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by DULCIE MILLS
 Most people are afraid of change because they fear if they do something differently, the outcome may not be as good as the previous result and yet they don't consider that it could possibly be better or at least just as good. Change is a way of life. It's a necessity. All things grow and change. Without change, the world, especially the virtual world, would be boring indeed. Imagine a sim that never changes, has no new builds added to it, no seasonal or event displays, nothing original to draw visitors or residents. A place like that wouldn't last long in SL or would definitely not be very popular.
When I was young, and I'm not exactly elderly, I was afraid of changing anything either inside or outside myself. Even a little thing like cutting or coloring my hair, I resisted. Now I won't tell you how many times I've done that since but, of course, it's so easy in SL. I also used to imagine that I would grow up and live in my childhood home with my parents for the rest of my life and marry my next my door neighbor. Granted, I still live and work in the same town, but my life has changed in many ways and continues to change as the years pass. Sometimes for the better, sometimes not, but I accept it now because there's no use in fighting something that happens naturally.
Looking at the development of many of the projects in Second Life, in particular the Alliance Virtual Library which will also be changing soon into a new form, metamorphasizing into the Community Virtual Library via its magical library bluebird and three dedicated people, it's fascinating to realize the progress that was made from such a small start, a dream really. And yet that's all it takes. A dream and a great deal of determination.
When Clark Abismo had the idea to start a library magazine for librarians in SL, he wasn't afraid to suggest a change. He knew that a change was needed. Other people recognized that fact and gave him a hand. I was one of them. I don't regret the 18 months I spent on the project, nor the year I spent while the magazine was actually publishing, the last six months of which I had taken over as publisher when Clark returned to school to continue his education. During that time, I learned so much and was rewarded, not monetarily, but with the recognition that the work was being shared among my colleagues in SL to spread news about what we were all doing here and to encourage others to learn more about Second Life, the AVL, and librarians in virtual worlds.
Recently, we began to consider several options for changes to RezLibris. One was a quarterly instead of a monthly publicaton schedule but one that would still feature news articles and exhibit reviews posted on an ongoing basis. The other option was to continue to publish monthly but to scale down the number of articles per issue to maintain the quality of content covered in each article. We also welcome new writers and contributors especially for our News and Arts sections and hope to include more columns including those on specific areas such as ALA, Caledon, and libraries off Info Island. If you are interested, please contact me or send an email to
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Whatever format we decide upon and scheduling changes we make, we would like your input and feedback along with your continued support and readership as always, so we will include an end-of-year survey in our December issue. I also hope you will all be able to attend our first year anniversary party on Sunday, November 15, at 3 pm SLT at the Jazz Cat. Invitations will be sent out in early November.
Thank you all for your faithful readership this past year and continued readership for the future. I hope you'll find RezLibris is changing for the better.
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Last Updated on Sunday, 01 November 2009 04:34 |
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by DULCIE MILLS
 Although the very last day of the month is the actual holiday, most people think of pumpkins, black cats, and witches throughout the month of October. Halloween is as popular a holiday in SL, as it is in real life. And no wonder, it's fun to dress up in costume, decorate, tell scary stories. Not to mention eat all that leftover trick or treat candy. The whole month in Second Life seems to be full of Halloween and costume parties, freebie hunts, and haunted houses. But all year round SL retains the spooky, magical, and weird spirit that makes it fun to be an avatar in Second Life.
Did you ever consider that your avatar is your SL costume? I'm sure you've seen some spooky-looking avatars if you've spent any amount of time in SL. And, as for magical, can't we all fly? And, weird, well, that's self explanatory. But it's all fun, and it doesn't have to be October to go a little "batty."
In this issue of RezLibris, we present to you a few articles with a seasonal theme. Our simseeing column profiles a year-round haunted sim that is not your typical haunted house and which now has added a haunted forest to its attractions. Our performer of the month is a magician (I bet you didn't know that magic tricks could be performed in SL). Our Creative Corner features a scary tale from the talented Gilbert Sapwood (RL storyteller Dale Gilbert Jarvis), and our Fashion column features Halloween costumes and the shops and designers that make and sell them.
On October 18, RezLibris will host its own Haunted Deadline Party at the magazine office in  Cybrary City, and all readers and writers are invited. While costumes are optional, I hope you will be able to join us in one of your spookiest, most magical, or weirdest outfit. We might just have a special giveaway for the best one.
For our November issue which will be our One-Year Anniversary issue, we are sponsoring a magazine writing contest for prizes and all winning entries will appear in the November edition (see details elsewhere in this issue) or send an email to
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for information.
Happy Halloween everyone, and enjoy our October issue!
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Last Updated on Sunday, 04 October 2009 13:53 |
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By DULCIE MILLS
Photo by CLARK ABISMO
Every once in a while, just when you think things are running smoothly or at least as less chaotic as possible in all your lives, both real and virtual, something out-of-the-blue happens to turn all your worlds upside down. Life gives you a big, unexpected wakeup call to the important things you might be neglecting in your your daily rush to be the perfect boss, employee, spouse, parent, friend, Second Life resident, etc.
