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Developer Focus

Cybraries: More than Just an Online Library

Talis is a respected provider of library management systems for public and academic libraries in the UK and Ireland. Talis has long been known for meeting the changing needs of libraries. Now they've ventured into Second Life. "We're moving beyond the library sector while taking our heritage and capabilities with us," says Dr. Paul Miller, Senior Manager and Technology Evangelist at Talis, who is known in-world as TalisPaul Fossil.

Talis' foray in-world was inspired by global competition. "During the summer [of 2006], we ran Mashing up the Library," Paul explains. "We asked anyone who was doing anything interesting to enter, and the Second Life Library was one of the entries. It ended up winning second prize!"

The group has partnered with Alliance Library System to sponsor Cybrary City, in collaboration with the Info Island library project.

Not Your Father's Library

The group is working to enable in-world library locations which mimic real world libraries where you can browse books and then link though to the real world. Cybrary City also takes advantage of the unique properties of Second Life to make history come alive. Henry the Eighth or Queen Elizabeth, for example, might turn up in the library to talk to you.

In addition to providing innovative library content to Second Life Residents, Cybrary City offers services for librarians, including: a librarians' library, training facilities suitable for teaching, and other in-world meet-ups. It also offers real life libraries a space of their own in Second Life where they can share information.

Embrace the Possibilities

"At Talis, we keep an open mind in Second Life. We are exploring. We see what we come across and how we can facilitate what other people want. We haven't been disappointed by anything. One challenge I've found is that, coming from the U.K., Second Life is alive at the very end of my day."

Paul continues, "We're experimenting with using automated tools, so people can reach us when we're not there. But it would be better to meet them on their terms and really engage in a conversation. I also like to wander around the new island because it's the chance conversations you have when people are wandering around. They'll say: 'My library is boring; I didn't know it could do something like this.' "

Paul's Advice to Others: "Put a Toe in the Water"

Paul is enthusiastic about encouraging others to check out Second Life: "Give it a go. Take a chance. It's not painful to get started. Have a look around. See the kinds of things that businesses like yours are already doing. Talk to a lot of people who have been there longer than you and see how they've been getting on."

"Second Life is amazing. You see criticism of its graphics in the media. But it's almost irrelevant. If we wait until the graphics are perfect before we have a community, we're missing an opportunity. It's a really compelling experiment to help us understand how we engage with others in a virtual environment. It's the conversations people are having, the engagements they're making. When you get to Second Life 3.0, the graphics will have improved. But more importantly, we'll have learned so much about how we interact and engage with others."