What are you doing in SL?

[Jim Milles]

So I'm curious: what is everyone doing in Second Life? Are you there by yourself or as part of a library team from your place of work? Are you volunteering in Cybrary City? Are you connecting with real-life patrons? Or are you just there because it's fun?

I'll start off: I've always been interested in call kinds of social media, from back in the days when we used to call it computer-mediated communication. I'm not currently involved in any of the Second Life Library projects; I'm not sure that info-seekers are going to go to an SL library to find what they're looking for. I usually hang out in SL with my Law Librarians in Second Life group activated; it's like wearing a name tag that says "I'm a librarian: ask me how!" And once in a while people have questions I can help with. I'm also a podcaster, and I've been invited to participate in various activities (such as planning Earth Day events in SL) as both a librarian and a podcaster.

What about you?

[Christian van der Ven]

Hi all

My story in short is this: I came to SL, I loved it... and lost myself in it! :)

Seriously, the Dutch are one large community in SL, but most of them hang out on dance floors and all that, I guess. Until a short while ago, not many Dutch non-profit organisations where in SL, only some big companies. So... forget about the archivists, who are in fact known to be a conservative bunch of professionals sometimes.

Anyway, I have lots of interest in everything there is to know about web 2.0, e-communities and virtual worlds like SL. At work, I started a project about it and I try to do some outreach to my colleagues at other archives too. Entering SL as an archives is still a step to big for us... but eventually the Dutch will be there! Some time...

As to now, I am on my own as a person. So, I am no part of a work team, not even my own. I founded an archivists group and we have a small plot of land now (come and visit us some time, sit around our camp fire!), but that's all. I have no office, no private home... I do not even have a tree for changing behind!

Through my blog and presentations in RL, more and more colleagues get to know about the things I think about and hopefully this helps to eventually be in SL as part of my work. As to myself, I came to explore professional opportunities, hang out at the reference desk and exchanged ideas with others around. Check my profile for some more info about me and my work.

By the way, the last couple of weeks I went fishing, biking, skydiving, alpine skiiing and dancing too, besides exploring caves, riding trains and just lying at the beach... So much for the professional look on things lol!

[Jim Milles]

I've noticed the sizable Dutch community in SL as well, and have made friends with several people from the Netherlands. In fact, I'm planning a vacation in Holland and Belgium this summer, and I hope to meet some of my new SL friends in RL.

[Lisa Coleman]

This is my second go around with SL. I first visited sometime in the fall of 2006, with my husband, who is also a computer/technology geek as I am. At that time, we went through the Orientation and flew around a bit (isn't that fun?) but didn't really dig into SL. After a short while of that, we lost interest. It seemed like there was a pretty steep learning curve to SL so we didn't continue.

May of 2007, however, I attened a Library 2.0 workshop here in Illinois. A SL Librarian gave one of the break-out sessions, and I have to admit I was re-hooked. My husband re-installed the software on both of our computers, and it was off to the races! I have to admit, I have just dipped my toe in, but the more events that I attend (a poetry reading last night!) the more I like SL.

I am here just on my own, not part of a work group. I am a children's librarian, and the ages we serve (up through 8th grade) are not suited for SL, nor for the Teen Group (although I think our Teen Librarian has given it some thought.) I may volunteer my services at some point, but I haven't done anything besides exploring new places and attending a few events yet.

I am happy to have joined this social network, and I hope to make a contribution as a SL citizen and librarian. I currently do not own land, but my husband is interested, so perhaps we may in the future. Cheers!

[Ann Owens]

I guess I'm a relative newcomer to SL libraries. I first heard about Info Islands around the time of Internet Librarian last year (2006), and after Lori's and Tom's presentation, I decided to check it out. I am not a gamer, not even x-box, and I'm actually kind of shy, so I wasn't breaking any speed records to sign up. But after I got my new laptop at Christmas, I set up an account, and "adopted" my little goth av (I just love her!)

I'm mostly learning both about online environments and about the potential for library services and professional networking in such an environment. I don't know how it will ever apply to my RL job in the public library sector, but I have noticed a huge academic presence - so I bet the theory will lead to some practical apps in the near future.

I wish I could go to Internet Librarian again this year to hear the follow-up presentations, but boss has decided to send others. Maybe they'll present simultaneously in SL and I can attend online ...

[Smith]

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Regards
Milan baros