Libraries are Alive and Thriving in Second Life

I have always appreciated the fact that there are libraries in  Second Life, this seems to be a good fit for libraries, patrons and lovers of books.  Oh sure we can all access the same resource they do directly from the web without going in to Second Life, however the immersive environment in Second Live provides for a “realistic” library experience.  
This photo was taken at the Cybrary in Second Life as you can see here they provide links to Guttenberg books for their patrons.  

The bookcase below holds Cook Books from the Caledon Library:

Cybrary has been around for a while, in Second Life terms, based upon this article on the Second Life based library.
A list of libraries from the Cybrary City 1 and 2 in Second Life:

• Bibliotheek Amsterdam OBA (Amsterdam, Netherlands)

• Glenview Public Library  (Illinois, USA)

• Olathe Public Library (Kansas, USA)

• Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library

Totally Virtual Public Libraries with sites in Second Life

• Alexandrian Free Library Consortium

• Bibliotheque Francophone

• CALEDON LIBRARIES

• Genesis City Public Library

• The Lbrary @ Driftwood Beach

• Library @ Insight Virtual College

• R.F. Burton Memorial Library

• Sustainable Living Library

• San Jose State University maintains a Wiki of library sites.

Belos is an example of exhibits held at the Caledon Library.    From the Steampunk Wiki you will learn that the Caledon Libraries are managed by JJ Drinkwater.  These libraries are the hub of information, Victorian culture and information in Second Life.   As stated in the wiki, “The collecting policies of the Caledon Library have two main foci: the 19th century and Caledon's defining literary genres, Steampunk and Alternate History.”      As you can see from their calendar, the library and the surrounding area of Caledon, maintains a very active events list. Check out the blog for regular updates from JJ Drinkwater.

The virtual learning library is more of a specialized library focused on the learning needs for residents of Second Life.  This library provides resources on building, scripting to skills just as navigating the Second Life environment.

A second life sculpt map:

Information for new residents to Second Life:

Steel City
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife//116/121/40

State of Kansas Library  This library site provides links to state, regional and local websites of interest.
http://skyways.lib.ks.us/orgs/kcfb/


The Community  for Virtual Libary’ website:
http://infoisland.org/calendar/
McGill University Library also provides links to it’s web pages of  specialized libraries:

One unique feature of the McGill LIbrary is teleporting to their virtual university which makes it seem as if your avatar is actually in the library:

Libraries are alive and thriving in Second LIfe

How to choose an accredited online school

How to Choose an Accredited Online School

Online education has grown by leaps and bounds over the past decade or so. Gone are the days when people looked at this form of learning with disdain; today, it’s safe to say that these courses have gained in both popularity and respectability. They offer many advantages – they help you save on tuition, commuting and boarding costs, they allow you to learn and earn simultaneously so you don’t have to quit your job, and they make you dedicated learners and good managers of time because you must schedule your day properly if you want to taste success.

Online education provides you with the opportunity to further your education and boost your academic credentials no matter where you are and how old you are. However, all your efforts are bound to go down the drain if you don’t take care to ensure that the school you choose is accredited by the proper agency. When it’s online, it’s always wise to check the reputation of the school before you sign up. Here’s what you need to do to make sure that you choose an accredited online school to earn your degree:

Decide what you want to study – choose your major first before you choose your college. If you’re not too particular about your degree, then opt for one from the best online college.

Check out the options available for the degree of your choice; make a list of all the colleges that offer them.

Run a search of these names and pick out the top ten.

Choose the best option from this list based on convenience (if you need to attend practical sessions, it’s best to choose a college close to where you live so you don’t mess up your schedule) and cost (check to see if you can afford tuition and other costs).

Check to see if your choice is accredited by the right agency, one that is recognized by the US Department of Education. The best known and widely accepted accrediting agencies are the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU), Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSCHE), Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA) and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).

If none of the above are listed as the accrediting agency, check with the Department of Education to see if they approve of the agency that has approved of the online school.

Check to see if the school is capable of issuing federally funded financial aid – if so, it is accredited by a credible agency.

And finally, before you choose to study online, check if the credits you’ll earn are transferable and accepted by other schools or employers. If the world at large (or your small world in particular) does not accept your credit, your efforts are in vain and your money is wasted.


By-line:
This guest post is contributed by Carrie Oakley, who writes on the topic of online college . Carrie welcomes your comments at her email id: carrie.oakley1983(AT)gmail(DOT)com.