Dateline: Info Island, Second LIfe Metaverse (Written by HollyJean Allen)

The Infomaniac Racers, a Relay for Life team who’s sole purpose is to raise funds for the American Cancer Society, was recognized for its work in the category of Cancer Awareness. The third place award was given based on a special build that featured links to American Cancer Society web sites, and dispensed information on cancer, its detection and prevention. The build, a ‘campsite’ on the track of the relay, featured oversize books that honored family and friends who have been affected by cancer.

The books were placed in a park-like setting surrounding a lake fed by a waterfall. A winding path guided visitors to the books and the information dispensers. Each of six books were written by members of the Infomaniac Racers. Georgette Whitfield, Amalia Broome, Sinner Sleeper, Waldron Rhino, Buddhistlibrarian Ballyhoo, and Hollyjean Allen. Amalia Broome also wrote poetry to recognize cancer survivors and caregivers everywhere. The site was fully terra-formed by Krull Aeon, and landscaped by Amalia Broome, Judi Newall, and Hollyjean Allen. It was a very moving place to visit.

The team was formed last January, 2008. For the last six months team members worked to generate funds for the Relay for Life campaign. They were one of 89 teams with a common goal. The combined fund raising efforts collected over $200,000 in United States Dollars! Many members of the InfoGroupies made many large donations of Lindens, and gave a great deal of their time walking the Relay track so that the team was represented for a full twenty four hours. This is done to help us all remember that cancer does not sleep.

The team was comprised of Alacrity Lorefield, Amalia Broome, Beliria Lumley, BuddhistLibrarian Ballyhoo, Forelle Broek, Haldin Koba, Honor Reiderer, Judi Newall, Leeorie Alter, Lorin Tone, Lourdes Denimore, Sinner Sleeper, Waldron Rhino, and Hollyjean Allen.

Investing InfoIsland
Join us on Investing InfoIsland as Idsz of March presents “Rules of Retirement” on Tuesday July 22
at 7 pm sl. Idsz will discuss the traditional way people save and invest for retirement and how that is changing.
The program will be held near the cafe on the waterfront. Contact Lorelei Junot for more information.

Join us Thursday, July 24th beginning at 6:00 p.m. SLT at the Lodge in the center of Investing InfoIsland for a book discussion lead by Maxito Ricardo. Chilton, David. 1997. The Wealthy Barber: Everyone’s Commonsense Guide to Becoming Financially Independent (Updated 3rd Edition). In this classic beginner’s guide to personal investment and financial planning – with a plot! – Roy, the fictional town barber, teaches beginning investors about planning for retirement, wills, life insurance, saving, investing in real estate, taxes, and even how to end up with some fun money for your retirement.

Reader’s Garden, Info Island - Discussion of Snow Crash
Vallibrarian Gregg will faciliate a discussion of Neal Stephenson’s book, Snow Crash on Wednesday, July 23rd at 6:00 p.m. SLT. Reader’s Garden, Info Island http://slurl.com/secondlife/Info%20Island/100/162/33
For more information, contact Sonja Morgwain.

The Sci -Fi & Fantasy Portal on Info Island

The Portal has it’s regular
4th. Wednesday of the month Meeting
at 6:30 pm (SL time) on July 23rd.
Place: Info Island 210–94–33
Anyone interested in these genres is welcome.

The Portal also presents it’s Meet the Author event
A real life Author comes and reads from one of his/her novels,
then opens a discussion with the audience.
Author: Glenn Manewell
When: Saturday, July 26th. at 1 pm (SL time).

The Sci-Fi & Fantasy Portal welcomes everyone interested in these two creative and interesting genres to share their ideas and insights. We’ve had many fascinating discussions at our events. Hope to see you at any or all of our events.

Don’t forget to check out our posters and the Information-giver cubes by each poster both on the ground under the Portal and inside the Portal. We have displays in the Portal featuring various authors and groups of authors.

Franja Russell, of the Sci-Fi & Fantasy Port

West of Ireland Library and Cultural Center Events

Tuesdays @ 7pm slt: Han Sontse continues “Ariel, A Book of the Change” by Steven R. Boyett

Wednesdays @ 7pm slt: Rei Hax is reading “Ender’s Game” by Orson Scott Card

Thursdays @ 7pm slt: Shandon Loring delights with Celtic legends and stories from the Catskill Mtns of NY

Saturdays @ 2pm slt: Elder Priestman relates stories from “Zion’s Cause” by Jim Peyton

http://slurl.com/secondlife/West%20of%20Ireland/51/152/26

Please IM Derry McMahon if there are any questions

Alexandrian Free Library: Caledon, New Toulouse, Steelhead, & Winterfell Library Events July 23- 29 , 2008

——————————

Shakespeare Summer: Romeo and Juliet
Sun, July 20 – Sat, July 26
Radio Riel: http://music.radioriel.org
The second month of Shakespeare Summer, produced by Radio Riel in cooperation with the Caledon Library, and funded by the Foundation for Rich Content. Radio Riel’s “From The Library” programming all this week will feature music from, thematically connected to, or providing commentary and sidelights on, The Bard’s eternally popular play of the impetuosities and tragedies of youthful love. Programming & events this week lead up the the Romeo & Juliet Ball on July 26th. Visit Radio Riel at http://radioriel.blogspot.com/ for details of the programming

——————————

The Second Annual Bookbinders Ball
July 25th, 6-8 pm SLT
Coughton Court, Caledon Carntaigh
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Caledon%20Carntaigh/83/183/25

A Formal, Fancy Dress ball in Caledon, to celebrate The Caledon Library’s collaboration with Radio Riel on their FFRC supported “Shakespeare Summer” project.
Hosted by JJ Drinkwater of the Caledon Library & the Alexandrian Free Library, Gabrielle Riel of Radio Riel & Riel Events, and the funloving folks of Info Island’s TX950. The theme of this event is “What’s in a Name?” and you are invited to come as your favorite Shakespearian Actor, Character, or Play. We will once again be playing our Guessing Game, where you fill out your “Library Card” with the names of fellow revelers whom you have “checked out” for the dance, and your guesses as to what their costume represents. Join us for an evening of very literate festivity indeed!

——————————

Shakespeare Summer Ball #2: Romeo and Juliet
Sat, July 26, 2:30pm – 4:30pm
Coughton Court
Caledon Carntaigh
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Caledon%20Carntaigh/83/183/25

Come and experience the Masquerade Ball in at the villa of the Capulets, from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. All attendees are encouraged to come in Renaissance garb, or costumes inspired by any of the play’s numerous interpretations. If you want, come and roleplay one of the characters from the play….Balconies *will* be provided! Sponsored by the Caledon Library and Produced by Riel Events. Visit Radio Riel at http://radioriel.blogspot.com/ for details.

——————————

Caledon Library Book Discussion: Moby Dick & Yankee Whaling
Sun, July 27, 2pm – 4pm
The Falling Anvil Public House, Caledon Tamrannoch
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Caledon%20Tamrannoch/233/113/23/

A book discussion and look at the historical whailing industry of New England.
The Great American Novel? A great treatise on ..or apolgy for…whaling? A great throbbingly overworked phallic metaphor? A great bloody bore? Herman Mellivle’s “Moby-Dick, or The Whale” is revered and controversial, loved and derided. The novel is also an enduring source of cultural references, from the highfalutin’ all the way down to Jeff Smith’s graphic novel series “Bone”…and a certain Great White Coffee Chain. What’s sure is that it is a great walloping leviathan of a novel, stuffed with brilliant prose, skillful metaphor, sly humor, and narrow observation.

All misunderstood cetaceans, obsessed captains, idle observers, dauntless harpooners, and sweet-talking bosuns are welcome to join us, whether they have read the work or not

——————————

Story Session at the Falling Anvil: Jack Tars & Commodores
Mon, July 28th 9, 5 – 8p:
The Falling Anvil Public House, Caledon Tamrannoch
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Caledon%20Tamrannoch/233/113/23/

“Here are tinkers, tailors & shoemakers lie snoring fast asleep
While we poor souls on the ocean wide are plowing through the deep
Our officers commanded us, and it’s them we must obey
Expecting every moment for to get cast away”

Join the old salts, coasters, stowaways, privateers & other bold seafaring folk of the Falling Anvil for stories & songs of life at sea. Anyone with a tale to tell of high adventure on the high seas, mermaids, shipwrecks, bold raids, buffeting storms and miscellaneous maritime misadventures is welcome to come tell a tale, and all lovers of story are welcome to join us simply to listen. The evening is sponsored by the Caledon Library and the Clan of Seafarers & Storytellers, and hosted by Aldo Stern.

