk AV2AV.

Donavan Vicha aka Oberon Octagon
Web Program Officer, RUSA

[Mary Ghikas]

I'm still pretty much in listen n' learn -- or trail n' error, since I still tend to
fall unpredictably off SL buildings, miss chairs, etc. -- but... would like
to continue this thread.

BTW, I do get to Canada -- usually 2-3 times a year, for OLA, for CLA and
sometimes for other meetings.

mghikas (aka Demetra Petrov

[Steve Brantley]

I can envision ALA conference rooms where librarians who could not attend in the flesh are able to attend in SL. There could be real time audio or AV streaming of meetings and social events. There could also be an exhibits floor that vendors could make really impressive. given their resources to do so.

I wish I could quickly and easily change my avatar's appearance though. If i virtually attend ALA I would prefer to dress in business casual as opposed to being 7 ft. tall with blue skin.

[Donavan Vicha]

Steve, a quick change in SL always depends on how well the grid is handling rezzing. That said, place all the items you need to transform to a 7ft furry into an aptly named folder. When you need to change, drag the folder onto your avatar. Works best if there's a one-to-one relationship from one identity to another. Do same for your business persona. If you just want to go casual (use same shape and skin) it's only a matter of placing clothes into a folder.

[Barbara Fister]

Okay, time for a confession. I spent maybe an hour or two in SL. I figured out how to get some clothes on pretty quickly. After that, it was all downhill. Some naked guys tried to explain things to me but they seemed to be speaking in Albanian. I couldn't tell if they were trying to pick me up or explain "you have to press buttons to talk to us, you yabbo" and after a while they went off in disgust. I tried learning how to navigate. Kept banging into walls when I wasn't sinking into the earth (and that's not metaphorical, though I was feeling pretty embarrassed by that time; still, I DID manage to get some clothes on. Think how I'd feel if I was banging into walls while starkers?!)

I think I found a library. I didn't see any people or books, though, and after banging into a number of walls and sinking through some rather attractive marble flooring I decided I had one life to live. A second one was just too much work. And I only rarely bump into walls in my first one.

You all go right ahead without me, though.