[29.06.2007 first posted on silicon republic]
University College Dublin (UCD) recently opened the doors of its sixth library, which exists only in cyberspace on Second Life, a popular virtual world on the internet where citizens buy property, make friends and trade in their own unique currency.

This is one of 40 odd libraries that are located on Second Life’s Cybrary City Islands, which plays host to the virtual version of existing public and university libraries. Already prominent US universities Berkeley, Stanford and Harvard have their own Second Life presence. “We’ve had instant messaging and blogs for quite some time now so we thought that this virtual world might offer another useful compliment to the provision of traditional library services,” says Cathal McCauley, project leader for UCD’s Second Life Library. The virtual library is modeled on the James Joyce Library, UCD’s main library on the Belfield campus. Although it won’t be quite the same as visiting the actual campus library, visitors can use a virtual PC, watch Sky News, pour over various e-books and watch library presentations. The aim is to eventually have a regular staff presence in the virtual library, helping visitors to avail of UCD library services. The possibilities offered by the Second Life library include the option for lecturers to deliver notes and podcasts in a more interactive way to their students. By Marie Boran