UPDATED: The Community Virtual Library Celebrates Its 15th Anniversary in Second Life Today with the Grand Opening of Their New Library Building!

The Community Virtual Library in Second Life is throwing a party to celebrate its fifteenth anniversary, and as part of the celebration, they are unveiling a new library building!

On their blog I found the following announcement:

Community Virtual Library is celebrating 15 years in the virtual world of Second Life, sharing resources as a “real library in a virtual world”. Librarians are exploring virtual environments both on desktop and in VR headset worlds as we expand library services beyond our physical walls. Come join us to share our memories of the past and exciting plans for the future.

WHEN:  SUN April 18th Noon-2pm Pacific Time.

I paid an early morning visit to take the following photographs to share with you. Located just outside the main entrance is a “walk of fame” with the names of those library workers who played an noteworthy role in the provision of library service in Second Life over the past 15 years:

Here are a few more shots of the interior of the library:

Clicking on any of the books brings up a menu to take you to the electronic full-text of that book (usually served via Project Gutenberg or OpenLibrary.org):

An outside stairway takes you up to the second floor of the library, with a lovely patio and a spacious reading room:

Here’s the SLURL which will take you to the new library! The celebration runs from noon to 2:00 p.m. Second Life Time/Pacific Time. Hope to see you there!

UPDATE 2:23 p.m.: Here are a few more pictures of Valibrarian Gregg leading a tour group through the new library and its surrounding gardens (please click on each thumbnail for a larger version). I’m the tall one in the green suit!