Library Reference Specialist of ALA

The Virtual Communities and Libraries Member Initiative Group meeting for the 2009 ALA Annual Conference – taking place in the hometown of ALA Headquarters: Chicago, IL! — will take place in real life on Saturday, July 11, 2009, at 3:00 pm CT (1:00 pm PT/SLT), at National Louis University, which is located at 122 S. Michigan Avenue. Meet the members of VCL MIG in the Second Floor Atrium.

Do you have friends going to Annual Conference who would like a chance to see what SL is like? IM Oberon Octagon if interested in attending an orientation session in the ALA HQ Training Room this Friday, July 10, 2009 at 10am or 2pm CT for a chance to see your avatar on a BIG screen. Get tips on using the SL viewer, see ALA Island, or just have a group together in one room for a dual-world chat.

There will be free Second Life Librarian ribbons for your badge from Tina Coleman (ALA Island’s Kay Tairov in Second Life) at the Membership Pavilion, Booth #3034, at McCormick Place, which opens tomorrow, July 11, at 8:45 am Central Time.

Pick up your free 2009 ALA Annual Conference T-Shirt for your avatar in-world at the Main Stage on ALA Island (130, 103, 31).

For news in-world, visit the VCL MIG Twitter Screen Area on ALA Island (131, 213, 28). Join one (or both) of the Second Life online communities on ALA Connect: Virtual Communities and Libraries, Second Life Users Group.

Next week, we’ll be posting a round-up of the Cognotes issues from conference and streaming in any podcasts or video captured at various events and programs.

Our first video is already up! Go to AL Focus Video Village on ALA Island (79, 44, 44) and watch the brief interview with Paula Poundstone before she appeared as a panelist just last night before a 500-strong all-librarian audience for this week’s live taping of the NPR radio quiz show, Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me! The video is titled Paula Poundstone at Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me!

2009 ALA Annual Conference — Sessions discussing Second Life and other virtual worlds

Life After 2.0
Public Library Association (PLA, a division of ALA)
Saturday, July 10, 1:30 pm-3:00 om Central Time
Location: McCormick Place West in W-190b

Track: Digital Information & Technologies
What has become of the initial push for Web 2.0 technologies and services in public libraries? Which programs have been successful? What have we learned from the failures? Blogs, wikis, Second Life, and all things Library 2.0 will be considered against the backdrop of librarian/patron satisfaction. Join our panel of Web 2.0 experts as they discuss what some libraries have done to measure the quality and impact of 2.0 services.

Speakers: Lori Bell, Director of Innovation, Alliance Library System, East Peoria, Ill.; Helene Blowers, Director of Digital Strategy, Columbus (Ohio) Metropolitan Library; Meredith Farkas, Head of Instructional Initiatives, Kretzberg Library, Norwich University, Vt.; Jed Moffitt, Moderator, Associate Director, Information Technology Systems, King County (Wash.) Library System; Michelle Springer, Project Manager, Digital Initiatives, Library of Congress, Washington, DC
 

Giving Maps a Second Life with Digital Technologies
Map and Geography Round Table (MAGERT)
Saturday, July 11, 3:30 pm-5:30 pm Central Time
Location: Hyatt Regency McCormick in Conf. Ctr. 23

Track: Digital Information & Technologies
Please join the Map and Geography Round Table (MAGERT) in welcoming Mr. David Rumsey of Cartography Associates who will be presenting a program entitled Giving Maps a Second Life with Digital Technologies.  In this program, Mr. Rumsey will show how his increasing use of digital technologies and the Internet over the past decade has transformed his work as a historical map scholar and collector. Using imaging software, GIS, and popular applications like Google Earth and Second Life, Rumsey has given new life to old maps, both in their dissemination and our ability to analyze and understand them, thereby unlocking the information held in maps for use in a wide range of disciplines. He will discuss and demonstrate how he offers these software tools and a growing number of digitized maps themselves on his free public online map library at www.davidrumsey.com.
 

Web 2.0 meet the Standards for 21st Century Learner
American Association of School Librarians (AASL, a division of ALA)
Sunday, July 12, 10:30-12:00
Location: McCormick Place West in W-187

Track: Digital Information & Technologies
The panel will demonstrate five Web 2.0 tools, highlighting the features that support our new standards. At tables, groups will brainstorm and develop how these tools can be used to support inquiry learning and report out. The moderator will record these ideas in a wiki designed for future growth. We hope to be able to share this session with 2.0-style—Ustream and have others Twitter in. As a wrap up, we may go into Second life and discuss the same tools with some librarian around the country/world (pre-arranged).

