Library of Congress Exhibit Now Open In Second Life Library 2.0

  The Library 2.0  has been working with the Library of Congress on a Declaration of Independence display that was officially announced and which opened yesterday on Info Island in Second Life.  The exhibit includes dioramas, streamed audio, text in the form of larger-than-life documents and SL notecards, information kiosks and even period furniture.  My favorite is the 12-part timeline, “America During the Age of Revolution.” 

The materials for the Second Life Library 2.0 display are on loan from the American Memory division of the Library of Congress, and highlight the Declaration of Independence.  It is a nicely executed build which links to and complements the Library of Congress’ American Memory website.  It appears that over the next few months Shadow Fugazi of Library 2.0 may be coordinating other LOC exhibits in the space.

This is worth a visit to see how the library is interfacing visitors to printed material.  SL is not particularly “print friendly,”  but the exhibit includes lots of audio alternatives. I listened to a reading of the Declaration of Independence while I walked around and looked at other aspects of the exhibit.   

Audio, in fact, is an extremely effective way to deliver content in SL.  While it is an immersive and visual environment, audio shouldn’t be limited to ambient sounds or background music.  Overall, audio is often overlooked as a content delivery method in our communications on the web (unless you are thinking podcasts), but in SL it is particularly attractive because SL is normally a fairly silent experience – except for the ole’ click of the virtual keyboard as we chat.  For example, during the Artists on the Green event at the New Media Consortium Campus a couple of weeks ago, they streamed the audio of a panel discussion so visitors could listen to the panel while browsing through the artwork throughout the island.

The Library of  Congress exhibit will be on display at Library 2.0 through the end of September.  It is located in Parvenu Towers on Info Island at:  Info Island 214/17/39.

Comments

[Lori Bell]

Thanks for your nice comments. I have passed them on to Shadow. She did a great job and thank you for sharing the information.

[Pathfinder Linden]

Very cool, and good points on the creative uses of audio in SL.

[Pathfinder Linden]

I just visited the exhibit. Some photos here: http://flickr.com/photos/pathfinderlinden/sets/72157594255034429/

[Linda]

Pathfinder, thanks for the link to the great photos! I agree, there is something very special about the exhibit.

Lori, Shadow did do a great job and I really hope everyone who reads this stops by and absorbs the experience.