Newsbreak from Information Today on Google Lively and Vivaty

http://newsbreaks.infotoday.com/nbReader.asp?ArticleId=49931

SciFi Fantasy Gallery

Wednesday July 16 at 1 pm and Saturday July 19 at 1 pm
Book of the Month Discussion
featuring Paul Levinson’s THE SILK CODE
For more information contact Franja Russell.

Cybrary City 1
Advanced Second Life Features: An Interactive Potluck, August 7, 2008 8:00 a.m. SLT & 3:00 p.m. SLT, Open Auditorium on Cybrary City 1(http://slurl.com/secondlife/Cybrary%20City/124/157/24). Join Wilbur Wood, CEO of LearnTimes, producers of online conferences, communities and events http://www.learningtimes,net/3d for a free program and discussion about advanced features in second life. Participants are encouraged to bring their own favorite feature or useful gadget to display. Presentation will be in voice.

So You Want a Library or Organzation in Second Life: A Practical Guide 8:00 a.m. SLT August 1, Open Auditorium, Cybrary City I Brief presentation in voice, tour an existing library, learn about available parcels, & lots of time for Q and A. All are welcome. Riven Homewood from the Alexandrian Library, Caledon will also present.

Contact Sonja Morgwain for more information.

Alexandrian Free Library: Caledon, New Toulouse, Steelhead, & Winterfell Library Events July 15th-26th, 2008

Book Discussion - The Sea Wolf by Jack London
Sun, July 20, 2pm – 3pm
Steelhead Public Library, Steelhead City
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Steelhead/123/185/24
A discussion of Jack London’s stirring epic. From bibliomania.com “The Sea-Wolf was published in 1904, during the time of London’s great successes with The Call of the Wild, published the year before. It tells of Humphrey Van Weyden, an amateur literary critic who finds himself picked up by the sealing schooner Ghost when the ship that he is travelling on across the San Francisco Bay collides with a steamer. A new central character emerges in the form of Wolf Larson. Larson is a fierce, strong and ruthless industrialist. After the Ghost rescues some refugees near Japan on its sealing expedition, Larson and Van Weyden come into conflict over the poet Maude Brewster. In time Brewster and Van Weyden manage to escape to a desert island together. However, in time, the Ghost finds itself drawn to them half-wrecked and without a sail. Larson is now in a sorry, semi-paralysed state and even though Van Weyden and Brewster manage to find a way to sail the ship away, Larsen dies a sad and individualistic creature while Van Weyden shows his nature as a moral and decent individual.”

Shakespeare Summer: Romeo and Juliet
Sun, July 20 – Sat, July 26
Radio Riel: http://music.radioriel.org
The second month of Shakespeare Summer, produced by Radio Riel in cooperation with the Caledon Library, and funded by the Foundation for Rich Content. Radio Riel’s “From The Library” programming all this week will feature music from, thematically connected to, or providing commentary and sidelights on, The Bard’s eternally popular play of the impetuosities and tragedies of youthful love. Programming & events this week lead up the the Romeo & Juliet Ball on July 26th. Visit Radio Riel at http://radioriel.blogspot.com/ for details of the programming

Book Discussion - Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
Mon, July 21, 6pm – 8pm
The Great Lawn of the Whitehorn Library, Caledon VIctoriaCity
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Caledon%20Victoria%20City/30/180/23
Bellicose Tybalt, fanciful Mercutio, the bawdy Nurse, the compassionate Friar, the tender and tragic lovers, the proud Capulets and the haughty Montagues, each strut and fret their hour upon the stage in Shakespeare’s endlessly popular, endlessly reinterpreted tragedy of young love’s power and pathos. All are welcome at this discussion, whether they have read the play or not.

The Second Annual Bookbinders Ball
July 25th, 6-8 pm SLT
Coughton Court, Caledon Carntaigh
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Caledon%20Carntaigh/83/183/25
A Formal, Fancy Dress ball in Caledon, to celebrate The Caledon Library’s collaboration with Radio Riel on their FFRC supported “Shakespeare Summer” project.
Hosted by JJ Drinkwater of the Caledon Library & the Alexandrian Free Library, Gabrielle Riel of Radio Riel & Riel Events, and the funloving folks of Info Island’s TX950. The theme of this event is “What’s in a Name?” and you are invited to come as your favorite Shakespearian Actor, Character, or Play. We will once again be playing our Guessing Game, where you fill out your “Library Card” with the names of fellow revelers whom you have “checked out” for the dance, and your guesses as to what their costume represents. Join us for an evening of very literate festivity indeed!

Shakespeare Summer Ball #2: Romeo and Juliet
Sat, July 26, 2:30pm – 4:30pm
Coughton Court
Caledon Carntaigh
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Caledon%20Carntaigh/83/183/25
Come and experience the Masquerade Ball in at the villa of the Capulets, from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. All attendees are encouraged to come in Renaissance garb, or costumes inspired by any of the play’s numerous interpretations. If you want, come and roleplay one of the characters from the play….Balconies *will* be provided! Sponsored by the Caledon Library and Produced by Riel Events.

“Summer Author Chats” Event in Teen Second Life® – Summer, 2008

The Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County (PLCMC), TeachingBooks.net, and Chicago Public Schools Department of Libraries and Information Services are pleased to announce a very special series of three events, “Summer Author Chats”, discussions that will take place in Teen Second Life. These programs will give selected authors and teens the opportunity to interact online in a safe and creative way on PLCMC’s virtual island, Eye4You Alliance.

Kelly Czarnecki, Technology Education Librarian at PLCMC shares, “Having authors interact with teens in the medium of a virtual world is not only a great way to bring stories to life, but connects youth with authors in ways they might not have the opportunity to otherwise.”

“This series merges the traditional “Author in the Library” summer reading event with the exciting technology of Second Life,” says Lisa Perez, the Area Library Coordinator, Chicago Public Schools Department of Libraries. “We’re bringing authors to where the teens are, and enabling them to interact and learn from each other.”

Teen Second Life (http://teen.secondlife.com) is a 3D virtual world where teens can learn valuable 21st century skills and build a variety of developmental assets as they engage with their peers from all over the world, communicate in multiple media formats, and express their identities through their own virtual appearances.

Teens have helped construct a space for author presentations with author liaison support provided by PLCMC, TeachingBooks.net and Chicago Public Schools Department of Libraries. Teens have assisted in the planning of these events, participated in an avatar design contest, created web-based support materials, and advertised these programs to the Second Life teen community. Writing, role playing, and anime/manga groups are just some of the teen-driven, literary-related groups within Teen Second Life.

The three participating authors, who are volunteering their time for this program, are extraordinarily well known and acclaimed. They have received dozens of awards and distinctions, and have never participated in a Second Life program before.

Authors of young adult literature will participate as avatars, digital representations of themselves.

To learn more about these events, how to log onto Teen Second Life (must be 13 – 17 years old), how to visit a companion educator’s event (18 years +) and to download a flyer, visit http://www.libraryloft.org/secondlife.asp

Literature in Virtual Worlds Conference

On August 4th, 2008, and again on August 6th, Alliance Library System, in cooperation with LearningTimes, will offer a one-day conference exploring the possibilities of using virtual worlds to teach literature and to promote its appreciation for people of all ages. The conference, titled “Stepping into Literature: Bringing New Life to Books through Virtual Worlds” will be held entirely in the virtual world of Second Life, allowing participants to attend from any location with a computer and a broadband internet connection. Cost to attend the conference is $65 USD per person. Go to the registration form at http://www.learningtimes.net/shop/cgi-bin//cp-app.cgi?pg=prod&ref=SLCONF2008 and to the conferene website at www.steppingintovirtualworlds.org.

“Books have been with us for millenia, from Homer to Beowulf to Harry Potter” notes John Howard, conference director and Special Projects Coordinator for Alliance. “Great literature doesn’t change, but our ways of interacting with it do. What possibilities do virtual worlds offer us in sharing a love of literature? Is there value in building worlds that previously existed only in print, or in our imaginations? How can we use 3-D experiences to enhance our experience of literature?”

The conference will not be solely lecture-based, according to Howard. Instead, participants will take take part in a virtual book discussion, and take field trips into literature-based locations that have been created in Second Life. Participants may find themselves in an Edgar Allen Poe poem, visiting a “secret garden” or learning about gothic literature in an authentically spooky Gothic mansion. “They may even fall down a rabbit hole!” notes Howard. The conference will also feature one or more authors who have used virtual worlds to create, refine or promote their works. The day will conclude with a panel discussion including experts from a number of disciplines, and a social event.

