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
The full transcript is at http://sleeds.org/chatlog/?c=286 (with editing for very obvious spelling errors/typos)
Sheila
Somehow i missed the point. Probably lost in translation 🙂 Anyway … nice blog to visit.
cheers, Forgiving.
Sheila has had to rehouse archived transcripts, the one for this discussion “The role of libraries in reaching everyday SL users” is now at http://cagd.leedsmet.ac.uk/~graham/chatlog/?c=286