Second Life – The next

dimension for Libraries?

Cathal McCauley, Reader Services

23.2.2007

UCD Library Leabharlann UCD

University College Dublin, An Coláiste Ollscoile, Baile

Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland Átha Cliath,
Belfield, Baile Átha Cliath 4,
Eire
What is Second Life? (SL) - 1

Second Life is a 3-D virtual world

entirely built and owned by its
residents. Since opening to the public
in 2003, it has grown explosively and
today is inhabited by a total of
3,865,315 people from around the
globe.
What is Second Life? (SL) - 2

• Own currency (c270 Linden dollars = US$1)

• Communication (currently IM but soon voice)

• ‘Civil’ partnerships (and divorce)

• Not all fun…..much more than a game

Second Life and the ‘traditional WWW’

• Content similar in many ways i.e. sex, gambling and

rock-n-roll very popular

• Issues similar in many ways (especially to early web )

i.e. US dominated, uncertainty, rapid change, copy
right concerns, moral issues and viruses.

• Some new issues too - Second Life Liberation Army,

Riots…

• Most importantly – reminiscent of web mid-1990s.

Has SL’s time arrived?

“I am getting the same feeling about SL that I got about

the web in 1994”
Stephen Abram (VP of Innovation, Sirsi Dynix)

“We think there is a phenomenon occurring . . .

something huge here. We'll see the rise of the new
Googles, the new Amazons”
Collin Perris (Head of Digital Convergence, IBM)

“We are planning to establish a Swedish embassy in

Second Life primarily as an information portal for
Sweden,"
Olle Waestberg (Director Swedish Institute)
Education in Second Life

• Many US universities in SL (including Berkley, Harvard

& Stanford)

• Universities from other countries too: UK, Australia,

Denmark, France, The Netherlands etc.

• Delivering real classes to students, skills practice,

seminars, conferences.

• Key drivers: distance learning, media, technology,

and design classes and…. Libraries.
Libraries in Second Life

• Infoislands I and II (Genealogy Research Centre,

Library Gallery, Mystery Manor, Performance Centre,
Science Centre and SF/Fantasy Centre)

• Health Info Island

• The Caledon Branch Library

• Cybrary City Island

• Eye4You Alliance (Teen Second Life)

Ireland in Second Life

• About 40 locations relating to Dublin/Ireland in

SL

• Dublin in second life

• PR, design, music dominated

• Growing evidence of educational use

• RTE preparing for SL?

 UCD Library in Second Life
• Cutting edge = risk

• Opportunity to lead, following is easy!

• Risk is small versus potential reward

• Need to agree who, what, when and ……

money

• FUN!