Sustaining learning for LIS through use of a virtual world

The virtual world (VW) online education movement is well underway, and librarians have become major participants by developing services and resources for this novel information ground. In this paper we identify ways in which the VW Second Life (SL) is being used by librarians, and describe our teaching of LIS students in SL, and the value of SL for sustainable Continuing Professional Development (CPD). The VW has become the new LIS laboratory for innovation, outreach, career development, research and curriculum development, offering sustainable learning opportunities by saving space, time, funds, and resource consumption, and by increasing international and interdisciplinary interaction among programs, educators, librarians and students. LIS education can develop sustainable education practices by optimizing interaction with the VW library and educator and discipline-based communities active in SL, thereby providing a vibrant VW educational environment for students, educators and researchers. The benefits to students include, unprecedented access to geo-distant tutors, professionals and experts in every field; flexible meeting times; experiencing content in unique forms; and acquiring VW information literacy.