Stanford University Libraries and Academic Information Resources (SULAIR) has developed a small site in Second Life, which includes a virtual library. Second Life (SL) is a virtual world run by Linden Lab, based in San Francisco. Populated by avatars, SL is more than simply a game or a virtual representation of real life (RL). There are currently over 8.3 million avatars in SL, of which approximately 1.8 million are active users. Among those users are people who are making money in SL, creating items that are purchased by other avatars, such as clothes or jewelry. The richest entrepreneurs in SL, however, seem to be those who buy and sell land. There have even been entrepreneurs who have been able to quit their RL jobs!
SULAIR in SL
SULAIR, however, was interested in the trend of educational institutions moving into Second Life. Rachel Gollub, of SULAIR's Digital Library Systems and Services group first introduced the idea of building a library in Fall 2006. We were subsequently asked to look into Second Life as a platform for further discussion. This we did by purchasing a small plot of land on EduIsland, one of several islands at the time that specialized in educational institutions. There we built a rudimentary library with access to the Stanford's online catalog, Socrates, and other SULAIR Web sites, as well as images for the user to peruse.
SL in Academia
There has been an explosion of Second Life use in academia. It has become a focal point for research and study in a number of academic disciplines, including, but not limited to, design, computer science, sociology, psychology and education. One can visit any of the Education and Information Islands and enter into discussions covering such topics as educational tools for research, emotion enhancement in virtual worlds, credibility in virtual education, or any topic that another avatar finds interesting to discuss. This includes where to get the coolest hair or where the best place to dance is!
What SL Offers
What Second Life offers is a platform for people from around the globe to meet, socialize, debate, and collaborate with others. It gives institutions like Stanford an opportunity to offer virtual classes and resources. As importantly, it gives us a perspective on the University and its function as a venue for intellectual outreach and growth, which has resulted in a newfound sense of academic community that extends around the world.
How to Visit SL
To visit the virtual world of Second Life, just go to http://secondlife.com and click on JOIN NOW. You will need to pick a first name, and then choose from a list of last names, and finally decide on a "look" for your avatar. There are 8 or 10 from which to pick - 4 or 5 female and 4 or 5 male. Once in SL, you can make alterations to the look of your avatar to give it your unique stamp.
