Chapter 2: Terminology, Contexts, and Distinctions: <i>Virtual Worlds</i>
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5860/ltr.44n7Abstract
Over the past several years, virtual worlds have become increasingly popular. Virtual worlds are no longer sources of amusement or recreation-they are now fully functional communication and networking tools. If past technological revolutions are any indication of what may happen in the future, virtual worlds will continue to expand into our collective lives and add interesting new features and experiential opportunities. This report discusses how the library profession is approaching virtual worlds, and is designed for library professionals who are considering whether or not to establish a virtual world presence. In addition to giving readers a detailed look at the current state of virtual world librarianship, this report also provides a foundation for virtual world knowledge. It defines commonly used terms, delineates common problems and concerns about virtual world and explores the different approaches to and applications of virtual worlds for twenty-first century librarians.
References
Gartner Research, “Gartner Says 80 Percent of Active Internet Users Will Have A ‘Second Life’ in the Virtual World by the End of 2011,” April 24, 2007, Gartner Web site, www.gartner.com/it/page.jsp?id=503861nGartner Research, “Gartner Says 90 Per Cent of Corporate Virtual World Projects Fail Within 18 Months,” May 15, 2008, Gartner Web site, www.gartner.com/it/page.jsp?id=670507nIbid.nJoe Sanchez, “Second Life and Beyond: Librarianship in Virtual Worlds” (Virtual Communities and Libraries Member Interest Group presentation, 2008 ALA Annual Conference, Anaheim, CA, June 28, 2008).nAssociation of Virtual Worlds,
The Blue Book: A Consumer Guide to Virtual Worlds
, 3rd ed.(Ponte Vedra Beach, FL: Association of Virtual Worlds, July 2008), available online in PDF format at httpwww.associationofvirtualworlds.com/publishing_division.phpnSanchez, “Second Life and Beyond.”n
