Libraries in Second Life: Linking Collections,Clients, and Communities in a Virtual World

The multi-user virtual environment Second Life has drawn attention from many librarians who established virtual libraries and information spaces there. Even as interest in Second Life diminishes, it is worthwhile to look at how libraries in Second Life were established and what models they followed. This study examines the purposes, users, collections, and community integration of Second Life libraries. Researchers identified over 75 libraries in Second Life through the professional literature and search results within Second Life. Using this sample, they identified seven general categories of libraries and discuss examples of each. Some Second Life library spaces help to set a scene and contribute to the ethos of a larger space. Other Second Life libraries connect physical libraries with virtual communities. Still others serve communities that exist only in virtual spaces, supporting common interests or role-playing scenarios. Finally, some Second Life libraries expand understandings of what a virtual library might be, whether through imaginative architecture or unusual collections. Second Life libraries offer collections of resources tailored to the needs of individual communities and make them available in different formats. They also offer social and educational programs, much as physical libraries do. Whatever the future of Second Life, the libraries that have been established there raise important questions for future virtual library work.     

Second Life中图书馆的服务模式

介绍Second Life图书馆是一种在三维虚拟世界展示完全不同于传统类型图书馆服务的新型图书馆。在调研Second Life图书馆提供多元化服务模式的基础上,如召开国际会议、参考咨询服务、阅读讨论会、创新用户教育、青少年图书馆、游戏娱乐等,分析Second Life图书馆服务模式的优点及缺点,总结该发展模式对中国图书馆在虚拟空间开展服务的有益启示。     

The University of Plymouth Sexual Health SIM experience in Second Life®: evaluation and reflections after 1 year

Background and objectives: Virtual environments such as Second Life are increasingly used as venues for public health education. This paper reports an evaluation of a sexual health project in Second Life, designed to provide education about sexually transmitted infections, prevention of unintended pregnancy and promotion of equalitarian sexual relationships. Methods: The University of Plymouth Sexual Health SIM provides a wide variety of educational experiences, including opportunities to test knowledge of sexual health through quizzes and games, web resources integrated within the virtual context and live seminars on sexual health topics. Primary methods of evaluation consisted of a survey (n = 135) and traffic statistics on the virtual programme. Results: Evaluation results indicated that the Sexual Health SIM was positively viewed by its audience and fostered development of a vibrant virtual community. Conclusions: While these results are promising, it is important to keep in mind the many challenges of delivering and evaluating the impact of educational programmes within 3‐D virtual environments.     

Second Life与图书馆2．0的实现

SecondLife是互联网上的三维虚拟生活,正好为实现图书馆2．0提供了技术平台。SecondLife虚拟世界不仅能提供一个个信息数字对象,还能创造一种经验。SecondLife中实现的虚拟图书馆正是一种图书馆2．0,表明图书馆可以借助SecondLife为互联网用户提供更多具有创意的服务。     

Using Second Life as a Training Tool in an Academic Library

Training is an important factor for successful employee growth within an academic library. The purpose of this article is to scrutinize the option of using the virtual world, Second Life, as a training tool within an academic library. In doing so, various topics will be examined including training within libraries, the use of Second Life in educational settings, and Second Life as a training tool. Second Life offers unique opportunities for training but also presents a definite set of challenges, the first of which is the steep learning curve. Second Life is a virtual world that is being used with varying success as a training technique within corporate settings; however, little has been documented within a library setting. Nonetheless, libraries may find that Second Life can be an asset toward achieving their training goals.     

融入Second Life的高校图书馆虚拟参考咨询服务探讨

目前以Second Life(SL)为代表的虚拟世界在互联网上广泛流行并引起学术界的诸多争议。通过界定SL的定义、介绍与其相关的概念,探讨高校图书馆利用SL开展虚拟参考咨询(VR)服务的目的性、服务时间、问题类型、服务方式和服务内容等,指出融入SL过程中开展VR应注意的问题。     

A study of medical and health queries to web search engines

This paper reports findings from an analysis of medical or health queries to different web search engines. We report results: (i). comparing samples of 10000 web queries taken randomly from 1.2 million query logs from the AlltheWeb.com and Excite.com commercial web search engines in 2001 for medical or health queries, (ii). comparing the 2001 findings from Excite and AlltheWeb.com users with results from a previous analysis of medical and health related queries from the Excite Web search engine for 1997 and 1999, and (iii). medical or health advice-seeking queries beginning with the word 'should'. Findings suggest: (i). a small percentage of web queries are medical or health related, (ii). the top five categories of medical or health queries were: general health, weight issues, reproductive health and puberty, pregnancy/obstetrics, and human relationships, and (iii). over time, the medical and health queries may have declined as a proportion of all web queries, as the use of specialized medical/health websites and e-commerce-related queries has increased. Findings provide insights into medical and health-related web querying and suggests some implications for the use of the general web search engines when seeking medical/health information.     

