Info Island and libraries in second life this week
Grand Opening of Bradburyville
Alliance Library System, a pioneer in the use of virtual worlds to promote librarianship and reading, will unveil a unique “walk-in” book during the grand opening of their newest Second Life project, Bradburyville. The Grand Opening is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 5th from 4 p.m. – 8 p.m. SL time, and is part of The Big Read Initiative sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts. It is open to the public.
Alliance developed the walk-in book concept as a way to further immerse visitors into the novel Fahrenheit 451, the seminal work by writer Ray Bradbury. Visitors will dress as the books protagonist, literally walk through the cover of a large copy of Fahrenheit 451, then watch and interact as scenes from the book appear around them. Narrations describes the action and themes of the story as the scenes change and evolve. Participants are left with a question to ponder regarding what book they most value or would choose to protect.
In addition to experiencing Fahrenheit 451, additional events and activities will be available during the grand opening. The schedule is:
4 p.m. – 6 p.m. – Guided Tours available of Bradbury ville, with time to experience the walk-in book and other areas of the island
6 p.m. – 7 p.m. – Professor Logsdon of Eureka College will give a lecture entitled “Bradbury the Man”
7 p.m. Music and Social Time; Additional tours available
All events are open to the public. Those unable to attend the Grand Opening are invited to visit Bradburyville on their own, or to take part in additional guided tours available in coming weeks. A full schedule of tours may be found at the Bradburyville welcome area.
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Bradburyville/129/127/24
In addition to Fahrenheit 451, other Bradbury novels featured on the island include Dandelion Wine, the Martian Chronicles, and Something Wicked This Way Comes.
Book Discussions in Bradburyville
Monday, Sept. 29th at 6 p.m. SLT on Bradburyville: A discussion of the dystopian novel, Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury. In this futuristic world, people have wall-sized TVs, listen to music and voices via earbuds, don’t read books much anymore, and live in fear of some vague, imminent war. Sound familiar? Contact Maxito Ricardo for more info.
Tuesday, Sept. 30th at 6 p.m. SLT on Bradburyville: A discussion of the novel, Dandelion Wine, by Ray Bradbury. It’s the summer of 1928 in Green Town, modeled after Waukegan, Illinois. 12-year-old Douglas Spalding has all types of adventures and encounters that enlighten him about the exhilaration of being fully alive, the value of memory, and the realities of departure and death. Contact Maxito Ricardo for more information.
Smart Investing: Planning Decade by Decade
What should I do throughout the years to be ready for retirement? What should I do when I am in my 40’s? How about my 50’s? 60’s? CPA Paul Santos will present a workshop on Investing InfoIsland on Tuesday September 30 at 7 pm sl.
Real Worlds, Virtual Libraries at SLA
On Oct. 3, Lori Bell, Director of Innovation, Alliance Library System,
and Rhonda Trueman, Reference Librarian, Johnson and Wales University,
will discuss their book “Real Worlds, Virtual Libraries: Librarians
and in Second Life and Other Multi-User Virtual Environments” in
Second Life at the SLA area. The book is set to be released in
October.
Book description:
Eighty percent of Internet users are expected to engage in some form
of virtual world activity by 2011 (Gartner Research Group), and
librarians and educators are already there. This fascinating book the
brainchild of two pioneering virtual world librarians is designed to
help libraries and schools recognize the importance of multi-user
virtual environments (MUVEs) and consider ways of getting involved as
they proliferate. The editors and 24 contributors describe library,
educational, and cultural projects they have undertaken. They recount
their experiences working together to succeed in Second Life and other
virtual worlds and explain how traditional library services such as
reference, teaching, collections, discussion groups, and young adult
programs can be applied in a virtual environment.
Come and hear Lori (avatar: Lorelei Junot) and Rhonda (avatar:Abbey
Zenith) discuss the book and how they see libraries intersecting with
virtual worlds. No reservations are required! The event will be held
at 5 p.m. Second Life Time (8 p.m. ET, 5 p.m. PT) at SLA’s land in
Second Life. In order to participate, you will need to have the
Second Life software running on your PC and already have an account
(avatar) with Second Life (free). Being able to hear voice chat in
Second Life would be a benefit.
West of Ireland Events this week
Join us in the West of Ireland Library as our wonderful storytellers entertain and enlighten us!
Sunday, 9/28 @ 11am – International Folk Tales with Caledonia Skytower, Derry McMahon and Elder Priestman
Monday, 9/29 @ 7pm – Alice in Wonderland with Caledonia Skytower
Tuesday, 9/30 @ 6pm – Irish Fairy Stories with Aoife Lorefield
Tuesday, 9/30 @ 7pm – “Ariel: A Book of the Change” with Han Sontse
Wednesday, 10/1 @ 7pm – Edgar Allan Poe Stories with Rei Hax
Thursday, 10/2 @ 6.30pm – Ghosty and Spooky Stories with Shandon Loring
Friday, 10/3 @ 5pm – Classy, Elegant Stories of the Rat-Pack (Formal Attire Requested) with the WOI Storytellers
Saturday 10/4 @ 2pm – Stories with Elder Priestman
Sunday 10/5 @ 11am – Sunday Morning Stories with the WOI Storytellers
Please IM Derry McMahon if you have questions!
The slurl to the WOI Library: http://slurl.com/secondlife/West%20of%20Ireland/44/171/26
Alexandrian Free Library: Caledon, Winterfell, Steelhead, New Babbage & New Toulouse Library events September 30th – October 7th
Winterfell Library Exhibit Opening
Breast Cancer Awareness Exhibit, Curated by Serra Anansi
Saturday October 4th
Noon to 2pm SLT
Winterfell Library, Taure En Lor, Winterfell
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Winterfell/128/184/26
In conjunction with the 2008 Boobie Ball – a fundraiser for the Blogger-sponsored, breast cancer fundraiser, www.boobiethon.com – the Winterfell Library will host an exhibit on Breast Cancer.
Founded in 2002 by Florida blogger Robyn Pollman the Boobie-Thon has grown into a well-known event, raising tens of thousands for breast cancer and blogger-charity causes, with over 1500 people contributing pictures. The Susan G. Koman Foundation has, in the past, been the largest recipient of the funds.
The Exhibit will treat of the history and morphology of this disease, and the modern fight to end it. Please stop by, enjoy a dance with us, see the exhibit, and share in the fight to end Breast Cancer.
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R.F. Burton Memorial Library Grand opening & Egyptian Exhibit Roleplay
Sat, October 4th
2pm to 5 pm SLT
R. F. Burton Library, Babbage Canals
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Babbage%20Canals/202/55/107
Grand opening of New Babbage Library, and opening of a roleplay exhibit of Egyptian artifacts. Roleplay guest archeologist Ghilayne Andrew to speak about the opening of the tomb and the artifacts contained therein.
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Sneak Preview: Coming in October, another conversation with Tom Bukowski, author of “Coming of Age in Second Life”
Selfhood in Virtual Worlds
October 15th
6-7 pm SLT
Virtual American Anthropologist Amphitheater, Anteater Island
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Anteater%20Island/71/108/24
Watch this space for details! (Or see our calendar at http://tinyurl.com/4flnqg)