Introduction to Virtual Worlds Blog

This site exists for those interested in virtual social worlds. I am a librarian and my primary interest is in using this technology for a library setting. I manage a virtual world called VBI (Virtual Bibliographic Instruction). It has existed since 1999 and serves the community at Eastern University, St. Davids, PA.

One question that I am asked is “Why do this?”

My first answer is that its fun. Virtual worlds have been around a long time. Most of today’s patrons have been exposed to the idea of a virtual reality through video gaming systems or through MMORPGs (Massively, Multi-player, On-line, Roll Playing Games).

The second thing I do is tell people to look at the numbers. The World of Warcraft, a pay for use MMORPG claims to have over 7 million users. The free to use Korean game, Maple Story, claims over 43 million users worldwide. The social world Second Life claims over 1.9 million residents. As I am writing there are over 14,000 people logged on and socializing in Second Life.

I could go on with these large numbers.

The point is we librarians provide a service. We should provide that service where we find our patrons. Our patrons are spending more and more time on the Internet. The numbers indicate that they are spending more and more time in virtual reality.

Most of the students I meet, at the least, know about Second Life, Maple Story or World of Warcraft. Many have played online or socialized in a virtual social world.

We librarians need to know where are patrons are. We need to know the technologies that they use, if we are to remain relevant.

Virtual worlds are but one technology that today’s patrons are using. It is one in which I am deeply involved. I hope together we can investigate using this technology and learn more about our profession and our patrons.

Check out the VBI Project at url http://eastern.edu/library/www/services/chat/vbiproject.shtml . Come and visit us. Your constructive comments will be appreciated.