SLA in Virtual Worlds

Library Buzz: Virutally Embedded in Second Life--Tue, Oct 12 at 6 PM SLT

On Tuesday, October 12, at 6 pm SLT, meet Moxie Gearhead (RL Carol Smith) and Chipmunkey Flaks (RL Marian Davis) discuss their experience as embedded librarians in Second Life.

Library Buzz: Virtually Embedded in Second Life
When: October 12 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; 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

Academic librarians at the University of Central Missouri are collaborating with an English professor to embed in undergraduate composition courses taught entirely within Second Life. Librarians attend class alongside students, eliminating barriers, and building a positive rapport. Over several semesters, they have progressed from bumping into virtual walls to providing in-depth research consultations, research-oriented tours, and formal bibliographic instruction. This session focuses on the unique challenges of embedded librarianship in Second Life and the ongoing development of best practices for supporting students in virtual learning contexts

BIO:

Carol Smith (SL: Moxie Gearhead) is Assistant Professor of Library Services and Technology Initiatives Librarian at the James C. Kirkpatrick Library of the University of Central Missouri. She is responsible for managing the library's website and implementing  emerging information technologies that both support user needs and enhance the user experience. Carol holds both an M.S. Library and Information Science and an M.S. Information Systems from Drexel University, and is currently pursuing doctoral studies at the University of Missouri - Columbia (Ph.D., Information Science & Learning Technologies). Her research interests include embedded librarianship in virtual worlds, GIS in academic libraries, and competitive intelligence.

Marian Davis (SL: ChipMunkey Flaks) is an Associate Professor of Library Services and the Distance Learning Librarian at the James C. Kirkpatrick Library of the University of Central Missouri. She also is the reference librarian and subject specialist for the College of Science and Technology, including Biology, Chemistry, Agriculture, Mathematics, Automotive, Aviation, and more. In addition to research interests in distance learning, she is actively involved in library instruction within Second Life, changing trends in advertisements for professional librarian positions, and genealogy. Marian earned her MLS from the University of Missouri-Columbia, and an Ed. Spec. degree from the University of Central Missouri in Human Services.

 The Library Buzz sessions are sponsored by SLA's Virtual Worlds Advisory Council in partnership with the Community Virtual Library (CVL).

Library Buzz: The Community Virutal Library Volunteer Reference Staff

On Tuesday, September 21, at 6 pm SLT, meet this month's Volunteer(s) of the Month--The Community Virtual Library's Volunteer Reference Staff in an interactive conversation about the challenges and rewards of being a reference volunteer

 
 

Library Buzz: Tales from the Front with the CVL Voluneer Reference Staff
When: September 21 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; 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

Meet many of the librarians, staff, and friends who collectively volunteer approximately 80 hours a week to provide front line reference service at the Info Island International reference desk. Usually serving at least one 2-hour shift a week, what does a Community Virtual Library reference volunteer do?  Learn who these volunteers are.  Why do they volunteer?  What is a typical reference shift like?  What are some of the thrills and challenges of being a volunteer?  How did this assorted group come to be selected as Septembers VOM?

 

BIO:

An avatar with an interest in serving the Second LIfe community by providing reference service  for a weekly 2 hour shift at the Info Island International Reference Desk.

 The Library Buzz sessions are sponsored by SLA's Virtual Worlds Advisory Council in partnership with the Community Virtual Library (CVL).

Last Night's Library Buzz-Pictures and Handouts Now Available

 
Approximately 20 avatars attended last night's excellent Library Buzz  at the Open Air Auditorium where Pat Wagner (SL Roadtrixie Hilltop) of Pattern Research, discussed "How Futurists Can't Predict the Future and How You Can.  The lively hour-long discussion included the 14 mistakes that almost every prospective futurist makes

Here are the links to share with participants (Caution, you may need to refresh you browser).

