Alliance Library System announces changes in Second Life

Alliance Library System Announces Changes in Second Life
Alliance Library System announces changes in the operation of the Info Island Archipelago in the virtual world of Second Life. “Our goal was to open up the door and shine a light on virtual librarianship,” stated Kitty Pope, Executive Director of the Alliance Library System. “Now it is time for others to take the lead in the library community of Second Life. We have a great group of folks working in Second Life, so I am confident this is an opportunity for virtual librarianship to grow and new leaders to have an opportunity to shape the future.”
She continued, “There will be no additional lands or islands purchased unless they are funded by grant s or partnerships. When we started renting to libraries and educators two years ago, there were only a couple of other places for educators to rent and work together. Now there are a lot of choices and options for libraries and educators.”
“There are two key groups representing librarians and educators in Second Life which will be working on these changes,” Pope stated, “the Alliance Virtual Library Board and a new group which will lead in the development of project islands, grants, and exploration. These two groups have the vision and ability to move the library community to the next level of growth and development.”
1. The five core library islands of Info Island, Info International, Infotainment, Imagination and Illumination will be merged into 3 islands. This merge will take place January-June 2009 and will be lead by Abbey Zenith and the Alliance Virtual Library Advisory Board.
2. Only Yesterday, Renaissance, Cybrary City 1 and 2, Eduisland 3 and 4 will not be renewed by Alliance in 2009. Only Yesterday renews in June 2009; Renaissance in February 2009, Cybrary City 1 in October 2009, Cybrary City 2, December 2009, Eduisland 3 in June 2009 and Eduisland 4 in June 2009. If your agency is interested in taking over the management and payment for any of these islands, please contact Lori Bell at Alliance.
3. Projects and islands funded by grant dollars will remain including Health Info Island, Karuna, and Investing Info Island, and Land of Lincoln.
4. When the annual renewal for the open space islands owned and maintained by ALS is reached, materials will be moved to other islands, not maintained, or funded with grant dollars. This includes Emerald City – up for renewal in September 2009, Bradburyville, up for renewal in September 2009, and Health Eduisland, up for renewal in September 2009.
5. Open spaces rented to other groups will not be renewed. These have been paid for one year, and renters have been given notice. This includes Machinima Institute up for renewal in June 2009; Cinque Terre, up for renewal in June 2009; Cybrary Square up for renewal in September 2009; Circumference, up for renewal in October 2009; and Museums Isles I-V up for renewal in August 2009.
6. Eduislands 1, 2, 5, and 6 run and managed by Fleet Goldenberg will be maintained for one more year. These agreements will be retained until 2009-2010 depending on when renewals are up.
7. Cleveland Public, UMCG, and Talis Cybary Island will be responsible for renewal when leases expire – Cleveland Public in June 2009, UMCG in June 2009, and Talis Cybrary Island in January 2010.
In announcing these changes, Executive Director Pope, further states, “I appreciate these are big changes for the virtual library community but I am confident that the strong partnerships that have developed in the last 2.5 years will continue and thrive in this brave new world.”