“By doing this conference in Second Life, we can do more than just talk about ways to promote a love of literature in virtual worlds,” says Howard. “We can see and interact with some creative and educational applications in person.”

Beth Ritter-Gluth/Desideria Stockton is Second Life will be the keynote speaker and her talk is on “A Vision for Making Literature Come Alive in VIrtual Worlds.”. She is the creator of Literature Alive in Second Life and teaches English and Women’s Studies at Lehigh Carbon Community College in Schnecksville, PA. She is the creator and director of Literature Alive! in Second Life, founding co-chair of hte 2007 SL Best Practices in Education International Conference: Teaching, Learning, and Research, Co-Founder of the SL Virtual Orphanage and Child Sponsorship program, and co-founder of Open SLedware

The keynote author is Kim Rufer-Bach who will speak on “Using Virtual Worlds to Promote Real Life Literature.” Kimberly Rufer-Bach (Kim Anubis in Second Life) is Owner, Designer and Producer of The Magicians, a 3D interactive software development company that specializes in creating innovative Second Life content. Some of her clients include the British Council, University of California Davis Medical Center, Global Kids, NASA, University of Queensland, and New York Law School. Kimberly is co-author of Creating Your World: The Official Guide to Advanced Content Creation for Second Life (Sybex, October 2007) and is currently at work on The Second Life Grid: The Official Guide to Communication Collaboration, and Community Engagement. Her online community management experience includes the roles of Community Forums Coordinator for There, and special events moderator and Editors Forum Host for iUniverse.com on AOL and the Web. She was on the team that
created the best-selling educational computer game First Men in the Moon Math

(Fisher-Price) in the mid-1980s. Publishing credits include articles, columns, non-fiction for children, and fiction. Kimberly garnered recommendations for the 1995 Bram Stoker Award for the novella “Daddy’s Girl,” which appeared in Adventures in the Twilight Zone (Ed. Carol Serling, DAW Books, Inc)

Alliance has partnered with LearningTimes to put on this conference. In addition to helping organize the conference, LearningTimes is setting up the technology for individuals and groups to participate in the conference without having to create a Second Life account. “For those who haven’t done it, Second Life can take a little getting used to” notes John Walber, CEO of LearningTimes. “We have had great success this year in providing ’simulcasts’ of events in second life, essentially, looking over the shoulder of a participant.” Walber notes that this should make attendance easier for more people. While not quite as “immersive,” the solution is highly interactive, and creates a recording for later playback Conference organizers will also provide an orientation for those who would like to attend the conference in Second Life, but have no prior experience with the program.

LearningTimes and Alliance have created an ongoing on-line community for participants in this and future conferences. Within this community registrants will have access to conference recordings, contribute to on-going discussions, and network with other interested people from around the world after the conference is over.

Full conference schedule and registration information is available at the conference website, www.steppingintovirtualworlds.org or people may contact John Howard directly at 309.694.9200.

Conference on Literature in Virtual Worlds

On August 4th, 2008, and again on August 6th, Alliance Library System, in cooperation with LearningTimes, will offer a one-day conference exploring the possibilities of using virtual worlds to teach literature and to promote its appreciation for people of all ages. The conference, titled “Stepping into Literature: Bringing New Life to Books through Virtual Worlds” will be held entirely in the virtual world of Second Life, allowing participants to attend from any location with a computer and a broadband internet connection. Cost to attend the conference is $65 USD per person. Go to the registration form at http://www.learningtimes.net/shop/cgi-bin//cp-app.cgi?pg=prod&ref=SLCONF2008 and to the conferene website at www.steppingintovirtualworlds.org.

“Books have been with us for millenia, from Homer to Beowulf to Harry Potter” notes John Howard, conference director and Special Projects Coordinator for Alliance. “Great literature doesn’t change, but our ways of interacting with it do. What possibilities do virtual worlds offer us in sharing a love of literature? Is there value in building worlds that previously existed only in print, or in our imaginations? How can we use 3-D experiences to enhance our experience of literature?”

The conference will not be solely lecture-based, according to Howard. Instead, participants will take take part in a virtual book discussion, and take field trips into literature-based locations that have been created in Second Life. Participants may find themselves in an Edgar Allen Poe poem, visiting a “secret garden” or learning about gothic literature in an authentically spooky Gothic mansion. “They may even fall down a rabbit hole!” notes Howard. The conference will also feature one or more authors who have used virtual worlds to create, refine or promote their works. The day will conclude with a panel discussion including experts from a number of disciplines, and a social event.

“By doing this conference in Second Life, we can do more than just talk about ways to promote a love of literature in virtual worlds,” says Howard. “We can see and interact with some creative and educational applications in person.”

Beth Ritter-Gluth/Desideria Stockton is Second Life will be the keynote speaker and her talk is on “A Vision for Making Literature Come Alive in VIrtual Worlds.”. She is the creator of Literature Alive in Second Life and teaches English and Women’s Studies at Lehigh Carbon Community College in Schnecksville, PA. She is the creator and director of Literature Alive! in Second Life, founding co-chair of hte 2007 SL Best Practices in Education International Conference: Teaching, Learning, and Research, Co-Founder of the SL Virtual Orphanage and Child Sponsorship program, and co-founder of Open SLedware

The keynote author is Kim Rufer-Bach who will speak on “Using Virtual Worlds to Promote Real Life Literature.” Kimberly Rufer-Bach (Kim Anubis in Second Life) is Owner, Designer and Producer of The Magicians, a 3D interactive software development company that specializes in creating innovative Second Life content. Some of her clients include the British Council, University of California Davis Medical Center, Global Kids, NASA, University of Queensland, and New York Law School. Kimberly is co-author of Creating Your World: The Official Guide to Advanced Content Creation for Second Life (Sybex, October 2007) and is currently at work on The Second Life Grid: The Official Guide to Communication Collaboration, and Community Engagement. Her online community management experience includes the roles of Community Forums Coordinator for There, and special events moderator and Editors Forum Host for iUniverse.com on AOL and the Web. She was on the team that
created the best-selling educational computer game First Men in the Moon Math

(Fisher-Price) in the mid-1980s. Publishing credits include articles, columns, non-fiction for children, and fiction. Kimberly garnered recommendations for the 1995 Bram Stoker Award for the novella “Daddy’s Girl,” which appeared in Adventures in the Twilight Zone (Ed. Carol Serling, DAW Books, Inc)

Alliance has partnered with LearningTimes to put on this conference. In addition to helping organize the conference, LearningTimes is setting up the technology for individuals and groups to participate in the conference without having to create a Second Life account. “For those who haven’t done it, Second Life can take a little getting used to” notes John Walber, CEO of LearningTimes. “We have had great success this year in providing ’simulcasts’ of events in second life, essentially, looking over the shoulder of a participant.” Walber notes that this should make attendance easier for more people. While not quite as “immersive,” the solution is highly interactive, and creates a recording for later playback Conference organizers will also provide an orientation for those who would like to attend the conference in Second Life, but have no prior experience with the program.

LearningTimes and Alliance have created an ongoing on-line community for participants in this and future conferences. Within this community registrants will have access to conference recordings, contribute to on-going discussions, and network with other interested people from around the world after the conference is over.

Full conference schedule and registration information is available at the conference website, www.steppingintovirtualworlds.org or people may contact John Howard directly at 309.694.9200.

If you are a librarian interested in sharing ideas and projects for the new Google virtual world of Lively (http://www.lively.com) please join our group
http://groups.google.com/group/livelylibrariansvw?lnk=gcimh

The Sci-Fi & Fantasy Portal presents
its July FILM DISCUSSION

When: Saturday, July 5th. at 1 pm
Where: Info Island 210– 94–33 places you at the discussion circle
Film: THE MATRIX
Hosts: Symmetry Munro and Hawk Lightcloud

Bring your ideas and insights on this complex and innovative film

Beach Blanket Bingo second life style!

Join us on Investing Info Island Saturday night July 5 at 6 pm sl for beach blanket bingo Second Life Style.
Gabrielle Riel will play tunes and enjoy music, dancing and bingo. Contact Hypatia Dejavu for more info.

Enjoy the new Zenith gardens
Zenith Garden, just west of the Alliance Library building on Info Island (north of the Reference Desk on International) is now set up and ready for visitors.

