Reality Reflected
by Lori Harris
This work depicts the study of Youthful Postures in YA Library Spaces on which I am a research assistant. The part of study I’ve been more specifically working on is the virtual replication aspects. Therefore, my hope is to attempt an Alice in Wonderland: Through the Looking Glass motif to illustrate this duality of real and imaginary.
The real “Alice” is shown moving from the sharpness of the real world space into the virtual side of the mirror — done in softer, brushed tones to demonstrate the distinct environs of the replicated spaces and people. Second Life, “Alice’s” clothing has a more fashionable Goth color palette and motif of black, white, and pink with skulls. Meanwhile, youths both real and virtual, surround the Alice figures, reading in various poses most comfortable for them, mixing in with the 3D and real library backgrounds.
The purpose of the overall study was to complete a series of YA library spaces highlighting the topics of how libraries can incorporate youth participation in space design, give alternatives in youth seating choices, and offer youth narratives on what is most important to them about YA designated library spaces. The Second Life aspect provides exciting opportunities to improve the spatial design and service process at the creation stage created via new 3D content construction methods, where they are used to represent real-world building interiors in immersive simulations so that a reviewer, via an avatar, is able to tour the space from any location.
Please Enjoy!
Lori Harris is about to embark on her last year in the MLIS program where she’s also a research assistant to Dr. Jeremy Kemp working on an IMLS study headed by Dr. Anthony Bernier on the design of YA libraries to accommodate young adults. She helps with the virtual component of the study, which focuses on re-creating young adult library spaces in Second Life. She gave a poster session presentation of this study in the Fifth Annual VCARA Conference in May 2014.