Slides:

http://sla-divisions.typepad.com/sla_in_second_life/FuturistsSLJul2610.pdf

Handout:

http://sla-divisions.typepad.com/sla_in_second_life/SLAFuturistsAug10.doc.pdf

Additional pictures

Notice the pink tongue of the cat illustraing one of the 14 mistakes--being too serious

 

SLA's president elect, Cindy Romaine, attended in an aqua sweater

Pat Wagner left the audience wanting her to return another time

One final picture of Pat Wagner in avatar guise of Roadtrixie Hilltop

 
  
 
 

Library Buzz: Why Futurists Can't Predict the Future, and How You Can

On August 3rd meet Pat Wagner in Second Life for a provocative conversation about Why Futurists Can't Predict the Future, and How You Can

Library Buzz: Why Futurists Can't Predict the Future, and How You Can
When: August 3, 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; 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

Most futurists compile data, create projections, plot trajectories and draw straight lines between the present and the future. But the world is not a graph of perfect squares and limited categories. Professional futurists can make an impression as long as you don't think about their track records. However, you can improve your ability to accurately forecast trends and predict breakthroughs by avoiding some simple mistakes and being willing to test even proven ideas and your own favorite theories. Learn how to avoid the "true believer" trap, what questions to ask when offered evidence that something is true, how to build a personal think tank, and how to apply these ideas to your work as a researcher.

BIO:

Pat Wagner and her husband, Leif Smith, run Pattern Research, Inc., a research, consulting, and training business in Denver. They have specialized in supporting the work of innovators in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors for 35 years. Clients include inventors, venture capitalists, artists, writers, think tank directors, scientists, entrepreneurs, journalists, software engineers, nonprofit executives, philanthropists, educators, and, of course, librarians. Pat is a management consultant and trainer; she is a frequent speaker at national and state library conferences and has worked with library staff throughout North America. She is also an author and frequent contributor to books and journals regarding libraries.

 

The Library Buzz sessions are sponsored by SLA's Virtual Worlds Advisory Council in partnership with the Community Virtual Library (CVL).

SLA 2010 Video from a Virtual Attendee Perspective

Here is a great video of the SLA 2010 annual conference from a virtual attendee perspective. Enjoy and hope you join next year!

The video was done for us by Steve Parker's group at Digitell Inc. - the vendor that SLA partnered with for the VirtualU component of the conference. Thank you!

Christy

Next Library Buzz--The New Community Virtual Library, Tue, April 13 at 6 SLT

 (l-r  Lorelei Junot, Rocky Vallejo, Abbey Zenith and Hypaita Dejavu)

 Come into Second Life on Tuesday, April 13 to hear Hypatia Dejavu, Rocky Vallejo, and Abbey Zenith discuss the new Community Virtual Library. Hypatia, Rocky and Abbey have banded together to take over the administration of the former Alliance Virtual Library that had been administered by Lori Bell and the Alliance Library System since its establishment in 2006. Starting in February 2010, the new Community Virtual Library took over the management of the core islands in the Info Island Archipelago--Info Island, Info Island International, Imagination Island and Cybrary City II.

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: The New Community Virtual Library--Lear More About It
Presented by Hypatia Dejavu, Rocky Vallejo, and Abbey Zenith

When: April 13, 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

What is the Community Virtual Library? What prompted three intrepid avatars to take on the responsibility to offer library service through a virtual library system located across four different sims? How do they find the time, money, sanity to undertake this challenge? What are their plans for the future? How can we help? Attend this Library Buzz to find out the answers to these and other burning questions about the CVL.

Avatar Profile Information::

Hypatia Dejavu's Profile--I'm a librarian in both the digital and the analog (AVL and NYPL in specific). My interests include reading (big surpise there), reference work, eastern cooking, and teaching virtual classes.
Rocky Vallejo's Profile--Born on: 2006-08-29. Librarian. Married in RL to my SL partner, "Cindy Elkhart."

Abbey Zenith's Profile-Born on: 2006-05-17

On SL: Co-Founder of Community Virtual Library:
Info Island
Info Island International
Imagination Island
Cybrary City II
(formerly Alliance Virtual Library)

Providing library resources and services for the residents and support for librarians, educators, and students.