Named for Abbey Zenith, this small plot of land has a good number of plants, bushes and trees, most all of which can be left-clicked on, supplying a notecard with information on the SL creator, the flora’s real life counterpart and a sign board with URL links/SL landmarks to:

–General information on Zenith Garden
–World flora sites on the Internet
–Real Life garden websites
–YouTube garden tours
–Second Life gardens/parks/nature areas
–Web pages with information on gardening for children
–Second Life garden stores
–Poetry about gardens

Benches and a pose-pillow give visitors a chance to sit, relax, learn and enjoy. Here’s a SLURL to the garden:

http://slurl.com/secondlife/info%20island/106/24/33/

Courses for Educators, Librarians and Others in Second Life

UIUC GSLIS and Alliance Library System are pleased to offer summer courses for librarians and educators on virtual worlds. Courses include:

Using Immersive Environments in the Classroom for School Media Specialists

Second Life 101

Technical Skills for Virtual World Librarians

Introduction to Virtual World Librarianship

Working with a class in Second Life

Setting Up an Educational Presence in Second Life

Immersive Learning in 3d Virtual Environments

For more information on and to register for these courses, go to

http://www.lis. uiuc.edu/ programs/ cpd/VW/

For more information contact Marianne Steadley at UIUC at steadley@uiuc. edu

or Lori Bell, Alliance Library System, lbell@alliancelibra rysystem. com

In memoriam - Percy Bysshe Shelley (August 4, 1792 – July 8, 1822)

Poet’s Corner - Literature Collection - 11th floor of the Central Bell Library Tower - Info Island http://slurl.com/secondlife/Info%20Island/214/26/123
5 PM SLT
Poetry reading, discussion and discussion of the life of Percy Bysshe Shelley.
Contact Abbey Zenith for more information.

Hot Topics - Governance in Virtual Worlds

Due to technical problems in SL last Wednesday we rescheduled this month’s Hot Topics Discussion - Please join us at 6 PM July 9th.

Who governs virtual worlds? Virtual world creators? Virtual land owners? Group leaders, owners, organizers? In a world created by its residents who makes the rules? What does it mean to be a leader in a virtual world? Join us for our monthly hot topics discussion on Info Island.. Panelists Katt Tomsen, Abbey Zenith, and others will lead the discussion.
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Info%20Island/103/110/34

Only Yesterday 1930s sim

The Only Yesterday sim celebrates the completion (well, almost) of TWO new exhibits. Please come and see!

The new movie theater, on the small square just east of the island’s central plaza, displays vintage posters and other resources to highlight the Golden Age of Hollywood, the 1930s – the era of The Prisoner of Zenda, Gone With the Wind, and the Wizard of Oz. Not to be outdone, the second floor of the theater celebrates radio programs and celebrities of the era with photos, biographical sketches, and recorded samples of original broadcast by Edward R. Morrow, Jack Benny, the Lone Ranger, and many others.

To learn about the grimmer side of the 1930s, visit the migrant camp at the southeast corner of Only Yesterday. The new exhibit there focuses on displaced workers and others who often lived in Hoovervilles, hobo camps, and government resettlement areas while searching for employment. Among other things, the exhibit includes a selection of vintage photos from the American Memory collection in the U.S. Library of Congress.

Finally (a shameless commercial plug on behalf of Only Yesterday’s merchants), please take the opportunity to visit the island’s fine shops while you are in town. Great shopping, right on the plaza. Contact Rolig Loon for more information.

Alexandrian Free Library: Caledon, New Toulouse, Steelhead, & Winterfell Library Events July 8th-16th, 2008

————————————–

Poetry Writing Workshop with Dov Whiteberry
Steelhead Public Library, Steelhead City
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Steelhead/123/185/24
Wed, July 9, 7pm – 8pm

Dov Whiteberry, renowned Vermont poet and educator
is welcomed back to the Steelhead Library for our continuing poetry
workshop series. Poems don’t have to rhyme - honest!

———————————————–

Children’s Literature Discussion
Sun Jul 13 2:30-3:30pm
Steelhead Public Library, Steelhead City
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Steelhead/123/185/24

“Women in Fairy Tales: The Good the Bad and the Ugly.” The incomparable Myfanwi Davies leads a discussion about the many roles of women in traditional tales. All wicked stepsisters, fairy godmothers, elven princesses, forsaken orphans, etc. are welcome to come in costume.

——————————————————–

Caledon Library Guest Book Discussion in SL New England: Moby Dick & Yankee Whaling
Monday, July 14, 2008 4-5 pm
SL New England Mystic Classroom
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Mystic/234/145/23

A book discussion and look at the historical whailing industry of New England.
The Great American Novel? A great treatise on ..or apolgy for…whaling? A great throbbingly overworked phallic metaphor? A great bloody bore? Herman Mellivle’s “Moby-Dick, or The Whale” is revered and controversial, loved and derided. The novel is also an enduring source of cultural references, from the highfalutin’ all the way down to Jeff Smith’s graphic novel series “Bone”…and a certain Great White Coffee Chain. What’s sure is that it is a great walloping leviathan of a novel, stuffed with brilliant prose, skillful metaphor, sly humor, and narrow observation.

All misunderstood cetaceans, obsessed captains, idle observers, dauntless harpooners, and sweet-talking bosuns are welcome to join us, whether they have read the work or not

Contact Trudy Takacs for more information

——————————————

The Toussaint L’Ouverture Library of New Toulouse is now open!
http://slurl.com/secondlife/New%20Toulouse/64/108/23

Exhibits, through the end of August
*Civic maps of historic New Orleans
*Reawakening Kate Chopin
*Tribute to the Cammie G. Henry Research Center.
Come visit and peruse our offerings in the bougainvillea breeze.

UIUC GSLIS and Alliance Library System are pleased to offer summer courses for librarians and educators on virtual worlds. Courses include:

Using Immersive Environments in the Classroom for School Media Specialists

Second Life 101

Technical Skills for Virtual World Librarians

Introduction to Virtual World Librarianship

Working with a class in Second Life

Setting Up an Educational Presence in Second Life

Immersive Learning in 3d Virtual Environments

For more information on and to register for these courses, go to

http://www.lis. uiuc.edu/ programs/ cpd/VW/

For more information contact Marianne Steadley at UIUC at steadley@uiuc. edu

or Lori Bell, Alliance Library System, lbell@alliancelibra rysystem. com

Hot Topics - Governance in Virtual Worlds

Who governs virtual worlds? Virtual world creators? Virtual land owners? Group leaders, owners, organizers? In a world created by its residents who makes the rules? What does it mean to be a leader in a virtual world? Join us for our monthly hot topics discussion on Info Island at 6 PM SLT July 2nd. Panelists Kat Tomsen, Abbey Zenith, and others will lead the discussion.
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Info%20Island/103/110/34

Beach Blanket Bingo SL Style!
On Smart Investing InfoIsland, July 5th, 2008, 6 PM SLT - 8 PM SLT.

Join us for a beach party on Smart Investing and explore the island to collect answers for our bingo card. Drop your card off at the party by 7 PM SLT for a chance to win $1000 L! We will dance to fun 60s sounds provided by our favorite DJ Gabrielle Riel of Radio Riel.

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Investing%20InfoIsland/234/92/22

So You Want a Library or Organization in Second Life: A Practical Guide
Tuesday, July 1 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 SLT, “So You Want a Library or Organization in Second Life: A Practical Guide.” Participants hear a short presentation, take a tour of buildings, and have plenty of time to ask questions. Cybrary City 1. For more information, see Sonja Morgwain.

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Cybrary%20City/124/157/24

Non-Credit Courses for Virtual World Librarians and Educators

SUMMER 2008 Courses
NEW Using Immersive Environments in the Classroom for School Media Specialists
Instructor: Kelly (BlueWings Hayek) Czarnecki.

Second Life 101
Instructor: Barbara (Puglet Dancer) Galik

Technical Skills for Virtual World Librarians
Instructors: Denise (Pipsqueak Fiddlesticks) Cote and Bernadette (HVX Silverstar) Swanson

Introduction to Virtual World Librarianship
Instructors: S. (Hypatia Dejavu) Thompson, Rhonda (Abbey Zenith) Trueman, Bill (Rocky Vallejo) Sowers and JJ (JJ Drinkwater) Jacobson.

Working with a Class in Second Life
Instructor: Dr. Bryan (Bryan Mnemonic) Carter.

