In terms of exploring the status of Second Life (SL) usage in libraries, it would be useful to not only look at how and why the virtual world is being used but also how SL compares to successfully implemented innovations of the past. Comparing and contrasting the characteristics of previously accepted innovations with those of SL will help libraries and librarians to decide the level of attention they devote to the new innovation. In this article, the author considers Second Life in terms of Everett Rogers' "Diffusion of Innovations" theory, which offers insight into whether this technology is actually viable in a library setting. Diffusion of innovation studies look at the somewhat predictable ways in which accepted innovations find their way into mainstream use. According to Rogers (2003, p. 15), the five characteristics of an innovation are relative advantage, compatibility, complexity, trialability, and observability. By looking at innovations that have taken hold in the library community and comparing them to SL, librarians may gain a better understanding of SL's status in their libraries. Regardless of model, framing one's discussion of SL in terms of diffusion of innovation theory may help librarians understand the SL successes and failures in libraries.