So as part of my upcoming project presentation, it looks like I’ll be enrolling and learning how to operate the immersive online environment of Second Life. I wrote an earlier blog for L500 on the use of Second Life to promote library services (which seems to have vanished from WordPress), however I\u2019d never actually signed up for SL \u2013 this has been largely due to the fact that my computer can\u2019t handle the minimum system requirements in order to operate the program properly. From the videos I\u2019ve seen on YouTube introducing newbies to Second Life, this seems to be a common problem \u2013 if you don\u2019t have a worthwhile graphics card and a proper CPU, then Second Life is relatively off limits. This issue makes its use in library interactions somewhat dubious, as transferring services here ostracizes anyone who doesn\u2019t meet what seem to be relatively high standards, and does so in a way that other SNS programs (such as Twitter and Facebook) don\u2019t. This said, the number of users is growing at a fantastic rate, and virtual SL spaces such as Cybrary City contain the online presence of many academic, public, special and government libraries.<\/p>\n
With the computer system that I have, however, I was at least able to create an identity and log in; on the world of Second Life, I\u2019m now known as Scottt Marshdevil, something similar enough to my real life name that I\u2019ll be able to remember it (can\u2019t get away from reality enough I guess). I can\u2019t move more than a frame every few seconds, close windows I open, alter my appearance or see anything other than the most basic of shapes, but at least this is a start. I was, however, able to chat with another noob (who was from Nigeria, interestingly) and was immediately convinced of the potentials of this space in facilitating interaction on a global scale. Hopefully my ability to participate in this space and practice in SL will improve soon, though – I\u2019m writing this on my coal-powered, 5-year-old laptop right now since I took my computer to the shop for upgrades, including a new graphics card and shiny new motherboard and CPU. This is why I\u2019ve named this post \u2018part one,\u2019 as by part two I\u2019m sure I\u2019ll have been able to interact with the world a little bit better.<\/p>\n
It certainly seems worthwhile, however, as looking at many of the YouTube posts dedicated to introducing SL to users, many of them come from MLIS students and involve libraries. Lists of libraries<\/a> currently participating have been constructed, and with good reason \u2013 library consortia such as ALA and the California Library Association are staples of the environment, as well as specific islands operated by large information organizations such as the CDC.<\/p>\n