Info Island this week
American Library Association to celebrate Banned Books Week in Second Life
The American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) is pleased to announce Banned Books Week activities for librarians and the general public in virtual worlds Second Life, Teen Second Life and on social networking sites MySpace and Facebook. ALA is working with other library partners to provide an interactive experience centered on Banned Books Week, September 29-October 6, 2007, to help librarians and others to feel comfortable in social networking spaces and to reach out to new audiences. Partners include Alliance Library System, Alliance Second Life Library, TAP Information Services and the new ALA membership group Virtual Communities and Libraries.
“Since 1982, Banned Books Week has been an opportunity for Americans to learn more about how censorship still occurs, explore a wide range of ideas and authors and celebrate our freedom to read,” said OIF Director Judith Krug. “Online communities present an ideal opportunity to reach out to new audiences and expand our programming.”
“We are thrilled to work with ALA on this exciting project,” stated Kitty Pope, executive director of the Alliance Library System. “It is important to get the word out about censorship and the impact banning books has on democracy and access to information.”
Second Life/Teen Second Life:
To tie in with this year’s theme of “Aye, mateys…celebrate your freedom t’ read!,” ALA has created a “Pirate Paradise” in Second Life (SL), a 3D virtual world complete with pirate ship and a wharf with interactive displays on banned books. ALA Banned Books Week graphics will be used to create virtual posters, displays and T-shirts that can be worn by Second Life avatars. The Topeka and Shawnee County (Kan.) Public Library has loaned a virtual display on banned books they created for their National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Big Read initiative. All ALA Second Life activities will take place on ALA Arts InfoIsland.
On September 29, ALA will host a kickoff event in Second Life: a pirate’s party with the theme “Arrgh Mateys—Celebrate Your Freedom t’ Read!” Later in the week there will be fireworks displays, book discussions and other intellectual freedom educational programs.
Throughout the week, visitors will have access to a professional welcome center, a listening station for podcasts, and an interactive classroom on one of the most frequently challenged books, “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.” An updated calendar of SL and real world BBW activities can be found at various SL kiosks and at www.ala.org/bbooks.
Second Life Programs scheduled to date are listed as follows (note: all times are in “SL” time, which corresponds to Pacific Daylight Time). Dates and times are subject to change:
September 29, 6–9 p.m.: Kickoff Pirate Party, “Aye, Mateys – Celebrate Your Freedom t’ Read!” featuring a pirate ship, music, dancing, displays, fun and free banned books and posters
September 30, 7 p.m.: Fireworks
October 1, 5 p.m.: Book Discussion, “Of Mice and Men,” by John Steinbeck, moderated by Tom Peters of TAP Information Services (Second Life name Maxito Ricardo)
October 2, Noon: Fireworks
October 2, 5 p.m.: Book Discussion, “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,” by Maya Angelou, moderated by Tom Peters
October 3, Noon: Intellectual Freedom Program, “Frequently Challenged Books,” moderated by OIF Deputy Director Deborah Caldwell-Stone (Second Life name Pachelbel Dagostino)
October 4, 5 p.m.: Intellectual Freedom Program, “Challenges and Customer Service Opportunities,” presented by Rose Chenoweth, Alliance Library System (Second Life name Enya Theas).
On Teen Second Life, there will be an underwater pirate ship/banned books display on Eye4You Alliance during all of Banned Books Week. On October 5, from 4–8 p.m. (Second Life/Pacific Time), there will be a “Dress as Your Favorite Banned Book Character” party also on Eye4You Alliance.
For more information, contact Lorelei Junot or Maxito Ricardo.
Library Buzz – Tools and Script Swap
Wed. September 26, Cybrary City, open auditorium at 7 pm sl. Meet with us to share or gather free tools and scripts for library and/or personal use.
For more information or a tp, contact Abbey Zenith.
Holo Emitter Demo
On Tuesday, September 25 at 6 pm sl at Cybrary City auditorium, Troy McLuhan, head of the science center will demonstrate his open source holo emitter. The holo emitter allows users to store environments, displays, exhibits, etc. in a holo emitter so they can be rezzed on demand. For more information or a teleport, contact Lorelei Junot.
TX950 Party for 9/28/07
from 6 pm sl – 10 pm sl -80’s theme party! We’re taking a cue from the off broadway hit, The Awesome 80s Prom and continuing our back to school themes for September with a prom. Stun us with your flash and big hair! We will be voting for best male and best female costume…um, I mean for King and Queen of the Prom! Contact Abbey Zenith for more information.
Mystery Manor for mystery lovers
The bi-monthly meetings of Mystery Manor volunteers (and anyone else
interested in mysteries) take place every other Tuesday at 5 PM SLT at
Mystery Manor on Info Island. The October meeting dates are October 9
and October 23. Please join us. For further information, contact Max
Batra or Dulcie Mills
Library Gallery on Info Island
Keystone Bouchard’s “Reflexive Architecture” exhibition at the Library Gallery on Info Island has been extended through October 1st. Smaller examples of architectural units that respond to the presence of avatars are on exhibit. From inside the gallery, visitors will find instructions for visiting a skybox where Keystone has installed full-scale versions of responsive constructions. Contact Rookie Voyager for more info.
Eye4You Alliance – Teen Grid
Banned Books Week, September 29-October 6
Pirate Ship with banned books week display. Dress as your favorite banned books week character, Friday, October 4, 4pm-8pm sl.
College Fair, October 20-21
Colleges and Universities-come to the teen grid to talk to teens from around the world about your resources! Or, if you are unable to come to the teen grid, communicate via SLoodle or create a video to share. IM BlueWings Hayek on the MG for more information.