Setting Up an Educational Presence in Second Life
Instructors: Lori (Lorelei Junot) Bell, Rhonda (Abbey Zenith) Trueman, Tom (Maxito Ricardo) Peters

Immersive Learning in 3D Virtual Environments
Instructors: JJ (JJ Drinkwater) Jacobson and S. (Hypatia Dejavu) Thompson.

http://www.lis.uiuc.edu/programs/cpd/VW/

For more information contact Marianne Steadley at steadley@uiuc.edu

Alexandrian Free Library: Caledon, New Toulouse, Steelhead, & Winterfell Library Events July 1st-8th, 2008

Come Visit the Caledon Library at the SL5B Celebration!
The Independant State of Caledon glories in its library, and the Caledon build at the Second Life Fifth Birthday celebration includes a miniturized version of the Caledon Library, highlighting its past exhibits. Come visit us at
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Second%20Life%20Birthday/80/7/24

The Toussaint L’Ouverture Library of New Toulouse is now open!
Come visit at….
http://slurl.com/secondlife/New%20Toulouse/64/108/23

Story Hour at the Caledon Library, with Rachel Pevensy
Stories of the American West
July 5th 12-1pm slt
Great Lawn of the Whitehorn Library, Caledon Victoria City
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Caledon%20Victoria%20City/30/180/23
Come join us as Rachel tells stories on an American theme with a focus on Westward movement, to celebrate the American Independance Day holiday.
Rachel Pevensy is a RL storyteller with a keen appreciation for all the ins and outs, challenges and rewards of her craft. Her blog may be found at http://www.storytellingadventures.blogspot.com

This is a live audio stream storytelling performance, produced by Radio Riel. Media url address for SL (or outside of SL listeners) : http://music.radioriel.org. For more information, see the Radio Riel blog at http://radioriel.blogspot.com/

NOTE: The teleport takes you to a hub in Caledon VictoriaCity… Just follow the red arrow/beacon north through the Reading Room to the Great Lawn, or use the red and gold Library Transport Device located at the telehub.

Please direct questions to JJ Drinkwater, Caledon Library.

West of Ireland Library Programs

We have new storytellers joining us at the West of Ireland Library and Cultural Center!!! Please feel free to drop by and enjoy:

Tuesday @ 6pm slt - AineMari Flanagan and David Itamae - Stories of all sorts, plus open mic
Tuesday @ 7pm slt - Han Sontse, one of our new storytellers, who likes Sci/Fan stories
Wednesday @ 7pm slt - Rei Hax continues the reading of “Elder’s Game” by Orson Scott Card
Thursday @ 7pm slt - Chief Storyteller Shandon Loring delights us with Celtic Myths and Legends and stories of the little people in the Catskill Mountains of NY state
Saturday @ 2pm slt - Elder Priestman, another one of our new storytellers, begins reading tales from “Zion’s Cause” by Jim Peyton, tales from the old South

Please join us! These storytellers are great! IM Derry McMahon for more information. http://slurl.com/secondlife/West%20of%20Ireland/44/171/26

Imagine rebuilding the real world from the ground up, prim by prim. What would you change and how would you create public good?

Five finalist projects are realizing their revisions with the Second Life and the Public Good Community Challenge. Now through June 30th you can vote for your top three of these five amazing endeavors to be awarded a total of almost one million Linden dollars!

On July 1st at 4PM the University of Southern California’s Network Culture Project will award the top three with L$100,000 a month for three months to build their dream of public good from the virtual world. Avatars can take a minute right now to determine who will win the big awards to be given out at the International Island amphitheater on Monday afternoon.

The projects currently up for awards:

Texas Obesity Research Center
Native Lands Cultural Outreach
Mauerkrankheit/Wallsickness
Interactive Accessible Home
Ability Commons

Any avatar can vote for their top three projects and offer resources to these endeavors; volunteer to help them build out a new community or reach out and partner with these projects to grow real world impact from Second Life. Voting ends June 30th so send in your feedback today and visit these projects on the web or on International Island to explore new ways to rebuild the real world through virtual efforts.

This community challenge is part of ongoing philanthropic research by the USC Network Culture Project at the Annenberg School for Communication based in Los Angeles, provided with support from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, cosponsors of the State of Play conference where awardees will present their new work in October 2008.

Thank you for participating through your votes and feedback and by helping us build vibrant communities in virtual spaces.

For more information contact Resident Annenberg inworld or email networkculture@gmail.com.

##

–
In Kenzo

inkenzo.vox.com
inkenzo.blip.tv

USC Network Culture
Nonprofit Commons: International Humanities Center

Mystery Manor Book Discussion
When: 25 June (Wednesday)
Time: 6PM SL
Where: Gazebo at Mystery Manor

Maxito Ricardo will lead a discussion of Hard Time by Sara Paretsky.
Paretsky’s character, V.I. Warshawski, is a detective from the
hardboiled school and with her “Paretsky is credited with transforming
the role and image of women in the crime novel.” (Wikipedia). It isn’t
hard to imagine Warshawski holding her own in the company of Philip
Marlow, Lew Archer, and Sam Spade. The cases that V.I. (Vic to her
friends) takes on involve social issues and in Hard Time she learns
about the prison system close up and personal.

Library Art Gallery @ Info Island
SLURL: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Info%20Island/48/79/33/

Saturday 28 June 2008, 1P SLT
Library Art Gallery Special Celebration
Radio Riel (http://www.radioriel.org/) returns with DJ Elrik Merlin to
mix up some great music for us to dance and celebrate the fabulous art
of the students from University of Kentucky and East Tennessee State
University. Come join us again for another fun event full of music,
art, dance, and networking!

“Hard Rocking Women” at the MuMu - June 27th at 5 PM SLT
Museum of Music on Infotainment Island presents “Hard Rocking Women”! The Mumu’s newest exhibit features the women who rocked this male dominated music genre. The exhibit kicks off with a party June 27th at 5 PM SLT, with DJ Merck Forager playing the best from Grace Slick, Janis Joplin, Joan Jett, Pat Benatar, Heart, Melissa Ethridge, Chrissie Hynde, and others!

The Sci-Fi & Fantasy Portal presentsit’s Saturday Book of the Month discussion

When: Saturday, June 21st. at 2 pm.
Where: Info Island 210–94–33 (this places you at the discussion circle)

Title & Author: THE RED PLANET by Heinlein
Host: Yohan Althouse

We welcome your ideas and insights.
………………………………………………………………………………..

Portal meeting~regular 4th. Wednesday of the month, June 25th, at 6:30 pm (SL)

Updates on existing programs, looking for Volunteers, appreciate ideas for programs/displays/discussion topics.
…………………………………………………………………………………

July’s Film Discussion event~(Sci-Fi & Fantasy Portal)

Film: THE MATRIX
Hosts: Symmetry Munroe and Hawk Lightcloud

When: Saturday, July 5th, at 1 pm
Where: Info Island 210–94–33 (the discussion circle)

There’ll be a lively discussion of this ground-breaking film. Bring your ideas, insights, questions, and curiosity.
……………………………………………………………………………………

Rich Idiot Island Exhibits
Rich Idiot island is pleased to announce the opening of two new educational exhibits and library resource collections on the plaza. A collection focusing on American literature and popular magazines of the 1930s is located in the Reading Room on the second floor of the island’s bookstore. Through visual displays and web links, it offers biographical sketches of prominent authors and overviews of period journalism.
A second collection, located in the First Bank of the Islands (also on the plaza), explores issues related to banking and finance during the 1930s. Visitors can find the text of major laws and period documents concerning reforms of banking and investment, as well as information about infamous bank robbers of the decade.

These new collections add to existing exhibits that highlight prominent musicians (in the plaza’s bandstand) and rural images of the 1930s (under a canopy on the island’s north side). Rich Idiot island — soon to be renamed as Only Yesterday — welcomes individuals and groups who want to study cultural change during the 1930s in America.

