Librarians are in part teachers.  Whether we are giving a workshop, providing bibliographic instruction to a class, answering a reference question or showing a patron where to browse in the collection for cook books, we are opening windows of opportunity to those who come to us seeking help.  Even in services that do not involve direct contact with patrons, we still provide paths to learning.  We prepare webliographies, create online catalogs and maintain blogs and websites for our community of users to enable them to acquire “bibliographic life skills” in their own personal research. Directly or indirectly we are involved in educating others.

As Second Life librarians we have had to adapt our concepts of community and instruction. Our community is diverse not only in its international makeup but also in the virtual abilities of its residents.  We are not pointing out the collections on math and literature as much as showing people how to change their hair, understand Viewer 2.0, set up a display, use simple scripts or find places in-world that have items they might be looking for.  Bibliographic instruction has morphed into “virtual instruction,” with a need to provide services and resources that will enable Second Life residents to move up the virtual learning curve in developing and enriching their experiences in SL.

At the north end of Info Island within the Community Virtual Library core sims, CVL volunteers provide virtual instruction and resources which reflect this ability to adapt to the needs of virtual users. The Virtual Learning Lab and Virtual Learning Library offer residents classes, sharing sessions and a library collection geared entirely toward assisting new and older residents in improvng their Second Life experience.

Classes cover topics such as handling griefers, using textures, building displays, avatar presentation, creating objects and more.  Taught by seasoned SL veterans, these presentations often include visual examples and an opportunity for those present to participate in testing out lessons taught in a nearby “sandbox.”  Class schedules are available at the CVL reference desk as well as within the Virtual Learning Lab sign in front of the Lab.  Monthly sharing or swap sessions at the Lab give residents a chance to ask questions and share answers on topics such as Viewer 2.0 and scripting.

Next to the Virtual Learning Lab, the Virtual Learning Library is a resource center dedicated to providing basic and in- depth Second Life information.  The two-story building has collections covering general Second Life information, scripting, textures, social networking and building.  Also included are rooms covering a history of Second Life libraries as well as a small shop offering free clothing and inexpensive “second hand” items.

Along with the CVL Reference Desk and Learning Curve on Info Island the Virtual Learning Lab and Virtual Learning Library are here to teach, inform and enrich the lives of new and older SL residents.  We encourage you to attend classes and visit the Library.

Virtual Learning Lab SLURL