Is there a role for public libraries in virtual worlds? While some issues are common to all libraries, public libraries with RL affiliations face dilemmas that are unique. How do you identify your customers - are they those you serve in RL as well as those in SL? How do you provide services that are relevant? Do we need to invent new services to draw patrons in? What arguments do you take to administrators to justify an SL project? What are we overlooking, and what could the future hold? All those interested - librarians and public library fans alike - are invited to attend the next Library Buzz
If you have not yet explored Second Life, check out the free Introduction to Second Life webinars for SLA members at http://www.sla.org/content/learn/members/webinars/secondlife.cfm
Library Buzz: Is there a role for public libraries in virtual worlds
Presented by Leeorie Alter, Cindy Elkhard and Sonja Morgwain
When: May 18 2010 - 6pm PT/SLT
Where: Info Island Auditorium, Second Life
SLURL: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Info%20Island/62/114/33
NOTE: This session is in Second Life, please get a Second Life avatar and the client software here: http://www.secondlife.com
With real life public libraries experiencing increased usage at the same time they are facing budget short falls, is this the time for public libraries to be in virtual worlds? Listen to three public librarians discuss the role of public libraries in Second Life and why it is important for them to be in virutal worlds.
BIOs
Leeorie Alter (Lorie Hyten in RL) is a reference librarian at the Olathe Public Library, Olathe, KS. In 2008, after reading educational and library applications of the virtual world of Second Life, she opened an account and started exploring. She quickly learned of the efforts of the Illinois Alliance Library System to establish library services in SL and became acquainted with others involved in similar library projects.Alter received permission from library administration to establish an SL branch of the Olathe Public Library. Since that time Olathe has continued to explore use of Second Life for professional networking, methods of delivering library services in SL, and ways of making the SL library relevant to the patrons of the "real life" (RL) Olathe Public Library. This has included presentation of programs conducted simultaneously in SL and RL and collaborations with the State Library of Kansas SL project.
The Library Buzz sessions are sponsored by the SLA in Virtual Worlds Advisory Council in partnership with the Community Virtual Library (CVL).
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