The American Library Association has contracted the Information Institute of Syracuse to develop a white paper about recent developments in Web-based innovations and their relationship to, and potential for use in libraries.
“The brief will put an emphasis on interactive and social web applications such as blogs, social networks, and include a survey of the general “Web 2.0″ and “Library 2.0″ development world. The idea is to present a comprehensive document library decision makers can use to understand the new wave of social Internet applications, and devise strategies to respond to potential opportunities and threats.” — http://iis.syr.edu/projects/PNOpen/About.html
A draft is available and there is an open invitation for feedback to be provided, either via email, an online forum or by editing a wiki.
Participatory networks : the library as conversation
- Discovered via The LITA (Library and Information Technology Association) Blog post outlining some of the points in the paper.
November 14th, 2006
Posted by
Peta Hopkins | All sectors, Useful resources, New technologies, Library2.0 |
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I’m gobsmacked! I just popped into Cybrary City in Second Life for a visit before bed, and have come out with a building for all Australian Libraries to share. Ooops.
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Cybrary City is an island sponsered by Talis and administered by the Alliance Library System. It provides free buildings for libraries for a year, in return for a couple of hours staffing per week. It was created last week, and I was checking out the island because I’d blogged about how great I think the initiative is.
I ran into Lorelei Junot from Alliance, and while following up CW’s email to her about maybe holding a LINT Christmas party in Second Life, she offered me an entire building for all Australian libraries. Who was I to refuse? (or accept, for that matter - but I was so stunned, that I did.)
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The new building, with an “Australian Libraries Group” sign out the front.
The map in the right corner shows the location in Cybrary City.
A Second Life presence is no small thing. IBM plans on investing $10 million in Second Life to set up a secure place where they can hold meetings with their clients. Schools, universities and companies are conducting business there. According to the Wikipedia Entry for Second Life:
Linden Lab has stated that the Second Life economy generated US$3,596,674 in economic activity during the month of September 2005.[22] According to a September 2006 Popular Science article, Second Life, through currency trading, shopping and land sales, has a GDP of $64 Million.[23]
The building is now empty, but we can furnish it. While I’m thrilled and excited to be part of the project, I have no time to run it. I have been dreaming about the possibilities, and let my imagination run riot…Here’s some ideas about how we could use the building:
- A meeting place for Australian library folk who want to know about Second Life.
- If a library sees its role as educating their clients about Virtual Worlds, this could be a good place to hold a class.
- ALIA could hold section meetings in the SL building, without people needing to physically gather.
- National Library could create a display of some of the Flickr Picture Australia photos.
- Libraries Australia (or any other catalogue) could have a searchable portal in the building.
- As a place to virtually host library folk from other countries
- As a student project in a library school..create the furtniture, mash up something amazing, staff an Australian reference desk
- A venue for Australian writers to give talks.
- A place for displays like Childrens’ Book Week finalists.
- Cybrary City has an auditorium and facility for conferencing, so seminars and presentations could be held there.
- A place to host Australian Library Week events.
We are not yet obliged to do 2 hours a week service, as we are still finding our feet. If any organisation would like to take on ownership of the project, or was planning to apply for a spot in Cybrary City anyhow, I’m happy to hand it over. I can co-ordinate temporarily, but would love to see someone else run with it.
The double storey building is at Second Life 207, 68, 23. I’d love to know of any other Australian librarians in Second Life…whether you are interested in the building or not. Please leave a comment here, or email my avatar. User: Emerald.Dumont Domain: gmail.com
UPDATE 4 Dec 2006: Cybrary City and Info Islands were moved last week after porn shops bought out the surrounding lands. The new co-ordinates are: Cybrary City 210,70,24. Here’s the SLURL, so you can Teleport there now
November 14th, 2006
Posted by
Kathryn Greenhill | All sectors, Special projects, Second Life |
23 comments
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