AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION (ALA) IN SECOND LIFE (SL)

Abstract

The American Library Association (ALA) is inserted in the 3D virtual reality environment in the ALA Island in Second Life (SL). The purpose of this study was to analyze the virtual care to librarians in SL, to identify ALA products and services offers in SL and infrastructure analyze. The document analysis method was used could provide data useful about ALA Island for the exploitation of the island's resources and was used too a questionnaire given to an ALA librarian. The results show that the performance of ALA in SL has as main purpose projects, events dissemination and virtual support for libraries in their professional lives. The ALA has embedded Web 2.0 apps, in addition to SL, like blogs, wikis, social networks, among others. ALA’s trajectory was examined, as well as librarians assistance. The librarians care in SL is performed by robots and interactive tools, like notecards and informative hyperlinks. The ALA Island makes services and products available to help librarians, like support services to offices, committees and institutions, in addition, offers website services and products, and plus ALA Wahington office and your representatives. The resources of the ALA and SL as well as the integration of librarians in Virtual Reality (VR) will need studies more that shall help and to bring this opportunity to professionals.