Presenters: Joyce Valenza, Pam Berger, Wendy Stephens, Christopher Harris, Lisa E Perez, Jeff Hastings, and Robin Williams
 

Making Virtual Reality-Based Library Services Real for K-12 Teachers & Librarians
American Association of School Librarians (AASL, a division of ALA)
Sunday, July 12, 3:30 pm-5:30 pm Central Time
Location: McCormick Place West in W-175b/c

Track: Administration & Leadership; Collaboration
This program will identify and share effective professional development technologies; best practices in using a virtual reality environment to deliver professional library services; information about effective practices in administering a virtual-reality based library services program. Using Second Life, the technology and its uses will be discussed highlighting the benefits to networking, resource identification and professional development. The Chicago Public Schools Department of Libraries Second Life Project will be used to demonstrate from the project planning to implementation. This program will also discuss the future of multi-user virtual reality environments, including information on other current virtual reality  environments, development of education grids, interoperability with other Web 2.0 technologies, and open
standard development.

Speakers: Lisa Perez; Christie Thomas
 

My Avatar Will Contact Your Avatar: Virtual Worlds, Real Opportunities
Library Leadership and Management Association (LLAMA, a division of ALA), Systems and Services Section (SASS)
Monday, July 13, 8:00 am-10:00 am Central Time
Location: McCormick Place West in W-178a

Track: Administration & Leadership; Leadership & Management
Virtual worlds are creating a new strain of librarianship, with its own set of opportunities and affordances.  The number of virtual worlds and the overall citizenship of virtual worlds continue to increase.  Many libraries are developing services and collections in virtual worlds.  Sooner or later all libraries will need to make a decision about virtual worlds.  In this program, we will explore the following questions: What are the trends and developments in virtual worlds, such as Second Life, Lively, Qwaq, Teen Second Life, and Whyville? How are they being used by libraries and library-related organizations? What factors should libraries consider in deciding whether or not to develop a virtual world presence? What is the future of librarianship in virtual worlds? What resources and skills are needed to start and sustain a virtual world library presence?

Speakers: Lori Bell, Alliance Library System; Tom Peters, TAP Information Services; Kathryn Robinson, Orange County Library System

Is your library participating in the ALA National Gaming Day on Saturday, November 15, 2008?
http://delicious.com/alalibrary/alagamingday08

This week’s Salon Huron on ALA Island (196, 206, 29) on Thursday, October 30, at 3:30 pm Pacific Time/Second Life Time will be led by Sonja Morgwain. The discussion topic is National Gaming Day - share ideas, what your library is doing, etc. The discussion will last approximately one hour and everyone is invited!

If you’d like, RSVP at the Facebook Event Page, at:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=32648623310

If you have other ideas/topics for discussion, please send an IM to Lorelei Junot. These will take place each Thursday as part of the ALA Virtual Communities and Libraries Member Initiative Group (ALA VCL MIG). See the Virtual Presence Blog for details, at:
http://www.virtual.ala.org/virtualpresence

Thanks Lorelei Junot for the event description! Also see–
http://infoisland.org/2008/10/28/ala-salon-huron-national-gaming-day-discussion

Young adult author and LJ'er cynleitichsmith will be appearing in Second Life TONIGHT on ALA Island at 5:00 pm Pacific Time/Second Life Time.

See Virtual Presence Blog entry --

Tantalize Author Speaks on ALA Island Main Stage, at:
www.virtual.ala.org/virtualpresence/?p=74

Young Adult author Cynthia Leitich Smith -- as Second Life avatar, Cynthia Zanzibar -- will be presenting on the American Library Association’s Island (ALA Island 129, 105, 29) on October 14 at 5pm PST.