For more information about the Community Virtual Library, check out   http://infoisland.org/

The Library Buzz sessions are sponsored by the SLA in Virtual Worlds Advisory Council in partnership with the Community Virtual Library (CVL).

Next Library Buzz--Author Talk on This Book Is Overdue

Come into Second Life on Tuesday, March 23 to Marilyn Johnson talk about her witty new book, This Book Is Overdue:  How Librarians and Cybrarians Can Save Us All. This is your opportunity to talk with Marilyn Johnson.   Marilyn explores and explodes the myths of what librarians are really like--whether they are in RL or SL. (She has a whole chapter just on virtual world librarians.)

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:  Author Talk on This Book Is Overdue 
Presented by Marilyn Johnson

When: March 23, 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 

Who are librarians?  What are librarians?  Are they/we necessary in the age of Digitization, its all on the Internet, and the Google Search Box?  Come hear Marilyn discuss her findings on librarians who stand up for patron's privacy rights when confronted by the Patriot Act, write blogs with forthright titles, and go boldly where most patrons fear to tread.
Bio:Marilyn Johnson is the author of two books: This Book Is Overdue! about librarians and archivists in the digital age and The Dead Beat, about the art of obituaries and obituary writers. She is a former editor and staff writer for Life and other magazines, and lives with her family in New York.

" I was on SL actively from fall 2007 to (I think, more or less) spring 2009. Really took a lot of grief from editors (and some readers) for including SL chapter, but I wouldn't have it any other way.
That's where it's happening!"  Her avatar is Marilena Basevi

For more information about Marilyn check out these sites: 

http://www.thisbookisoverdue.com
http://www.marilynjohnson.net
http://www.twitter.com/Marilynajohnson

The Library Buzz sessions are sponsored by the SLA in Virtual Worlds Advisory Council in partnership with the Community Virtual Library (CVL).

Come into Second Life on Tuesday, March 23 to Marilyn Johnson talk about her witty new book, This Book Is Overdue:  How Librarians and Cybrarians Can Save Us All. This is your opportunity to talk with Marilyn Johnson.   Marilyn explores and explodes the myths of what librarians are really like--whether they are in RL or SL. (She has a whole chapter just on virtual world librarians.)

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:  Author Talk on This Book Is Overdue 
Presented by Marilyn Johnson

When: March 23, 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 

Who are librarians?  What are librarians?  Are they/we necessary in the age of Digitization, its all on the Internet, and the Google Search Box?  Come hear Marilyn discuss her findings on librarians who stand up for patron's privacy rights when confronted by the Patriot Act, write blogs with forthright titles, and go boldly where most patrons fear to tread.
Bio:Marilyn Johnson is the author of two books: This Book Is Overdue! about librarians and archivists in the digital age and The Dead Beat, about the art of obituaries and obituary writers. She is a former editor and staff writer for Life and other magazines, and lives with her family in New York.

" I was on SL actively from fall 2007 to (I think, more or less) spring 2009. Really took a lot of grief from editors (and some readers) for including SL chapter, but I wouldn't have it any other way.
That's where it's happening!"  Her avatar is Marilena Basevi

For more information about Marilyn check out these sites: 

http://www.thisbookisoverdue.com
http://www.marilynjohnson.net
http://www.twitter.com/Marilynajohnson

The Library Buzz sessions are sponsored by the SLA in Virtual Worlds Advisory Council in partnership with the Community Virtual Library (CVL).

Summary of Post SLA Leadership Summit Session-Feb 10, 2010

 

from l-r, Zoey Foehammer, seated (RL Cindy Romaine), Bea Fairlady, standing (RL Anne Caputo), Sidney Delphin, seated (RL Cindy Hill)

On Wednesday, Feb 10, 2010 at 11am SLT (PST), Sidney Delphin (RL Cindy Hill) hosted the second SLA Post Leadership Summit session on the SLA site in Second LIfe.  Both President Anne Caputo (SL Bea Fairlady) and President-elect Cindy Romaine (SL Zoey Foehammer) participated.  CEO Janice Lachance sent her regrets that her travel schedule did not permit her to join everyone in Second LIfe.