This past week, just after hearing the news of sweet HollyJean's brain aneurysm surgery, I was admitted to the hospital for my own health concerns -- a sudden respiratory illness that produced asthma-like attacks of which I had no history and that were quite scary and debilitating. Leaving my real-life five-year old daughter in the hands of my husband a week before she was scheduled to start Kindergarten and RezLibris in the hands of our webmaster Eirene right before the September issue was due out, I had to trust that my duties could be done without me while I concentrated on the job of getting better, not an easy task for one who has a hard time relaxing in either of her lives but one that had become immediately necessary.
I learned some valuable lessons from this experience, the hard way, you would say. I learned that nothing is more important than your health, your family, and your friends. While I still worried about my daughter while I was away and how the September issue would be finished, I knew that there were people who were there to help and ease my worry so that I could concentrate on getting better.
In Second Life, just like in real life, things happen that aren't planned. When we are given a reality check, it's time to count our blessings and thank those who make both our real and virtual lives special. I know I will return the favor to these people when they need me down the line, but, for now, I want them to know that it meant a lot that they were there when I needed them.
Virtual reality checks aren't fun, but they are necessary to make you realize what your true priorities are in the worlds and lives where "sweating the small stuff" too often get in the way. So big deal that my iphone was stolen from my bedside on the fourth night of my hospital stay to add to my ordeal. Although it really hurt to think people can strike you when you're down that low and that it only helped a little that I now have a better model, the main thing is that I'm home, feeling better, although not recovered completely, and able to tell the story. It also gladdens my heart to take a quick glance, (could I even consider not peeking?) at the September issue this month, and seeing what a fantastic job my staff is doing. I guess I've trained them well but not too well that they won't need me again when I'm better. Just checking. No sweat. I feel better already. HollyJean and I have to put on our dancing shoes and celebrate big time when we're both back.
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Last Updated on Monday, 07 September 2009 07:19 |
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by DULCIE MILLS
Photo by VERDE OTAARED
 Most of us in the library field, or anyone working on any project in SL for that matter, are familar with the "C" word - collaboration. My handy online Webster defines it this way: 1 : to work jointly with others or together especially in an intellectual endeavor 2 : to cooperate with or willingly assist an enemy of one's country and especially an occupying force 3 : to cooperate with an agency or instrumentality with which one is not immediately connected. For the purpose of this editorial, I am referring to definition #1. Collaboration could be considered the partner of teamwork and is one of the fundamental skills newbies need to master along with dressing, chatting, handling objects, and building. No avatar, like no man, is an island although he can own an island and build objects on it usually with the help of his friends and colleagues. Why do you think there are so many groups in SL? Working and playing together on joint projects and common interests is a lot more productive and enjoyable than hanging out in SL alone. Why is collaboration so important in Second Life? Take the example of the Alliance Virtual Library. When Lori Bell (SL: Lorelei Junot) brought volunteers to Info Island three years ago, virtual librarianship was in the Pioneer stages. And, like the early American settlers, these people needed to work together to bring their resources, ideas, and experience to a project that was just beginning and learn new skills along the way. Through their continued effort, the Information Archipelgo continues to offer fine and varied exhibits, programs, and educational opportunities. And in the spirit of sharing and collaborating, the new Innovation Island that will be profiled in our next issue will offer even more ways for new projects to be showcased. RezLibris is another example of collaboration on a smaller scale. Each month, our staff works together to write, edit, illustrate, and publish articles of interest to the SL library and related communities. We are all still learning and in the early stages of this endeavor, too. But while collaboration among the staff is essential, it is also equally important for our readers to collaborate with us by providing feedback about our articles (which ones you like, which ones you don't, which new ones you'd like to see); suggesting new performers to be profiled for our Performer Showcase, new venues for our Venue of the Month, new fashion topics for our fashion column, and new sims for our Sim-Seeing column, as well as offering to guest write an article or column or contribute to our new Creative Corner. In this way, RezLibris becomes a true product that reflects your, our readers,' interests and not just that of the people on our publishing team. In the upcoming months, look for opportunities to collaborate with us through surveys, contests, and other interactive ways both online and inworld. We welcome you as readers as well as partners in our publishing project.
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When I learned that Abbey Zenith was sponsoring a contest on the theme of Hope this month, it gave me an idea for this editorial. Although I already knew I would be writing my final one for this particular format of RezLibris, I wasn't sure what I wanted to convey. There are so many feelings. I recall the previous publisher, Clark Abismo's parting words six months ago and how he looked at our accomplishments and what was learned from this project before he turned it over to me. Since then, we've made more strides and yet there were always the factors that held us back from our beginning a year ago -- limited time, lack of funding, shortage of staff. It was fun, but it was hard work. There were many sacrifices along with the rewards. As with all SL endeavors, there were many real life conflicts. I only wish our efforts could've seen more fulfillment and acknolwledgment for all of us. 