For more information, contact Rolig Loon by IM in world

Alexandrian Free Library: Caledon, New toulouse, Steelhead and Winterfell Library Events

Come Visit the Caledon Library at the SL5B Celebration!
The Independant State of Caledon glories in its library, and the Caledon build at the Second Life Fifth Birthday celebration includes a miniturized version of the Caledon Library, highlighting its past exhibits. Come visit us at
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Second%20Life%20Birthday/80/7/24

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Grande Opening of the Toussaint L’Ouverture Library of New Toulouse and St. John the Baptist Feast Day Celebration
Toussaint L’Ouverture Library of New Toulouse
Thursday, June 26th
6-8 pm SLT
The Toussaint L’Ouverture Library, New Toulouse
http://slurl.com/secondlife/New%20Toulouse/64/108/23

Please join us as we christen our new library on (belated) St. John’s Eve, the holiest day of the Voodoo calendar. A celebration of growth and moving forward, we’ll baptize the newest addition to the New Toulouse neighborhood in gin and gumbo. After a brief ceremony, music and dancing will be provided in New Toulouse style!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Reading:The Valley of the Ivory Swan : The Warrior Princess by Aianna Oh
Winterfell Library
Sat, June 28, 2 – 3pm slt
Winterfell Palace
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Winterfell/106/201/36
Author Aianna Oh reads from her novel-in-progress, a work of High Fantasy

West of Ireland Library Events

Tuesday, June 24 - Stories with AineMari Flanagan @ 6pm slt
Wednesday, June 25 - Science Fiction Stories with Rei Hax @ 7pm slt
Thursday, June 26 - Celtic Myths and Legends with Shandon Loring @ 7pm slt

Please IM Sioban McMahon, WOI CEO if you have questions (Derry McMahon, WOI Librarian will be on vacation). These storytellers are great!
http://slurl.com/secondlife/West%20of%20Ireland/44/171/26

Earn Some Lindens While Helping Others Understand What It Means to Live and Work in Second Life

GSD&M’s Idea City (ideacity.com), a national advertising agency in the USA, is creating a panel of Second Life avatars for research and feedback. The goal of their panel is to gather opinions and insights from Second Life residents on a variety of topics. Your thoughts will be used to help guide companies entering Second Life and provide insight into what happens in-world across many active users.

The panel is open to any avatar that has been in Second Life at least two months. You will receive L$100 from their bot avatar as a thank you for joining the panel. They have also set up a referral program. If you refer another avatar to their panel and they enter in your name when the bot asks for any referrals, you will be paid an additional L$100. You will be paid for every referral, so if you refer just 10 avatars, that’s L$1,000! It only takes about 5 minutes to complete the survey.

To join the Research Panel, simply IM one of their research bots who can sign you up remotely through a brief survey in IM.

The bots’ names are Gerald Ideator, Raven Ideator and Vogel Ideator. IM any of them from anywhere in SL.

If you have any questions about this research panel, please contact one of the two following Idea City employees in Second Life: Ima Ideator or Lady Ideator.

Program Title: “Second Life and Beyond: Librarianship in Virtual Worlds” (”Virtual Communities & Libraries Exchange” in the official program)

Date: Saturday, June 28, 2008

Time: 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. Pacific Time

Place: Anaheim Marriott in the Marquis Ballroom NorthEast (Just a hop, skip, and jump from the Anaheim Convention Center — sorry, no teleporting)

Sponsor: ALA VCL (Virtual Communities and Libraries) MIG (Member Initiative Group)

Program Description: Join Joe Sanchez from the University of Texas at Austin, Christina Coleman from ALA, Tom Peters from TAP Info Services, and other speakers for a lively and wide ranging conversation about the prospects for librarianship and library education in a variety of virtual worlds, including:

Second Life
Whyville (a virtual world for tweens)
Wonderland (a joint project of Sun MicroSystems and the New Media Consortium)
Qwaq
Prototerra
Other virtual worlds too numerous to mention!

The University of Illinois Graduate School of Library and Information Science and Alliance Library System are offering
non-credit courses for librarians and Educators interested in virtual worlds. Here are the
courses to be offered in July and August. For more information on the courses, dates, and to register, check the website at
http://www.lis.uiuc.edu/programs/cpd/VW/edpres.html

Second Life 101 - taught by Barbara Galik (Puglet Dancer)

Using Immersive Environments in the Classroom for School Media Specialists - taught by Kelly Czarnecki (BlueWings Hayek)

Introduction to Virtual World Librarianship - taught by JJ Jacbosen (JJ Drinkwater), Bill Sowers(Rocky Vallejo),
Rhonda Trueman (Abbey Zenith) and S. Thompson(Hypatia Dejavu)

Working with a Class in Second Life - taught by Bryan Carter (Bryan Mnemonic)

Setting Up an Educational Presence in Second Life - taught by Rhonda Trueman(Abbey Zenith), Tom Peters (Maxito Ricardo)
and Lori Bell (Lorelei Junot)

Technical Skills for the Virtual World Librarian and Educators - taught by Bernadette Swanson(HVX Silverstar)
and Denise Cote (Pipsqueak Fiddlesticks)

For additional information, contact Marianne Steadley at steadley@uiuc.edu

Second Life viewing and discussion program kicks off FRONTLINE/World, ALA pilot grant program for libraries

CHICAGO – In celebration of their groundbreaking Social Entrepreneurs series, FRONTLINE/World, in cooperation with the American Library Association (ALA) Public Programs Office, will award grants of $500 plus supporting program materials to 40 public and academic libraries. The grant funds will facilitate the screening and discussion of one the series’ short documentary films on innovative social entrepreneurs around the world.
A preview of the FRONTLINE/World Social Entrepreneurship series followed by an introduction to the library outreach program will be presented by the ALA Public Programs Office at 4:00 p.m. SLT (6:00 p.m. CST) on Friday, June 20 on the ALA Island main stage in Second Life. Lori Bell (Lorelei Junot in Second Life), director of innovation at Alliance Library System will moderate the discussion and Mary Davis Fournier (Schnoodle Snoodle), program director of the ALA Public Programs Office will answer questions on applying for the grant and planning social entrepreneurship programs for libraries.
To be eligible for the grant program, libraries must:
 Host a screening and discussion of a FRONTLINE/World series film, and
 In partnership with local or regional organization engaged in issues of social entrepreneurship, host at least one related program (panel, lecture, forum or other format).
In addition to the $500 grant, selected libraries will receive a DVD containing the FRONTLINE/World series compilation, facilitator’s guide containing promotional material templates, recommended additional resources and reference materials, and a supply of FRONTLINE/World Social Entrepreneurs series bookmarks. For an application, visit www.pbs.org/frontlineworld or www.ala.org/socialentrepreneurs. Applications must be submitted electronically to libraries@flworld.org by August 1, 2008.

Land of Lincoln Book Discussion

Murder Most Foul: On Thursday evening, June 19th at 6:00 SLT we will be have an informal conversation about the recently published book by Julie M. Fenster, The Case of Abraham Lincoln: A Story of Adultery, Murder, and the Making of a Great President. Everyone is welcome to attend, even if you haven’t read the book! We will meet in the Punch Building on the Land of Lincoln Island. If you need a TP, please IM Maxito Ricardo.

In 1856 Springfield, Illinois was a growing, optimistic community, the Republican Party was forming, Abraham Lincoln was resuscitating his political career, and the issue of slavery was becoming the most important national issue. Then one night in Springfield a successful blacksmith was bludgeoned to death in his backyard, following a month-long attempt to poison him with strychnine. His wife and his nephew, who were suspected of being lovers, were arrested. Lincoln became involved in the resulting criminal law case, which both revealed and steeled his character.

The Sci-Fi & Fantasy Portal
presents it’s June Book of the Month Discussion~

Title & Author: The Red Planet by Robert Heinlein

Where: The Sci-Fi & Fantasy Portal, Info Island 210–94–33
When: Wed. June 18 @ 6:30 pm and Sat. June 21 @ 1 pm
Host: Yohan Althouse

Young Mars colonist, Jim Marlow, leaves his home in the South Colony to attend school at the Martian Equator. With him comes his round, furry Martian friend, Willis. But unfortunately, the friendly, little creature is captured and held hostage by the militaristic Headmaster.

While Jim and his buddy, Frank attmept to rescue Willis, they stumble onto a secret that threatens the survival of the Red Planet’s colonists.

We welcome people to come and share their ideas and insights.

Pantheon Theater on Infotainment Island
Well-known SL artist, Heath Elvejham, will be playing his electracoustic fusion piano at the Pantheon Theater on June 14 at 1:00 PM Linden Time. Heath is always a popular draw, and so come early to get a good seat and socialize with some of the other HEATHens. If you need a tp, contanct John2 Kepler.

Rainbow Readings at Rainbow Gardens

Whether they woofed or purred or chirped or squeaked,
come pay tribute to your animal companions at
The Rainbow Readings

When: Thursday, June 19, 6pm – 7pm SLT
Where: Rainbow Gardens Pet Memorial Center, Cybrary City II (129, 13, 21)

Share your poems, short stories, or remembrances about your pets
(Please prepare material on note cards beforehand for cutting and pasting if possible)

This is the first in a planned series of monthly events that will be given on different days and at different times. Please contact Dulcie Mills for further details or if you have any questions or want to join the Rainbow Gardens Pet Memorial Center.