Approximately 20 avatars participated in this second of three sessions.  Bea gave a summary of the Leadership Summit.  She asked Mary Ellen Bates to head up a taskforce on Alignment.  Janice Lachance has renewed her contract for another five years.  Bea then identified five global trends:  1) globalization, 2) effect of the global economy, 3) disintermediation, 4) disruptive technologies, and 5)competition.  She mentioned that Jim Kane was a wonderful keynote.  She also provided an overview of all of the benefits that are available to SLA members.

Bea also talked about the Annual Conference in New Orleans.  She reviewed service opportunities in New Orleans.  When she was asked if some of the conference would be shown in Second Life, she responded that the spotlight sessions and some of the key notes, would be streamed into a virutal world, but that it would not be Second LIfe.  There will be a charge for this and more information will be forthcoming.

Members asked about what the Alignment Ambassadors should expect in the future.  The focus will be to move away from research and high level discussions and focus instead on using the information to create elevator type talks.  There will be an increased focus on using social media rather than relying on person to person meetings   There is a need to work on appropriate and accurate communciation.

As a result of lessons learned form last year's Align in 09 name change attempt,  SLA will also be rolling out an Ethical Code of Conduct.

Other items of interest included the news about a taskforce on new 1-5 year members.  This taskforce is developing a series of webinars for new members or info pros.  Susan Fifer Canby has been asked to head a taskforce on how to use retired members.

Thre is a big growth in non-North American chapters, particularly in India.

The last SLA Post Leadership Summit Session will be held Tue, 16 at 6 pm SLT/PST. (This is 9 EST)

Location will be at the newly redesigned SLA space in Second Life.

SLURL: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Cybrary%20City%20II/59/100/22

SLA Leadership Post Summit Sessions in Second LIfe--2 Sessions Coming Up

Curious about Anne Caputo's 5 top trends that are influencing us?

Want to know why "loyalty" is essential for professional relationships and how to instill it?

Have a question for your SLA President or President-elect?

 

Meet association leaders in-world for an informal conversation about Leadership Summit highlights, updates on the conference in New Orleans, and next steps for the Alignment Project. This is your opportunity to talk with our leaders - see you in-world!

 

Two sessions are available - choose the one that works for you!

 

Wednesday, 2/10/2010, 2pm ET/11am PT

Tuesday, 2/16/2010, 9pm ET/6pm PT

Speakers--Anne Caputo, Cindy Romaine, Janice Lachance (not all speakers at each session)

Location will be at the newly redesigned SLA space in Second Life.

SLURL: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Cybrary%20City%20II/59/100/22

P.S. Reminder--You must already have a Second Life account (which is free and must be downloaded to your computer) and an avatar to attend this meeting in Second Life. https://join.secondlife.com/

SLA Leadership Post Summit--Rescheduled for Tue, Feb 16 at 6 SLT

SLA Leadership Post Summit Sessions in Second LIfe
 
Curious about Anne Caputo's 5 top trends that are influencing us?
Want to know why "loyalty" is essential for professional relationships and how to instill it?
Have a question for your SLA President or President-elect?
 
Meet association leaders in-world next Tuesday for an informal conversation about Leadership Summit highlights, updates on the conference in New Orleans, and next steps for the Alignment Project. This is your opportunity to talk with our leaders - see you in-world!
 
Tuesday, 2/16/2010, 9pm ET/6pm PT

Speakers--Anne Caputo, Cindy Romaine, Janice Lachance (not all speakers at each session)

Location will be at the newly redesigned SLA space in Second Life.

SLURL: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Cybrary%20City%20II/59/100/22

P.S. Reminder--You must already have a Second Life account (which is free and must be downloaded to your computer) and an avatar to attend this meeting in Second Life. https://join.secondlife.com/  Let me know if you'd like some help setting this up.