[CPSLibraries] Summer Author Series on Teen Second Life

Fri Jul 11 14:42:13 CDT 2008

Hello:

Attached is information about a virtual summer author series that is
being co-organized by our department (primarily out of hours).  For
those checking their summer email and with distribution lists to teens,
please pass along the attached press release.  Note:  Since these events
will occur on the teen grid of Second Life, they are for the most part
available only to teens.  Adults are invited to listen to the audio
streams for Jack Gantos and Meg Cabot on the link listed below.

For Immediate Release: July 9, 2008

"Summer Author Chats" Event in Teen Second Life(r) - 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    

Adults may watch and listen to a live stream of each author presentation
at: http://www.libraryloft.org/secondlife.asp
<http://www.libraryloft.org/secondlife.asp>  and select "View
Eye4YouAlliance Island Live Streaming Video".

Schedule of Summer Author Chats

Jacqueline Woodson
Friday, July 18
5pm ET/2pm PT/2pm Second Life time

Jack Gantos
Thursday, July 24
7pm ET/4pm PT/4pm Second Life time

Meg Cabot
Friday, August 8
4pm ET/1pm PT/1pm Second Life time

Attention Book Clubs: If you wish to have your reading group members
participate and hang with these authors, please email Kelly Czarnecki to
arrange access. kczarnecki at plcmc.org

About the event organizers:

Founded in 1903 as a Carnegie Free Library, PLCMC has become one of the
premiere libraries in the country with 24 locations, 1.6 million
volumes, and 28,000 videos, DVDs and CDs. The library sponsors a variety
of community-based programs - from computer- and Internet-education
workshops to the award-winning Novello Festival of Reading, a
celebration that accentuates the fun of reading and learning. As a
public library, we are dedicated to our mission of expanding minds,
empowering individuals and enriching our community.

TeachingBooks.net is an online collection of book and author resources
for schools, libraries, and home use that brings books to life and
generates enthusiasm for reading. Used by 21,000 schools nationwide, it
offers easy access from one website to tens of thousands of multimedia
resources for all K-12 children's and young adult books, fiction and
nonfiction, with original content to introduce the work of popular
award-winning authors.

The Chicago Public Schools Department of Libraries and Information
Services supports the district's schools in developing and improving
library programs that are integral to teaching and learning and provides
support for effective teaching, curriculum integration, professional
development, collection development, library automation, use of online
resources, coordination of library technology with other technology in
the school, grant applications and implementation, and coordination of
school and public library resources and services.

Questions: 

Lisa Perez, Chicago Public Schools Dept of Libraries, leperez1 at cps.edu,
(773) 553-6212

Lisa E. Perez

Area Library Coordinator (HS)

CPS Professional Librarian

Medill Training Center

1326 W. 14th Pl, Rm 216

Chicago, Illinois  60608

773-553-6212 (ph), 773-553-6211 (fax)

http://www.cps.k12.il.us/aboutcps/departments/libraries

ISTE Media Specialists SIG Chair-Elect

Second Life Avatar: Elaine Tulip

http://blogs.cuip.net/dlis

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.lib.uchicago.edu/pipermail/cpslibraries/attachments/20080711/4379a718/attachment-0001.htm>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: Second Life Summer Authors Press Release_FINAL.pdf
Type: application/octet-stream
Size: 22180 bytes
Desc: Second Life Summer Authors Press Release_FINAL.pdf
URL: <http://lists.lib.uchicago.edu/pipermail/cpslibraries/attachments/20080711/4379a718/attachment-0001.obj>