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Get a (second) life! Prospecting for gold in a 3-D world.

Article Excerpt
Many of us have a full first life and would find it difficult to take on a second. But through the Alliance Second Life Library project, a number of librarians from all over the globe are taking second lives and jobs in the Second Life 3-D virtual world library. All the aspects, features, and services that are part of Library 2.0 are mashed together in this virtual world. Library 2.0 morphs into Library 3-D. Second Life may not be the ultimate participatory social networking space, but it certainly is one of the current frontrunners.

Second Life experienced phenomenal growth in 2006. The influx of individuals, organizations, and corporations into this virtual world seems like a gold rush. In April 2006, there were only 180,000 residents. By the end of October, there were more than 1.2 million registered global residents. At any given moment, thousands of people are online and "in-world," where they can do almost everything they can in real life: learn, conduct research, buy land, purchase homes, start a business, make friends, and much more.

Two of us, Lori and Kitty, work at the Alliance Library System. ALS is one of nine regional multitype library systems in Illinois; it provides services to 259 libraries in a 14,000-square-mile area. ALS offers continuing education, materials delivery, consulting, grant-writing assistance, and collaborative project management for things such as the Second Life Library. Tom Peters' information services company often partners with us.

In April 2006, ALS established a library in Second Life. When creating it, we quickly discovered that the residents appreciated having in-world access to our services and materials. Since more and more people of all ages use the Internet and spend increasing amounts of time online, the librarians who are active in Second Life can reach these folks where they are and investigate the needs and use of library services in virtual worlds. Even prospectors have information needs. ALS and other partners and volunteers are providing training programs, outreach to virtual educational communities, important consumer resources, and one-on-one information support to Second Life residents.

EXACTLY WHAT IS THIS VIRTUAL WORLD?

Second Life is a virtual world that's entirely built and owned by its residents. This vast digital continent is teeming with people, entertainment, and opportunities. It offers museums, concerts, immersive learning environments, a 19th-century world, and more. In order to participate, you need a broadband Internet connection and the free Second Life software. You can get a Second Life account for free. However, once you get in-world, you'll want to buy new clothes, a home, or land. You create an avatar, or persona, within Second Life to represent yourself and to interact with others. You may even choose a robot or an animal to personify yourself. Once you get in, there's an orientation island that will teach you how to maneuver and do different things in the world of...