Info Breaker

Where libraries should be

The new Second Life library is open, and in light of the recent controversy surrounding a certain opinion piece, and its incredibly thoughtful response, I am very excited by this.

Note that I am not in the Second Life world, probably never will be. I don’t have the time or the patience for action type games, much less ones where nothing’s going on. However, in light of the powerful idea of wiring every home in lieu of building a new library, or eliminating libraries and their outdated controlled vocabularies, Second Life is where libraries will regain relevancy. If we don’t exist in a physical space, will we be forced to exist in a virtual one? Perhaps.

And would it be all bad?

I must respond to your comment that “nothing happens” in SL libraries. Take a look at the SL blog, InfoIsland.org, to see posts about activities which are furthermore, just the tip of the iceberg.

At the Medical Library and at my own library, Consumer Health, we are emulating our SL colleagues in the exploration of new information objects – and daily, we cross international and disciplinary boundaries to provide services, engage in discourse about the changing nature of information, about libraries as spaces, and on and on… We are starting up a librarian CE group in order to share research and discovery between multitype libraries, led and motivated by Lori Bell of the Alliance Library System in Illinois, and other innovative leaders. But that’s only a tiny part of what’s going on.

Take time to explore and engage – and then share our excitement, and add to the discourse in which we are engaged.

I also disagree with the original response in its broadly general statements about libraries being nonresponsive, slow to change, and not involved in outreach. These statements can be refuted in every state in the nation by librarians who are involved in creating change.

Certainly, there is room for criticism – I support the need for our culture to shift toward one of reflection and evaluation, and that has indeed been a slow-paced train. But I see change. I know innovators and dreamers and planners and loud soap-box shouters (ok, maybe not that last bit!) – but we ARE out there, and we ARE workig toward the future.

Carolina Keats 10.21.06 / 12am

Benjamin 10.24.06 / 5am

I mean “nothing going on” in the best way possible. If I can’t get an action game to hold my attention, I certainly cannot walk around Second Life, even their library. I am truely excited about the Second Life Library because of the new way it engages customers and the information around them, just like you say.

As for a culture shift in libraries. I heartily agree, especially at mine. A rearwards, organizational centric view is never, ever a good thing.

Vicente Sheppard 01.09.09 / 12am

hi
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good luck

Where libraries should be

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