Monday, October 23, 2017

The Metaverse is made up of countless virtual worlds and platforms hosting robust library and education communities, many of which are unaware that others exist. In addition, information professionals and educators uninvolved with virtual worlds are unaware of high-quality Metaverse resources. Understanding the potential for learning in these and emerging virtual spaces and the benefits for sharing resources (including communities available for users to join) is essential to libraries and educators of the future. Metaverse Libraries was formed in 2016, championed by the 501(c)(3) nonprofit Community Virtual Library, and is a combined effort among educators and information professionals that strives to connect high-quality, education-oriented virtual communities as resources and to embed information literacy (or metaliteracy) in immersive learning. Get an introduction to three active virtual library communities across the Metaverse (Community Virtual Library in Kitely and Second Life, Community Library in InWorldz, and Virtual Center for Archives and Records Administration in Second Life), hear how Metaverse Libraries is breaking Metaverse boundaries to connect these and other educational communities, and learn about the group’s online Virtual World Communities Database, an initiative to raise awareness of and increase access to high-quality educational virtual world resources.