让虚拟参考咨询服务走出困境、走向振兴

在回顾国内外虚拟参考咨询服务发展的基础上,探讨了实时参考咨询服务面临的困境——使用量低、服务效益低下,并在分析问题的基础上给出了一系列建议,如:开展IM咨询和短信咨询服务;利用博客、维基、社会网络中的图书馆个性化主页、第二人生(SecondLife)中的虚拟咨询台等Web2.0工具提供服务,让虚拟参考咨询服务走出困境,走向振兴。     

评析“Second Life”中的数字参考咨询2.0

“Second Life”是一个新兴的网络在线三维虚拟世界,国外已有很多图书馆在这里提供参考咨询服务,本文通过自身的实践体验对“Second Life”中的参考咨询服务优缺点进行分析。     

Second Screening Politics in the Social Media Sphere: Advancing Research on Dual Screen Use in Political Communication with Evidence from 20 Countries

The pervasive use of multiple technological tools to engage with media and political content (i.e., TV sets, laptops, tablets, smartphones, etc.) has deeply altered the way citizens around the world consume information and discuss public affair issues. Many are using 2, or even several “screens” at the same time to do so, a phenomenon known as second or dual screening.

The goal of this article is twofold. First, it introduces a set of novel studies published as a special section devoted to second screening. Second, based on nationally representative original survey data collected in twenty societies (N = 22.033), the study depicts a snapshot of second screening habits for news and politics around the world. Findings reveal that young people tend to second screen more than older counterparts. Similarly, there are also differences in political behaviors between groups of high and low frequency second screen users. More intensive users tend to politically express themselves in social media, and participate more often in offline political activities. On the other hand, results indicate little or no differences between these two groups in terms of their voting behavior.     

Environmental health and toxicology resources of the United States National Library of Medicine

For over 40 years, the National Library of Medicine's (NLM) Toxicology and Environmental Health Information Program (TEHIP) has worked to organize and to provide access to an extensive array of environmental health and toxicology resources. During these years, the TEHIP program has evolved from a handful of databases developed primarily for researchers to a broad range of products and services that also serve industry, students, and the general public. TEHIP's resources include TOXNET , a collection of databases, including online handbooks, bibliographic references, information on the release of chemicals in the environment, and a chemical dictionary. TEHIP also produces several resources aimed towards the general public, such as the Household Products Database , which helps users explore chemicals often found in common household products, and Tox Town , an interactive guide to commonly encountered toxic substances, health, and the environment. This paper introduces some of NLM's environmental health and toxicology resources.     

Leisure Activities and Personality Traits of Medical Librarians

Objectives: This study examines medical librarians’ personality based on their leisure activities to find out which personal characteristics prevail among working medical librarians.

Methods: An electronic survey was administered among medical librarians of the New England/South East regions. The collected statistics was compared to the national leisure statistics and previously published studies on personality traits.

Results: The respondent group exhibited prevailing Artistic, Investigative, and Conventional types, with a slightly higher number of introverts.

Conclusions: Personalities of the respondents fit into the job environment quite well, which could positively influence their interaction with patrons and the overall quality of work.     

A Tale of Two Libraries: A Merger and Its Challenges. A Case Study

In 2005, representatives from Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS), the Universities at Shady Grove (USG), and the University of Maryland Libraries, explored a potential partnership between their libraries. With different patrons and missions, merging the two library cultures and functions presented challenges and opportunities to administrators and librarians.

This study examines the dimensions and impact on both libraries. It will inquire whether it resulted in a limited, primarily administrative arrangement, or whether the libraries were able to achieve true collaboration. The findings highlight some issues libraries could take into account before embarking into a merger process.     

Sailing on the Silicon Sea – The Design of a Virtual Maritime Museum

Following the development of a virtual museum this paper theorises the implications this has had for the Western Australian Maritime Museum (http://www.mm.wa.gov.au/). It is an opportunity to explore the relationship between both theory and praxis. The context for the analysis is the Diving into Shipwrecks internet project (http://www.mm.wa.gov.au/Museum/excavate/intro/intro_frame.html) developed as a constellation of shipwreck excavations. The success of the project is highlighted through an assessment of statistical data and more qualitative forms of feedback. Having established one model in a virtual museum this paper then reflects upon other forms of the web museums that are appearing on the internet. The discussion has implications for cultural organisations that seek to create on-line environments.     

An Investigation of Novice Pre-University Students’ Views towards MOOCs: The Case of Malaysia

There has been a growing number of studies dedicated to understanding how Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) impact the e-learning community. Yet, little is still known about how novice pre-university students perceive the use of MOOCs in Malaysia. This study explored pre-university students’ perceptions of, challenges with, and intention towards MOOCs by using interview data. The results showed that students’ general perceptions of the MOOC were positive, reporting that they gained additional knowledge, marks towards their Diploma and benefiting from the opportunity to create an online learning community. However, they were challenged by their language competency and awareness of MOOCs. Outcomes from this study may offer some practical implications to educational decision-makers in Malaysia towards promoting the use of MOOCs among students.

