You can see my final presentation slides here.

This blog will continue to exist as a record of this project but I’ll no longer be actively posting to it. So, signing off, thanks much to those of you who have followed this project. I appreciate your kind comments and words of encouragement along the way.

MichaelStephensTwitter2

Originally uploaded by librariandreamer

This past Monday, I presented the results of my research project to Michael Stephens, my faculty advisor, and three other guests who joined us in Second Life.

Stay tuned for a slideshare presentation to include the content of this presentation.

Pictured above is my avatar practicing for the presentation before any attendees had showed up.

Completing this presentation marked the end of my MLIS coursework. I now have 2 weeks of R&R before beginning my new job at Thomson Reuters. Horray!

ISB Presentation24Apr_002

Originally uploaded by librariandreamer

Sheila Yoshikawa (Sheila Webber in real life) hosted me at the InfoLit iSchool in Second Life for a rousing discussion around my research findings. Quite a crowd of avatars showed up, and the discussion was lively.

One strand of the discussion dealt with whether libraries and librarians in SL should extend services to ‘generic’ SL users or stay focused within targeted communities — often based on real life social groups like a student body at a university.

Here is some of the conversation. Stay tuned for a link to the full chat transcript.

[12:49] You: I’d like to return to the question of whether or not it’s worthwhile to even try to extend services to “all” SL users, or are libraries better served to set up shop with a defined RL group of users in mind (e.g. a student body)?
[12:50] Frances Obolensky: Why call it a library? Why not an infomration kiosk?
[12:50] Riven Homewood: Mine is set up with a defined group of sl users in mind – the residents of my town
[12:50] FORTUNATA Questi: I think in setting up ANY environment, you have to imagine a group of users with a group of needs.
[12:50] Holland Zerbino: I think its a questio of resources e could only support SL from our RL orgaization
[12:50] Robin Mochi: I’m actually thinking that roving reference in SL may make more sense in many ways.
[12:50] You: Riven, your RL town? Or a region of SL?
[12:50] FORTUNATA Questi: whether it is a library in RL or SL or a store/mall
[12:50] Sheila Yoshikawa: hmmm – think I’ve said before – I feel more focus on teh skilled librarian and less on what the “library” looks like
[12:50] Solobill Laville: I think that specificity is really key actually.
[12:50] Riven Homewood: sl town
[12:50] You: Robin, how so?
[12:50] Sheila Yoshikawa: so – different views!
[12:50] You: How could roving reference work in SL?
[12:51] Kaitlyn Apfelbaum is Offline
[12:51] Holland Zerbino: Intersting that print is shrinking we should be more like SL in Rl soon
[12:51] Riven Homewood: Walk around with a floater that says “Ask me a question” ?
[12:51] Deckard Jameson: that might not get the effect intended
[12:51] Riven Homewood: We now have an inworld browser – I’m redoing some of my books to take advantage of it
[12:51] Solobill Laville: he he
[12:51] Sheila Yoshikawa: Dr Who police box appears to disgorge librarians who can solve your problems…
[12:51] Robin Mochi: well, there are many SL information needs and once I have a few more SL skills, I want to put I’m a librarian, ask me a question or something above my name.
[12:51] Frances Obolensky: Advertise your name and people could teleport to you
[12:52] Riven Homewood: LOL – that might actually work, Sheila
[12:52] Frances Obolensky: Yes, it’s better to go to them
[12:52] Holland Zerbino: coud be self funding
[12:52] Sheila Yoshikawa: or as you say – you could go about with a tag that said you were a certified librarian
[12:52] Frances Obolensky: hee hee.
[12:52] Sheila Yoshikawa: the ask-a-librarian thing does have a cooperative element
[12:53] You: In some of my observations, I found groups whose avatars were all alike, as regional rule enforers…
[12:53] Holland Zerbino: its very public library driven though
[12:53] Riven Homewood: The InfoIsland Ref Desk uses a lot of other groups as resources
[12:53] Sheila Yoshikawa: i know that justifying to bossess – which means what are we doing for people HERE – is an issue
[12:53] You: What about a standard ‘uniform’ that would give people cues that you are a librarian, something that could become universally reognizale within SL?
[12:54] Frances Obolensky: There might one day be some funding available for SL librarians. SL funding for instance?
[12:54] Sheila Yoshikawa: oof having to have a standard avatar – worse than a uniform
[12:54] Riven Homewood: A high-necked blouse and a bun?
[12:54] Sifriya Devin: perfect riven
[12:54] Sheila Yoshikawa groans
[12:54] Frances Obolensky: hee hee
[12:54] Sifriya Devin: lol
[12:54] Solobill Laville: lol
[12:54] Riven Homewood: The Caledon Librarians have a uniform – kind of military looking
[12:54] Peaches Pessoa: Oh hamburgers
[12:54] Riven Homewood: They are called The Library Militant
[12:54] Mandelbrot Darwin: that a good idea – or just carry a sign – pile of books
[12:55] Frances Obolensky: Do people dare approach these Caledon amazons?
[12:55] Deckard Jameson: certainly that would work for a local library – just make a group and have a tag above your name

A research report on information seeking behavior in Second Life

Does a 3D immersive environment suggest new models of information seeking behavior? Just how are people getting at information in virtual worlds? What does this mean for libraries and librarians?

At this event, I will share my research findings about at how people in Second Life seek information.

This presentation will use voice and will be recorded.

April 22, 2008
Presentation from 7:30 – 8:30 am Second Life Time (SLT)
In Second Life at Info Island International
@ Stage near China Cafe (76, 170, 32)

IM Testy Outlander in Second Life for a Notecard Invite with Landmark
The landmark will place you in a general welcome area. From there, take the short path of large grey stones to the wooden boardwalk. Follow the boardwalk, and you will arrive at the presentation area located next to the China Cafe.

A recording of this presentation will be archived on this blog.

April 24, 2008 at 12:00 pm SLT @ CILR, Infolit School (101, 211, 22)

Margaret Ostrander (Testy Outlander) has spent the last two months conducting research about the information seeking habits of everyday Second Life (SL) users.

Research findings showed that none of the users interviewed had used SL libraries, and nearly all were unaware of their existence. What should the role of the SL library or librarian be beyond the borders of places like Info Island? Why are so many SL users unaware of SL libraries? What is your institution doing to provide outreach into the vast corners of this rich virtual universe? How can the everyday information seeking behaviors of SL residents inform library services?

Come join in this discussion! IM Testy Outlander for a landmark to this event.

I finally feel like a real, live librarian! Horray!

I hope that you will be able to attend! Once all the details are nailed down, I’ll do my best to promote the event within the SL library community, and I will also be inviting the people that I have interviewed or otherwise gotten to know through observations.

The place for my presentation is TBD. If you, dear reader, have any suggestions, please post them here.

The corpus of data assembled thus far is truly astounding. It’s so multi-faceted, with chat transcript or voice transcription, snapshots, video captures plus audio field notes indicating the on-screen action. There are so many factors to consider in even a short SL interaction.

As my analysis has progressed from inductive generation of categories through open coding, I’ve now moved on to coding only defined instances of information seeking behavior. This, in essence, is my unit of analysis. Observations include many, and the ‘critical incidence’ interview structure that has evolved yields at least one (usually more) stories of information seeking experiences.

I look forward to officially wrapping up my data gathering this weekend and moving on for the final stretch of analysis.