You are currently browsing the monthly archive for August, 2006.
An intersting item from Free Government Information. It seems that 56 000 maps from USDG were held for ransom. Jared Benedict purchased the public domain maps from the USDG for $1600 and threatened to keep them unless he could recoup the cost. Once the cost was recouped, he offered to make the maps freely available to all via Internet Archive. Needless to sat, the money was raised, in less than a day! A very interesting and proactive way of creating access and preserving these maps and offers possiblities for the future, at least in the US.
More free info is being offered by Google. Now you can print off books from the public domain in print-ready format.
At least, that’s what it feels like when I start to try to walk or sit in Second Life. My adventures in this virtual world continue. I finally left the island to see what else the world has to offer. I’ve been nervous to leave the comfort of an area I understand.
I’ve signed up to provide some virtual reference on the island. The meetings before the service starts (Sept. 6) have been very interesting. A whole new host of issues to consider in a virtual world, along with the standards (ie. privacy, service standards, etc). I’m not sure I’m sold on the idea that a library has to have a place in a world like this. However, this will likely change, for the good or bad, as I continue to read up on gaming and education and become more proficient in Second Life.
Although it seems to be taking up a lot of my time (so much to learn!), I will continue to write about other issues.
Well, I’m starting my adventure in the Second Life Library 2.0! I’ve created my avatar but she’s still pretty basic. I’m still a pretty wobbly walker and I just learned to sit. I’m hoping to do some virtual reference and maybe even some Canadian gov pubs collection development in the SL Library. I’ll keep you posted. If you’re in the Second Life Library, look for me, I’m Danu Dahlstom
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