Abbreviations: MOOC: Massive Open Online Courses; cMOOC: Connectivist Massive Open Online Courses; xMOOC: eXtended Massive Open Online Courses; ahMOOC: adaptive hybrid Massive Open Online Courses; LMS: Learning Management System; MQA: Malaysian Qualifications Agency; STEM: Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics     

Critical communication pedagogy as a response to the petroleum industry’s neoliberal communicative practices

Courses: Professional Speaking, Business and Professional Communication, Environmental Communication, or any course covering topics related to neoliberalism and the environment.

Objectives: In this single-class activity, students will first examine the possible environmental effects of fracking near the Bakken Oil Formation in North Dakota. Second, students will evaluate how the petroleum industry obscures the effects of fracking through the use of corporate ventriloquism. Third, students will respond to the petroleum industry’s power by utilizing critical communication pedagogy.     

Narrative mapping: Listening with health,healing, and illness narratives in the classroom

Drawing on coursework associated with listening strategies in health communication, students will be guided through a process of reflection, contemplation and articulation as they map their health experience. As visual narrative, maps help to suspend preconceived notions and/or expectations about health; participants increase the capacity for a deeper understanding and clearer communication about health, the health of others, and course concepts.

Courses: Unit activity suited for undergraduate and/or graduate Health Communication courses.

Objectives: Students will increase their proficiency in working with health narratives. Students will apply listening strategies to improve their communication. Students will develop skills necessary for communicating with health professionals.     

Infants,Interfaces, and Intermediation: Digital Parenting and the Production of “iPad Baby” Videos on YouTube

We investigate the ways young children’s use of mobile touchscreen interfaces is both understood and shaped by parents through the production of YouTube videos and discussions in associated comment threads. This analysis expands on, and departs from, theories of parental mediation, which have traditionally been framed through a media effects approach in analyzing how parents regulate their children’s use of broadcast media, such as television, within family life. We move beyond the limitations of an effects framing through more culturally and materially oriented theoretical lenses of mediation, considering the role mobile interfaces now play in the lives of infants through analysis of the ways parents intermediate between domestic spaces and networked publics.

We propose the concept of intermediation, which builds on insights from critical interface studies as well as cultural industries literature to help account for these expanded aspects of digital parenting. Here, parents are not simply moderating children’s media use within the home, but instead operating as an intermediary in contributing to online representations and discourses of children’s digital culture. This intermediary role of parents engages with ideological tensions in locating notions of “naturalness:” the iPad’s gestural interface or the child’s digital dexterity.     

Examining the Impact of Social Identification with Music on Music Streaming Behavior

According to the Nielsen Music 360 Research Report, 67% of all music consumers in the United States used digital music streaming services to listen, discover, and share music online in 2014 (The Nielsen Company, 2014). As such, communications scholars and music industry professionals are beginning to recognize the importance of understanding the factors that influence digital music listener behavior. Therefore, this study proposes an expanded theory of planned behavior model (TPB) by incorporating social identification into the original TPB model framework in an effort to gain a better understanding of people’s intentions to use digital music streaming services as well as the amount of time spent listening to them.

Results suggest that both the original TPB and expanded TPB models can be successfully applied within the context of digital music streaming service use. Specifically, attitudes emerged as positive contributors to intention to use digital music streaming services, while social identification and behavioral intention emerged as positive contributors to streaming behavior. Both models also explained a larger percentage of intention to use digital music streaming services as compared to streaming behavior operationalized as total time spent listening. Thus, this study implies the practical importance of understanding the differences between what drives listener intentions as compared to what drives the actual amount of time listeners spend using digital music streaming services.     

A rural virtual health sciences library project: research findings with implications for next generation library services

PURPOSE: The Shared Hospital Electronic Library of Southern Indiana (SHELSI) research project was designed to determine whether access to a virtual health sciences library and training in its use would support medical decision making in rural southern Indiana and achieve the same level of impact seen by targeted information services provided by health sciences librarians in urban hospitals. METHODS: Based on the results of a needs assessment, a virtual medical library was created; various levels of training were provided. Virtual library users were asked to complete a Likert-type survey, which included questions on intent of use and impact of use. At the conclusion of the project period, structured interviews were conducted. RESULTS: Impact of the virtual health sciences library showed a strong correlation with the impact of information provided by health sciences librarians. Both interventions resulted in avoidance of adverse health events. Data collected from the structured interviews confirmed the perceived value of the virtual library. CONCLUSION: While librarians continue to hold a strong position in supporting information access for health care providers, their roles in the information age must begin to move away from providing information toward selecting and organizing knowledge resources and instruction in their use.