West of Ireland Library Events

Stop by on Monday, 16 June for a traditional Irish celebration: Bloomsday! Cunningham Docherty will be reading from Ulysses at 11 am SLT and again at 7pm SLT. Derry McMahon will join in the later performance.
Bloomsday (Irish: Lá Bhloom) is a commemoration observed annually on 16 June in Dublin and elsewhere to celebrate the life of Irish writer James Joyce and relive the events in his novel Ulysses, all of which took place on the same day in Dublin in 1904. The day is a secular holiday in Ireland. The name derives from Leopold Bloom, the protagonist of Ulysses, and 16 June was the date of Joyce’s first outing with his wife-to-be, Nora Barnacle, when they walked to the Dublin village of Ringsend. (Thanks to Wikipedia for the blurb)

Tuesday 17 July - Storytellers AineMari Flanagan and David Itemae @ 6pm SLT (plus open mic for stories)

Wednesday 18 July - Rei Hax continues his reading of the sci fi book “Ender’s Game” by Orson Scott Card @ 7pm SLT

Thursday 19 July - Shandon Loring will delight us with more Celtic myths and legends @ 7pm SLT

For more information, please IM or email Derry McMahon (derrymcmahon at gmail.com)
http://slurl.com/secondlife/West%20of%20Ireland/44/171/26

Alexandrian Free Library: Winterfell, New Toulouse, and Steelhead Library Events

New Toulouse Community Library Contest!
Deadline, June 20th
Wake up your inner Voodoo queen for the New Toulouse Community Library’s Voodoo Spell Writing Competition! In anticipation of the June 26th grand opening, the library is accepting all manner of charms, incantations and gris-gris potions to be compiled into a community spell book, which will be issued free to patrons at the gala event. Creativity, ingenuity and humor will be awarded with a token of appreciation from the library. All SL residents are encouraged to submit their own personal conjurations, which can be submitted via notecard to June Wozniak or Bedlamie Thunders by Friday, June 20th.

——————————————————

The Caledon Library and Radio Riel Present:
Shakespeare Summer Act I: A Midsummer Night’s Dream,

Events and “From the Library” Broadcasts June 15 - 21,
All music and audio events play on http://music.radioriel.org

Sunday, June 15
* The Caledon Library Play Discussion, 2:00pm - 4:00pm SLT
The Great Lawn of the Whitehorn Library, Caledon VIctoriaCity
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Caledon%20Victoria%20City/30/180/23
* Music program: Music of the Fae

Monday, June 16
* Music program: Groundlings to Gods - The Music of Shakespeare’s Time

Tuesday, June 17
* Music program: Mendelssohn and His Mentors

Wednesday, June 18
* Listening Party for “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” in its entirety, 1:00pm - 3:00pm SLT
* Listening Party for “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” in its entirety, 7:00pm - 9:00pm SLT
Location: Coughton Court in Caledon Carntaigh,

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Caledon%20Carntaigh/83/183/25

Hosted by Gabrielle Riel

Relax in the garden of Coughton Court and enjoy an audio production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” in its entirety.

* Music program: Songs of Summer

Thursday, June 19
* Music program: The Play’s the Thing - Music for and inspired by Shakespeare’s plays
* “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” in its entirety, runs twice during the day

Friday, June 20
* Adam & Eve Event: The Fashion of Shakespeare, 1:00pm - 3:00pm SLT
Location: Genesis, http://slurl.com/secondlife/Genesis/149/163/43
* Music program: Solstice Celebration
* “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” in its entirety, runs twice during the day

Saturday, June 21
* A Midsummer Night’s Dream Ball, 3:00pm - 5:00pm SLT
Music at the Ball will be primarily Classical, with some Early, Celtic, Folk and Shakespeare-themed music.
Location: Hoy,

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Hoy/120/143/36

* Music program: “Out of this wood do not desire to go”

We encourage guests to attend the Ball in costume, either in something inspired by the play or in Shakespearian attire. Our recommended costumer is Adam & Eve in the Genesis Sim. http://slurl.com/secondlife/Genesis/149/163/43

——————————————————

Reading:The Valley of the Ivory Swan : The Warrior Princess by Aianna Oh
Winterfell Library
Sat, June 21, 2 – 3pm slt
Winterfell Palace
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Winterfell/106/201/36
Author Aianna Oh reads from her novel-in-progress, a work of High Fantasy

———————————————————-
Storytelling with Diogenes Kuhr
Sun, June 22, 6 – 7pm
Timeless Folk in a Changing Land” Live Story Telling Event
Steelhead Public Library
Sunday, June 22 6 pm SL
Steelhead City hall, Steelhead City
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Steelhead/120/56/28
Deadwood resident and entrepreneur Diogenes Kuhr will share stories of
archetypal characters from the American Old West. Hear about gamblers,
over -the-mountain-men, gunslingers, native warriors and hunters,
con-men and painted ladies, elements of a popular mythology that was
born in reality but reshaped in the collective imagination. Mosey over to the Steelhead City Hall and give a listen in!

Swing Into the 30s at Rich Idiot
Swing into the 30s with Gabrielle Riel at Gatsby’s on Rich Idiot Island at 5 pm sl on Friday June 13.
Contact Lorelei Junot for more information.

Rainbow Readings at Rainbow Gardens

Whether they woofed or purred or chirped or squeaked,
come pay tribute to your animal companions at
The Rainbow Readings

When: Thursday, June 19, 6pm – 7pm SLT
Where: Rainbow Gardens Pet Memorial Center, Cybrary City II (129, 13, 21)

Share your poems, short stories, or remembrances about your pets
(Please prepare material on note cards beforehand for cutting and pasting if possible)

This is the first in a planned series of monthly events that will be given on different days and at different times. Please contact Dulcie Mills for further details or if you have any questions or want to join the Rainbow Gardens Pet Memorial Center.

Stepping Into History conference
There is still space available for the Stepping Into History Conference sponsored
by Alliance Library System and Learning Times on June 24. See the event
website at http://www.steppingintohistory.org or contact John Howard at ALS
at jhoward@alliancelibrarysystem.com for more information.

Alexandrian Free Library: Caledon, Winterfell, and Steelhead Library Events

Poetry Writing Workshop
Steelhead Public Library
Wednesday, June 11, 7 pm SL
Steelhead Public Library, Steelhead City
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Steelhead/123/185/24
Dov Whiteberry, the a renowned Vermont poet and educator
is welcomed back to the Steelhead Library for our continuing poetry
workshop series. Poems don’t have to rhyme - honest!

Book Discussion: The Virginian: A Horseman of the Plains by Owen Wister.
Steelhead Public Library
Thursday, June 12 7 pm SL
Reading Garden, Steelhead Public Library, Steelhead City
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Steelhead/127/210/25
The Virginian laid the foundation for all the later
western books you know and love. Remington Pinion is our discussion
leader for this month and it promises to be a great get together! Ride
on over pardners! This event will be held right next door to the
library in the new Library Garden and you can let your horse graze in
the grass!

Reading:The Valley of the Ivory Swan : The Warrior Princess by Aianna Oh
Winterfell Library
Sat, June 14, 2 – 3pm slt
Winterfell Palace
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Winterfell/106/201/36
Author Aianna Oh reads from her novel-in-progress, a work of High Fantasy

Caledon Library Book Discussion - A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Sun, June 15, 2 – 4pm
Caledon Library Book Discussion
A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare
Sunday, June 15th , 2 – 4pm slt
The Great Lawn of the Whitehorn Library, Caledon VIctoriaCity
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Caledon%20Victoria%20City/30/180/23
Considered the most varied and original of The Bard’s early comedies, Midsummer Night’s Dream is discovered anew by each generation, as its multiplicity of interpretations and productions shows. The play’s fantastical wordplay and imagery is a gorgeous wrapper for a layered tale of the changeable nature of attachment & desire “momentany as a sound, swift as a shadow, short as any dream,” which ends, as a good Elizabethan comedies must, with a wedding…but this one is a triple wedding, accompanied by the comic “Play within a play” of Pryamus & Thisbe.
Peopled by such memorable character s as Bottom the Weaver, Titania the proud and impulsive queen of the fairies, and Puck (or Robin Goodfellow), the play transports us to a realm as strange and familiar as a dream.

All lovers of Shakespeare and of fairy lore are invited to join us, as are all Amazon Queens, Sportive Dukes, Star-Crossed Lovers, Sprites, Merry Wanderers of the Night, Talking Walls and Diffident Lions, whether they have read the play or not

NOTE: The teleport takes you to a hub in Caledon VictoriaCity… Just follow the red arrow/beacon north through the Reading Room to the Great Lawn, or use the red and gold book-shaped Library Transport Device located at the telehub.

Please direct questions to JJ Drinkwater, Caledon Library.

