NSU Law and Technology Library

From CyberOne Wiki

University of Southern California’s IML Island

The Nova Southeastern University (NSU) has built a virtual law and technology library in Second Life.

Students from NSU and patrons from the Second Life communities can log in to Second Life and visit the library on the island of Cybrary City II. Unlike the typical library, or a virtual library, this one is designed on a tropical island with Balianese huts housing library resources. The virtual library is currently strutured to allow visitors to access virtual computer terminals that connect users to legal resources online. A visitor may access a sample of the Nova Southeastern University (NSU) law book collection and the library catalogue by touching objects. Presently most objects, whether it be NSU's library catalogues or public databases, are links that are redirected outside of Second Life.

The second floor of the virtual library contains notecards and posters that provide visitors with information or how-to guides on legal research.
The conversation below took place with one of the university librarians who wished to remain anonymous:

• Stirling Heberle – What was the motivation behind a virtual library for NSU?
• Librarian – I think, initially we thought that student’s would benefit world wide by having access to
• Stirling Heberle - Do you have many students who use the second life resource?
• Librarian - It comes and goes, at the moment we have a lot of civilians from outside the university
• Stirling Heberle - What are the other benefits of a virtual library for a Law School?
• Librarian - Well the SL library’s presence gives us a new technology tool for education

After visting the NSU library, one should also explore the island of Cybrary City and visit the Kansas State Library. Its a must see with a good number of interactive objects.