Approximately 25 SL librarians met on November 1st to discuss the potential for a Second Life Library Association (SLLA), engaging in an occasionally chaotic, but exciting discourse. We had just a few items on this first agenda:
1. Ideas might include renaming the group, considering what we will do and dividing into subgroups (such as SL Skills training, SL Research, Mentoring & Recruitment).
2. The second agenda item will concern group structure, with (hopefully) people self-designating to head up the various SIGs.
3. If we have time, we can discuss ideas for activities: brown bag meetings and events, a rotating display area for rl posters and papers, even conferences.
4. Finally, we'll need to think about how often we would like to meet.
A note about the agenda, which was sent out via group notices: If you receive this through your email (as so many did), the attachment will not be included. Unfortunately, the announcement template is limited to only a very brief note. My apologies, if this happened for you, too - I guess I need to be less wordy (oh, no!)
I have posted the actual meeting transcript to the Google groups list (let me know if you're not on it and would like to be) so this is intended to be a summary of issues that sparked interest.
Ideally, this post will encourage comments and further discussion: it is intended to do so! If you were unable to attend - this is your virtual virtual meeting :) - if you were there, you know that we had so many thoughts & ideas that a summary is needed just to try to sort it all out!
We plan to meet every other Wednesday at 6 p.m. SL time, at the main library inside auditorium (Second Life Library/Info Island, Info Island (94, 159, 33)). Our next meeting will be Wednesday, December 6.
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KEY POINTS FOR DISCUSSION
Purpose of the group: A partial listing of areas we might consider
- Continuing education
- Career development
- Mentoring
- SL-related skills training
- SL library-related skills training
- RL library-related skills training
- Networking
- Round table discussions about: ethics, processes, research, etc.
- Research collaboration
- checking out the use of Web 2.0
- Sharing RL publications and presentations in SL
- Archiving and providing access to SL-related publications & presentations
- Inviting RL & SL speakers
- Focus areas - Library practice domains: marketing, management, collection development, reference, and more specifically, information literacy, etc.
- SLL Conferences
- Collaborative development of SL tools & resources
- online guide or tutorial to SL, for beginners
- guide to meeting & presentation attendance
- creation of a media kit (contact Abbey Zenith)
Discussion about Cybrary City
This is an island where libraries can have a small space of their own for local resources if they help us with overall services on Info Island. it will have a staff area where we can keep materials to share with each other; a librarian's library, and will also have shared spaces for instruction for libraries. There is also a library school setting up training there.
Collaborative grant applications
Discussion about the Librarians for the 21st Century grant, among others; for the IMLS grant ( http://www.imls.gov/applicants/grants/21centuryLibrarian.shtm ) there is a CE component. There is interest in pursuing grant opportunities.
Group structure
It may be too early to address this (or to make decisions) but a SIG group structure is suggested, so that groups can focus on their own particular interests, just like rl library associations. The suggestion was made that this may evolve organically; conversely, the quieter voices might be unheard, without a more structured approach. Another question needing to be addressed concerns the need for a charter and officers.
Group name
As 'Second Life Library CE' does not seem appropriate for the very broad scope of our interests, the name SLLA (Second Life Library Association) was proposed and supported, though there was not a vote, so this is far from final. Another suggestion was Librarians of the Future.
Action plan
We will be having a true brainstorming session for the next meeting - wide open, with contributions all accepted democratically and without criticism. The idea will be to gather, gather, gather - and then later, to refine, focus, and evolve a direction for our group. The use of OPAL may be possible - there is already a room set up for SL.
Beasily Puhakka, 3Jane Gray, Rebekah Cavan, and Carolina Keats will facilitate.
Suggestions
- Meetings should be at staggered times (more than one of each meeting?) so that people have a chance to attend.
- Library students can help to create information resources, conduct training
So there you have it! A very dynamic meeting - not surprising at all considering that SECOND LIFE LIBRARIANS ROCK! Please read and respond... join the Google group... come to the next meeting at 6 p.m. SL time at the Main Library Auditorium, December 6th, 2006.
NOTE: This meeting will need to be rescheduled, since I am preparing for a presentation. With holidays, it's been crazy!
Carolina Keats
aka Carol Perryman
cp1757 at gmail.com