This Discussion is part of the “Shakespeare Summer”, produced by Radio Riel, with the kind assistance of the Foundation for Rich Content. The Dream will continue on June 21st, with a Gala Midsummer Night’s Dream Ball, in the Enchanted sim of Hoy, 6-8pm slt. See the Radio Riel blog at http://radioriel.blogspot.com/ for more information.

“Timeless Folk in a Changing Land” Live Story Telling Event
Steelhead Public Library
Sunday, June 22 6 pm SL
Steelhead City hall, Steelhead City
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Steelhead/120/56/28
Deadwood resident and entrepreneur Diogenes Kuhr will share stories of
archetypal characters from the American Old West. Hear about gamblers,
over -the-mountain-men, gunslingers, native warriors and hunters,
con-men and painted ladies, elements of a popular mythology that was
born in reality but reshaped in the collective imagination. Mosey on
over to the Steelhead Town Hall and give a listen in!

Building Partners Announced for Virtual Ability Island
The Partnership of Virtual Ability, Inc. and the Alliance Library System is extremely pleased to announce the selection of a building team for our new island called Virtual Ability. Sambivalent Spork, Sabine Stonebender and Anhayla Lycia will be working closely with project coordinators Carolina Keats and Eme Capalini to construct a welcome center, an orientation center with beginning, intermediate and advanced areas, and several training and meeting facilities.

Sambivalent, Sabine and Anhayla have completed many high quality builds and bring with them years of experience in education and design technology. They also have a commitment to supporting the growth of nonprofit SL communities such as Virtual Ability, Dreams, and a number of charitable efforts.

We would like to express a special word of appreciation to the VAI/ALS Building Advisory Committee that has provided guidance to the island design and oversaw the evaluation of proposals from 6 different builders. This committee will continue to provide oversight during the build process. The members of this committee consist of Namav Abramovic, Namro Orman, Ricken Flow, Stepinwolf Darkstone, and The Sojourner.

We anticipate a two month build process. Access to Virtual Ability island will be restricted during construction.

Let the build begin!

060408 Hot Topic Cybersex Transcript
The June 4th Hot Topics Discussion - Cybersex: Talking about the elephant in the room was facilitated by a panel of three, Katt Tomsen, Trina Varriale, and Holly Chase. This lively discussion included great comments and questions from the attendees. The chat was thought provoking and at times humorous! Transcript is attached. We hope you can make the next discussion - July 2nd - Governance: How does the virtual world run? How should it?

On Thursday, June 5, students from Quincy Notre Dame High School in Illinois and their instructors arrived for a half day introduction to Teen Second Life. The teens already on Land of Lincoln island helped out with the day, giving the new teens a tour, setting up a celebration area for them afterwards, and helped them throughout the day. Special thanks to Lorelei, Abbey, for organizing the group and teaching building and to Zoaan and Dreyfus, adult volunteers on the island who helped with teaching about changing appearance and photography skills. We look forward to working with the students in the near future! They caught on fast and seemed to enjoy the day.

Wondering how to get started with a building in Seond Life? Attend the workshop on Cybrary City I, June 3, 2008 at
8:00 a.m. SLT, So You Want a Library or Organization in Second Life? A Practical Guide. Speakers include
Sonja Morgwain and Lorelei Junot

Library Art Gallery Grande Re-Opening!!
Friday, 6 June 2008, 6P – 7.30P SLT
Location: Library Art Gallery @ Info Island
SLURL: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Info%20Island/48/79/33/

Art departments from the University of Kentucky and East Tennessee State University will be exhibiting during the June and July 2008 show. We are delighted to have the very talented Gabrielle Riel DJ and owner of Radio Riel mix up great set of tunes. We’ll be dancing, appreciating the art and our artists, and having a grand time! Please come and bring a friend — we’ll be dancing, too! For more information, contact Teofila Matova.

Discussion at the China Cafe!
Join us at the China Cafe on Thursday, June 5 at 5am SL and 5pm SL for informative discussions about the
Chinese holiday “Dragon Boat Festival” or “Duanwu”. These presentations will be provided by our instructor
ling Markstein speaking to us from China.
SLURL: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Info%20Island%20International/27/188/43.
For more information, contact Elaine Tulip

Science Fiction/Fantasy Portal Film DIscussion of Blade Runner
The Sci-Fi & Fantasy Portal
presents it’s June Film Discussion

Film: BLADE RUNNER
When: June 7th. at 1 pm
Where: Info Island 1 (210–94–33)
at the round discussion circle under the Portal

We welcome you to share your ideas, insights, and information about this film. For mroe information contact
Frana Russell.

Caledon and Steelhead Library Events June 3-13

Story Session at the Falling Anvil: Jack Tars & Commodores
Mon, June 9, 5 – 8p:
The Falling Anvil Public House, Caledon Tamrannoch
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Caledon%20Tamrannoch/233/113/23/

“Here are tinkers, tailors & shoemakers lie snoring fast asleep
While we poor souls on the ocean wide are plowing through the deep
Our officers commanded us, and it’s them we must obey
Expecting every moment for to get cast away”

Join the old salts, coasters, stowaways, privateers & other bold seafaring folk of the Falling Anvil for stories & songs of life at sea. Anyone with a tale to tell of high adventure on the high seas, mermaids, shipwrecks, bold raids, buffeting storms and miscellaneous maritime misadventures is welcome to come tell a tale, and all lovers of story are welcome to join us simply to listen. The evening is sponsored by the Caledon Library and the Clan of Seafarers & Storytellers, and hosted by Aldo Stern.

Steelhead Library Poetry writing workshop with Dov Whiteberry
Wed June 11, 7pm SLT
Steelhead Public Library
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Steelhead/118/186/24
Dov Whiteberry (known in RL as Vermont poet and teacher David
Weinstock) will help you write your first poem or improve the ones
you’ve already written. No previous experience is required.

Steelhead Library Book Discussion:
The Virginian: A Horseman of the Plains by Owen Wister
Thurs, June 12
7pm SLT
Steelhead Public Library
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Steelhead/118/186/24

Come on out and enjoy a fascinating book discussion with our host
moderator Remington Pinion as we talk about this classic book first
published in 1902 which helped define the American cowboy and the
Western book genre.
Available for free online reading from Project Gutenberg at
http://www.gutenberg.org/catalog/world/readfile?fk_files=422210&pageno=6
And Biblomania at http://www.bibliomania.com/0/0/58/105/frameset.html
**From Amazon.com**
Owen Wister’s powerful story of the silent stranger who rides into the
uncivilized West and defeats the forces of evil embodies one of the
most enduring themes in American mythology.
Set in the vast Wyoming territory, The Virginian (1902) captures both
the grandeur and the loneliness of the frontier experience,
brilliantly evoking the tension between the romantic freedom of the
great, untamed landscape and mankind’s deep-seated desire for
community and social order. Wister brings to life the honesty and
rough justice that ruled the range and the civilizing influence of
determined women in frontier settlements that imposed a sense of
society on an unruly population.Eating lucnh, regaining my equanimity
For Wister, the West tested a man’s true worth. His hero-influenced by
those of Sir Walter Scott and James Fenimore Cooper-is a man who lives
by the classic code of chivalry, ruled by quiet courage and a deeply
felt sense of honor.

For more information, contact JJ Drinkwater.

West Ireland Library and Cultural Center
There are always fun events in the West of Ireland Library and Cultural Center!

June 2nd - Geneaology Workshop with Jaylynn Sinatra @ 7pm SLT
June 3rd - Storytelling with AineMari Flanagan (also open mic for stories) @ 6pm SLT
June 4th - Storytelling with Rei Hax (Science Fiction) @ 7pm SLT
June 5th - Storytelling with Shandon Loring (Celtic Myths & Legends) @ 7pm SLT

Please join us for these great events. IM Derry McMahon for more information.
http://slurl.com/secondlife/West%20of%20Ireland/44/171/26

STEPPING INTO HISTORY CONFERENCE ON JUNE 24

What if instead of talking about history, we could experience it? What if, instead of looking at photos or drawings of historical sites, we could walk into and through them? What if, instead of reading the words of a Lincoln or a Ghandi, we could hear them speak?The technology of virtual worlds is opening up a new universe of possibilities in promoting and teaching a love of history. The “Stepping into History” conference is your chance to learn about, and experience for yourself, the power of virtual worlds at the service of history. This exciting day scheduled for June 10 has filled up, but another day is planned for June 24. For more information, see the website at
http://www.steppingintothistory.org
or contact Conference Coordinator John Howard at jhoward@alliancelibrarysystem.com.
This conference is sponsored by Alliance Library System and Learning Times.