My Avatar Will Contact Your Avatar: Virtual Worlds, Real Opportunities
Virtual worlds are creating a new strain of librarianship, with its own set of opportunities and affordances. The number of virtual worlds and the overall citizenship of virtual worlds continue to increase. Many libraries are developing services and collections in virtual worlds. Sooner or later all libraries will need to make a decision about virtual worlds. In this program, we will explore the following questions:
· What are the trends and developments in virtual worlds, such as Second Life, Lively, Qwaq, Teen Second Life, and Whyville?
· How are they being used by libraries and library-related organizations?
· What factors should libraries consider in deciding whether or not to develop a virtual world presence?
· What is the future of librarianship in virtual worlds?
· What resources and skills are needed to start and sustain a virtual world library presence?
Click here for a Powerpoint of the presentation!