Oh-so-creepy stage set up masterfully created by Abbey Zenith -- www.flickr.com/people/abbeyzenith

May 8, 2008 press release from the American Library Association (ALA) --

Children’s book on male penguins raising chick tops ALA's 2007 list of most challenged books  
http://www.ala.org/ala/newspresscenter/news/pressreleases2008/may2008/penguin.cfm




March 6, 2007 press release from the American Library Association (ALA) --

"And Tango Makes Three" tops ALA's 2006 list of most challenged books
http://www.ala.org/ala/newspresscenter/news/pressreleases2007/march2007/mc06.cfm
  

Here are the events that we have scheduled so far for ALA Island in Second Life for 2008 Banned Books Week. More events to be announced. Locations subject to change. See the (new!)  ALA Island Facebook Fan Page for latest information.

Last revised: September 29, 2008

NEW ON ALA ISLAND FOR BANNED BOOKS WEEK! BE SURE TO SEE!

Banned Books Week Town Square - Main site for this week's Banned Books Week events!

Come see how many book references you can spot!

Banned Books Week Town Square on ALA Island (203, 55, 61)

ALA Garden Storytelling Area - A whimsical and calming place to sit and chat, listen to the current audio program, or just take a moment to chill out and think.Enter the Name the Garden contest for a free READ poster of your choice.

Garden Storytelling Area on ALA Island (28, 103, 21)

----------------------------------------

Saturday, Sept. 27th

- Censorship and School Libraries (30 min) ALL DAY

Galen Noltenius Sky Platform on ALA Island (206, 100, 46)  -- New Coordinates!

March 5, 1982 episode of "The Open Mind"

Host: Richard D. Heffner, University Professor of Communications and Public Policy at Rutgers University

Guests: George W. Lipp, Jr., counsel for the Board of Education, and Alan H. Levine, counsel for Steven Pico and the other students, for the legal case, Board of Education, Island Trees Union Free School District Number 26 et al vs. Steven Pico et al, 457 U.S. 853, which helped bring about Banned Books Week. Read the transcript. Courtesy of the Internet Archive of The Open Mind episodes.

(FYI: See the book Board of Education v. Pico (1982) by John C. Gold. New York: Twenty-First Century Books, 1994)

Sunday, Sept. 28th

- Frank Zappa On Crossfire, 1986-03-28 (30 min) ALL DAY

Galen Noltenius Sky Platform on ALA Island (206, 100, 46)  -- New Coordinates!

March 28, 1986 episode of "Crossfire"

Hosts: Tom Braden and Robert Novak

Guests: Rock musician Frank Zappa and Washington Post reporter John Lofton debate labeling of rock music records and censorship of music videos

Courtesy of the Internet Archive of Open Source Movies.

Monday, Sept. 29th

12:30 Second Life Time/Pacific Time - 2:30 Central Time

Banned Books Week Town Square on ALA Island (203, 55, 61) -- New location!

- Discussion of And Tango Makes Three, written by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell, and illustrated by Henry Cole.

What makes this the most challenged book for the last two years?

Comments and questions from audience encouraged

Judy Blume . . . and Our Children's Freedom to Read (1992) (30 min) ALL DAY

Galen Noltenius Sky Platform on ALA Island (206, 100, 46)  -- New Coordinates!

1992 episode of "The Open Mind"

Host: Richard D. Heffner

Guest: Author Judy Blume

Courtesy of the Internet Archive of The Open Mind episodes

Tuesday, Sept. 30th

- Storylines Midwest episode (60 min) ALL DAY

Garden Storytelling Area on ALA Island (28, 103, 21) -- New location!

Featuring A Thousand Acres by Jane Smiley, winner of Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 1991

Successfully banned at high school in Lynden, WA in 1994; successfully retained at high school in Round Rock, TX in 1996

AND

Storylines Midwest episode (60 min) ALL DAY

Featuring Native Son by Richard Wright. Challenged in New Hampshire and in New Jersey in 1978; challenged in Massachusetts in 1982; challenged in Michigan in 1988; challeneged in Washington in 1994; challeneged in North Carolina in 1996; challeneged in California and in Indiana in 1998.

Sky Book Platform on ALA Island (129, 156, 69)

Wednesday, Oct. 1st

12:30 Second Life Time/Pacific Time - 2:30 Central Time

Banned Books Week Town Square on ALA Island (203, 55, 61) -- New location!

- Discussion Topic: Is Banned Books Week Necessary?

Do you think Banned Books Week is necessary? Important? Or is it all just National Hogwash Week?

Discussion moderated by Second Life avatar Bryan Anderton/Bryan Campbell of ALA's Office for Intellectual Freedom.

