Second Life Publishing Museum

by Pollywog Gardenvale

Second Life is full of book lovers, but there is one category that stands apart from the rest. Take this simple quiz to see if you qualify:

• Have you ever judged a book by its cover?
• Do you know what to do when someone asks for PMS?
• Can you tell a web press from a press release on the web?
• Do you know your verso from your recto?
• Have you ever longed to own a shrinkwrap machine?

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, then chances are that you either are now or were in a past life— a bookmaker. Not the kind of bookie that that gets thrown in jail, but the kind who loves to make books.

Ute Hicks created the Second Life Publishing Museum to celebrate publishing in Second Life as part of the Second Life 4th Birthday bash. Although the publications on exhibit covered a wide range of topics, each had one thing in common: Each was designed in the tradition of print—rather than electronic—publications. We were honored to learn that The Seventh Sun was the only newspaper included in the exhibit.

Ute Hicks also served as media coordinator for SL4B event. She is former editor in chief of SL Business Magazine. (The magazine specialized in branding strategies for Second Life businesses, but is no longer in publication.) In an alternate existence, she may be better known as Marvel Ousley of SLNN. However, in real life, her publishing roots go back to her days at Internet World Magazine.

Many of the books on exhibit were produced with the THiNC! printing press by Toneless Tomba. It’s a nifty gadget that cranks out duplicate copies of virtual books that are ready for distribution.

As a temporary exhibit, the Second Life Publishing Museum went "poof" along with rest of the birthday party. It’s undoubtedly packed away safe and sound somewhere in Ute’s inventory. I hope she’ll find another home for it soon!

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