Getting started in Second Life

The SLA in Virtual Worlds Advisory Council has organized workshops in Second Life to help you learn about the environment. Eventually, we hope to provide monthly speakers and tours, as well as SLA in SL Mentors that you can contact anytime. We currently manage the Library Buzz session in Second Life in partnership with the Alliance Virtual Library (AVL).

SLA has a group in Second Life called "Special Libraries Assoc. in SL" which is open to anyone.  You can search in Second Life to find the group, then join it.  Why join?  The biggest benefit is that we can easily send notices to you of upcoming SLA events in Second Life, including formal and informal training events, socials, and more.  We'll also use the group to announce opportunities to help us introduce Second Life to more SLA members.

Jump to:

What is Second Life?

• Second Life is a 3-D virtual world created by its Residents. Since opening to the public in 2003, it has grown explosively and today is inhabited by millions of Residents from around the globe.
• Second Life is a virtual world contained on the Second Life Grid provided by Linden Labs.
• The virtual world is completely created by the residents with Linden Labs providing the platform and infrastructure of the environment.
• Second Life Wiki

Step 1 - Getting your avatar

Video tutorials

Here is a good video on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RBa6f9rWVo (turn up the volume). It's part 1 of a much larger collection, also linked below.
note: the instructions in the videos don't include the step of being able to select your initial community.

Text instructions

There are several ways to get an avatar. You will get the same type of account and avatar regardless of the method and you are still bound by the same Terms of Service agreement of Linden Labs. Regardless of which method you use to join, your avatar you can travel throughout the entire Second Life grid as access rules allow. Most people only need one avatar. If you choose to make more than one, you must adhere to LL policy regarding alternate accounts (alts) (insert link).

1) The traditional method is from the main website http://secondlife.com/

• • This avatar will land in the Linden Lab's orientation and help islands and new residents are helped by resident Volunteer Mentors who are trained and endorsed by Linden Labs and approved mentor trainers. 

2) Members of the SL community also provide wonderful orientation islands for various interests groups and languages. You can join via their community sites and you will land in one of their islands. Go to http://secondlife.com/join

• • Select the community in which you would like to begin. A good one for business professionals is the Genius region of Orientation Station. Find Orientation Station in the list of communities (they are re-ordered every time you go to the join page, so look for it), and click on it.
  • Click on Join now

3) Teen grid (insert link)
**You must be 18 years or older to inhabit the main grid. Under 18 should join the teen grid. Adults over 18 are allowed on the teen grid with special approval.

For all methods:

• Enter the first name you have chosen for your avatar and select your last name from the drop-down list. This name cannot be changed unless you make a new avatar. Non-transferable inventory cannot be transferred. Pick a name you can live with for the life of your avatar.
  • If the name you have chosen is already taken, you will be prompted to choose another name. Numbers and case changes are acceptable.
• Enter your real e-mail address and your real birthdate.

Step 2 - Downloading the client software

Video tutorials

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fnwxqZ7BpSI

Text instructions

First of all, you'll need to load the Second Life client on your computer.

• System requirements
• Download Second Life

Step 3 - Logging into Second Life

When you first log into Second Life you will be in the area you chose in step 1. If it is the Genius area of Orientation Station, you will see tutorials that will help you get up to speed in Second Life. Take your time and go through them.

• Allow about an hour to go through Orientation island and become familiar with the map and teleporting and basic avatar and building. 
• This will be your default home location until you change it.
• Second Life Mentors are volunteer residents of the world who are eager to help you with any questions or computer issues. Look for the tag above their head.
• If you want more tutorials teleport to Help Island from the center of Orientation island. Only volunteers and newbie avitars are allowed on these islands.
• If you teleport out, you can return to Help Island Public and Orientation Island Public which are identical to the newbie islands, but have many more people of all levels.

About the world, a few tips

Understand the Terms of Service (TOS) and Community standards. Send an abuse report (from top menu) if you witness unruly or illegal behavior. Disturbing the peace is not allowed. Remember that Second Life is an international community reflecting every lifestyle.

• Read the Second Life blog every day. Important policies and news are announced. 
• Regions are categorized as Mature or PG. Because the grid is "Web 3D" you may wander into places you don't feel comfortable in. Just leave. Everyone in the world must abide by TOS and community standards.
• !! Save landmarks through your travels so you can go back there !! (menu>world>create landmark here)
• There are a number of tutorials and services throughout the world of Second Life and most of them are free and accept donations. SLA inSL will provide these landmarks as well as provide additional tutoring and mentorship resources to you. (scroll to the bottom of this page)
• Keep in mind that advanced skills are fine arts and can take weeks or years to master, so do not get frustrated.
• Need money? Linden dollars (L$) can be earned or purchased (newbies have limits). Earning them may take a while. However, there is alot of content available for free, just do a search for freebees. "Banks" "stock exchanges" and "casinos" are all considered "illegal" on the grid. There are no laws protecting you and your money, should you choose to give it out and expect a return.
• Much of the created content you see including architecture, fashion, hair and skin, was created by talented and experienced residents who sell it in SL stores or on exchange websites such as SLexchange. Inspect the object you are interested in to find who created it and go to their profile, they may have a store listed. All grid content and creations are copywritten and are legally protected by Linden Lab and internet community policies (insert link).

Step 4 - Visit the SLA in SL area and set your home location

• Go to the SLA area in SL via the SLurl in your web browser or
  • copy the SLurl link
  • click on "Communicate" in the lower left of your SL screen
  • paste the link into the chat box and press enter
  • click on the link in your chat history
  • click on the teleport button in the pop-up window
  • voila!
• When you are there, go to World (upper left) and choose Set Home Location Here
• This means that you can quickly get back to the SLA area from anywhere you are (World > Teleport Home)
• Also, go to Preferences > General and make sure your setting is set to always log into your Home location when you log into Second Life. This means when you log into Second Life, you will always start at a safe place, the SLA area.

Other places to visit in SL (and their web counterparts)

• NMC Resource Center SLurl | www
• ASTD SLurl | www

• SLA in SL will be creating workshops for members as well to help you get up to speed with Second Life - those days/times will be announced soon.

Step 5 - Join the SLA Group in Second Life

•  Please join the SLA Group in Second Life to receive communications about SLA events and stay connected to the SLA members in Second Life
• To join the group:
  • Click on Search
  • Click on Groups
  • Search for Special Libraries Assoc. in SL
  • Click Join

Basic commands and Useful tutorials

There's a lot to learn, and a lot of help learning

We'll put links to help resources here - there are a lot of good ones, both in-world (in SL) and in RL (Real Life), so we don't need to recreate this content

New Citizens Incorporated sites - Useful tutorials, classes, central meeting areas and in world literature kiosks
SLurl at Ambat

The Teacher Training Videos web site has great, detailed, videos on the basics of Second Life

• Second Life Level 1
• Second Life Level 2