Final Media Project

Technology: Second Life Virtual World

Context: Public Libraries
Audience: Reference Users

I am interested in this topic because I am fascinated by the idea of a library Reference Department utilizing Second Life, a virtual world, to assist patrons with their reference needs. As we digitally progress further and further into Library 2.0, the use of chat, text messing, even Twitter and Facebook seem so common place now on the Reference Desk. But Second Life strikes me as a totally unique look at reference services, not only in how information is disseminated but in who the target audience is. That’s what I want to look at: who the audience is or would be, and whether or not dispensing reference services via an avatar is something more libraries, especially Public Libraries, should be embracing in today’s Library 2.0.