Online Games--Thing #15

Okay...so I'm going WAY out of order, but I was looking at the list of the things and this is something I have already had a lot of experience with. While I was getting my Master's at the University of Illinois, I was introduced to Second Life. During my Change Management class, Kitty Pope, the director of the Alliance Library System came to my class and showed us all how to use Second Life--each of us created an avatar and actually attended class IN Second Life on Info Island. We were able to see the virtual reference desk, to look at slides while hanging out in the virtual amphitheatre, and tour the library. We even learned that the Alliance Library System holds some board meetings in Second Life! Another thing I found amazing was that people were actually using the reference desk in the library to ask questions about homework or other interests. This virtual library was reaching patrons that were not coming into the "real" library--technology like this is so important because a library staff's main goal is to try and help everyone that needs help searching for information.

At first, the whole idea of Second Life was sort of overwhelming. But because I was introduced to it in a classroom setting with an experienced instructor and I had my classmates to help me, I really learned Second Life can be quite fun! Check out this link for more information on programs that are going on in Second Life in relation to the library field: http://infoisland.org/
For example, here is a program that's coming up this weekend in Second Life:

Mersey Beat Poets Discussion
February 16th at 2 PM SLT
Bell Library - Central Library 11th Floor Info Island
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Info%20Island/212/27/123 (location)

These programs are great because you can attend them from the luxury of your own home!

Second Life definitely isn't for everyone, but if you are looking for a new way to look for information, to meet new people in the library field from around the world, and to discuss your interests, you should try Second Life and see what it's all about.