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Information Dynamics in Virtual Worlds
Gaming and Beyond
1st Edition - June 15, 2011
Author: Woody Evans
Paperback ISBN:
9 7 8 - 1 - 8 4 3 3 4 - 6 4 1 - 8
eBook ISBN:
9 7 8 - 1 - 7 8 0 6 3 - 2 7 4 - 2
Presents a broad examination of the nature of virtual worlds and the potential they provide in managing and expressing information practices through that medium, grounding… Read more
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Presents a broad examination of the nature of virtual worlds and the potential they provide in managing and expressing information practices through that medium, grounding information professionals and students of new media in the fundamental elements of virtual worlds and online gaming. The book details the practical issues in finding and using information in virtual environments and presents a general theory of librarianship as it relates to virtual gaming worlds. It is encompassed by a set of best practice methods that libraries can effectively execute in their own environments, meeting the needs of this new generation of library user, and explores ways in which information literacy can be approached in virtual worlds. Final chapters examine how conventional information evaluation skills work falls short in virtual worlds online.
- Maps out areas of good practice and technique for information professionals and librarians serving in virtual communities
- Provides a clear foundation with appropriate theory for understanding information in virtual worlds
- Treats virtual worlds as ‘real environments’ and observes the behaviour of actors within them
Practitioners and students in Library and Information Science
Dedication
Acknowledgements
About the Author
Introduction
Part I: Virtual Ontologies
Chapter 1: Mapping virtual worlds
Abstract
Theory v. reality
Our theoretical moorings
Hyperreality
Globalization
Gender and queering
Actor-Network Theory
Intertextuality
Transhumanism
Spaces and how to move in them
Running in virtual spacetime
Money moves worlds
Some definitions
Chapter 2: Types of virtual worlds
Abstract
Games
Gametypes
Perspective, aesthetics, clickiness
Non-games
Chapter 3: N00bz inworld
Abstract
Gendered initiation
Stories and tasks
Floating World, Active World: Islands in the Net
Back to initiation
Help from the man
Symbols of passage
Chapter 4: Inworld info desks: information initiation
Abstract:
Official Stuff
The unofficial stuff
Wikis and forums
Fan pages, Blog posts, Newsgroups
Further discussion
Chapter 5: Info service inworld: how to practice info services in virtual worlds
Abstract:
Let’s talk about librarians first
Inworld library attributes
Real skills for real patrons?
Who is the community? Who are the patrons?
Where to lurk
Viral you
Linden, Turing, and Kempelen’s Turk
Part II: Time Inworld
Introduction
Chapter 6: Hungry Ghosts in Second Life
Abstract:
Deep and dark
Official signage
Academically speaking
No action
Public, as in Tammanial Hall
I’m a Mac. And I’m a PC
Real Life again
Chapter 7: After virtual worlds
Abstract:
Thumbing into new turf
Chapter 8: Conclusions
Appendix I: SL librarianship
Appendix II: TOS
Bibliography
Index
- No. of pages: 216
- Language: English
- Published: June 15, 2011
- Imprint: Chandos Publishing
- Paperback ISBN: 9781843346418
- eBook ISBN: 9781780632742
WE
Woody Evans
Woody Evans is a librarian at Zayed University, United Arab Emirates. As a librarian and private researcher, he has worked for military, corporate, and academic organizations. He has written for American Libraries, Library Journal, Searcher, ONLINE, Information Today, and others. His current research interests include the cultural aspects of information seeking and evaluation. Contact him through woodyevans.com.
Affiliations and expertise
Zayed University, United Arab Emirates