Information Dynamics in Virtual Worlds
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Information Dynamics in Virtual Worlds

Gaming and Beyond

1st Edition - June 15, 2011
  • Author: Woody Evans
  • Paperback ISBN: 9781843346418
  • eBook ISBN: 9781780632742

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Description

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.

Key Features

  • 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

Readership

Practitioners and students in Library and Information Science

Table of Contents

  • 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

Product details

  • No. of pages: 216
  • Language: English
  • Copyright: © Chandos Publishing 2011
  • Published: June 15, 2011
  • Imprint: Chandos Publishing
  • Paperback ISBN: 9781843346418
  • eBook ISBN: 9781780632742

About the Author

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