Comments and questions from audience expected!
 

Thursday, Oct. 2nd

4:00 Second Life Time/Pacific Time - 6:00 Central Time

- Dance at *new* Garden of ALA Island

Garden Storytelling Area on ALA Island (28, 103, 21) -- New location!

Theme: Arabian Nights or The Thousand and One Nights by Anonymous

Not allowed into the USA (1927-1931) and confiscated in Egypt (1985), said to threaten moral fabric of citizens.

SPECIAL!!  -- Don't forget to enter the Name the Garden Contest!

Friday, Oct. 3rd

12:30 Second Life Time/Pacific Time - 2:30 Central Time

Banned Books Week Town Square on ALA Island (203, 55, 61) -- New location!

- Open debate on The Perks of Being A Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

What makes this book so objectionable to the parents of high school students?

Several volunteers needed to debate the two main opposing sides -- please contact Bryan Campbell of ALA's Office for Intellectual Freedom about participation. Or send an IM (Instant Message) to Second Life avatar Bryan Anderton.

Comments and questions from audience encouraged, but this will be more of a structured debate than a discussion.

Judy Blume (2000) (30 min) ALL DAY

Galen Noltenius Sky Platform on ALA Island (206, 100, 46)  -- New Coordinates!

October 20, 2000 episode of "The Open Mind"

Host: Richard D. Heffner

Guest: Author Judy Blume

Courtesy of the Internet Archive of The Open Mind episodes

Saturday, Oct. 4th

12:30 Second Life Time/Pacific Time - 2:30 Central Time

Banned Books Week Town Square on ALA Island (203, 55, 61) -- New location!

- ALA Island Banned Books Week Read-Out & Fireworks

ALA Staff and guests will read aloud from selected works that have been banned or challenged. Readers will include Oberon Octagon, ALALibraryVal Miles, Bryan Anderton, Kay Tairov, Elaine Tulip, Bunny Iwish, and more.

Reading will use voice chat.

Feel free to volunteer -- more participants needed!

Party on the riverboat will follow.

The Delta Lady Riverboat on ALA Island (84, 15, 26)

5:00 Second Life Time/Pacific Time - 7:00 Central Time

Main Stage on ALA Island (127, 103, 29)

In-world appearance by author Chris Crutcher

=================

If you have questions or comments, please send IM or note card to Second Life avatars Kay Tairov, Oberon Octagon, or ALALibraryVal Miles.

Or send e-mail to the ALA Second Life Team.

 

This week, ALA released its online video promoting Banned Books Week 2008, which stars ALA staffers Bryan Campbell and Valerie Hawkins -- which is me :)! You can see the video in a couple of places online, including:

Banned Books Week: I'd Like To Find *BLEEP*
http://alfocus.ala.org/videos/banned-books-week-id-find-bleep

and

http://alfocus.blip.tv/file/1284410

and

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xa1aUmjf2ns

 


Celebrate Banned Books Week 2008!

gifninja.com -- Create custom animated gifs at gifninja.com!

(originally posted to the ALA Marginalia Blog - <http://discuss.ala.org/marginalia/2008/06/28/ala-library-in-second-life>)

My name is Valerie Hawkins and I work in the Library of the American Library Association (ALA), where my title is Library Reference Specialist. Chiefly I respond to questions about ALA and about libraries and librarianship from ALA staff, members, and nonmembers, by phone, fax, mail, e-mail, and, most recently, by chat/instant messaging.

But an even newer development in my reference duties has been appearing in and responding to questions while in the Second Life virtual world, specifically on ALA Island, in the Member Lounge, as the avatar, ALALIbraryVal Miles. My virtual self has already conducted an in-world book talk, discussing the various books available that teach and instruct about living and thriving in Second Life, and also created an in-world scavenger hunt, for the specific purpose of directing both new and long-existing avatars to some of the more interesting locations and destinations in Second Life, from its virtual space and sea museums to its islands devoted to television shows and cable channels to the incredible original creation of the Alliance Library System in Illinois, Info Island and its Second Life Library.

The scavenger hunt was meant to function much like ALA’s initial “50+ Great Web Sites for Kids & Adults” and its sequel, “700+ Amazing, Spectacular, Mysterious, Wonderful Web Sites for Kids and the Adults Who Care About Them,” in which the goal was to spotlight the many educational and cultural destinations available in this new online virtual space, as opposed to the adults-only destinations that receive a disproportionate amount of media attention, creating the impression that all there is to offer in this new space are such decidedly mature, even prurient entertainments. Nothing could be further from the truth. Second Life provides a brand new, one-of-a-kind opportunity to teach, learn, and communicate about any and all subjects in visually creative ways.

Your Second Life avatar is a 3-D representation of you, which types to communicate with other avatars via text chat (and now has the relatively new option to communicate through voice chat, speaking and listening to others using a headset that connects to your computer). So far, ALALibraryVal Miles has spoken in-world with:

a university librarian, working with a professor that has integrated Second Life into his accounting class assignments, who was looking for a library-related place to rent space and therefore expand her sole library kiosk and message board, in order to provide better library service to the professor’s students;

a university student, sent to me specifically by her professor (with whom I was acquainted), to talk out what kind of graduate-level Second Life library project she could create to complete her class with the professor;

a librarian from a prominent university library looking for advice on a possible in-world digitization project;

a librarian looking for groups devoted to teen and young adult literature;

and several others, including ALA staff, members, and nonmembers, who needed more direction and instruction on navigating the Second Life virtual world.

In order to continue the guidance provided by both the book talk and the scavenger hunt, a kiosk was built in the Member Lounge that freely distributes the detailed notecards that accompanied both events, so that any visitor to ALA Island can walk, fly, or teleport away with both more information on how Second life works and on what there is to see there. There is an intention to update these existing notecards and create new ones as needs arise.

The Second Life virtual world is a valuable, special addition to the services that libraries can provide and to the knowledge that ALA can pass on to its members.

(obsessively cross-posted)

FYI:

http://del.icio.us/alalibrary/alaannual08
Links to web pages regarding the 2008 ALA Annual Conference occurring June 26-July 2, 2008, in Anaheim, CA, including the pages on registration, housing, and the exhibits, and the Official Wiki, as well.

Especially see:

ALA | 2008 ALA Annual Conference Main Page

Official Wiki of the 2008 ALA Annual Conference

Check In at Conference - 2008 ALA Annual Conference Wiki

ALA 2008 Annual Conference Planner (fully registered attendees use only) - The Planner is only available to fully registered attendees. To log in, use the email address you provided when you registered, and the generic password "ala." You will be able to reset your password using the "My Profile" feature once you are logged in.

First Time Attendees Questions and List of Conference 101 Sessions at the 2008 ALA Annual Conference

ALA | Job Placement Services - 2008 ALA Annual Conference in Anaheim, CA - Friday, June 27-12:00 Noon to 5:00 pm / Saturday, June 28-9:00 am to 5:00 pm / Sunday, June 29-9:00 am to 5:00 pm / Monday, June 30-9:00 am to 1:00 pm

ALA | Programs and Sessions for the 2008 ALA Annual Conference

ALA | Registration at the 2008 ALA Annual Conference

Welcome to Anaheim - ALA Annual Conference 2008 Preview | AL Focus (online video)

Introducing the ALA Conference Materials Archive Wiki (ALA Marginalia Blog Post)

If there's something you're looking for and you just can't find it, comment below and I'll try to find you an answer! If you'd rather keep it private, please do not hesitate to send me an e-mail directly.

I don't usually get to attend the ALA Annual Conference -- "They also serve who sit and answer the phones back at ALA Headquarters," which is an old ALA saying I just made up (in the great tradition of UK actor/comedian Eddie Izzard) -- but I can certainly help attendees get where they need and want to be at the event.

National Library Legislative Day 2008
American Library Association - May 13 & 14, 2008
http://www.ala.org/nlld

Hi, everyone -- Valerie Hawkins of the Library of the American Library Association here!

On May 13 & 14, 2008, hundreds of librarians and library supporters of all kinds are coming to Washington, DC, for an event like no other: National Library Legislative Day (NLLD), a two-day event in which people who care about libraries participate in advocacy and issue training sessions, interact with Capitol Hill insiders, and visit Congressional member offices to ask Congress to pass legislation that supports libraries.

Can’t go to Washington? Participate in Virtual Library Legislative Day 2008 in Second Life!

National Library Workers Day (NLWD) was created in 2004 by the ALA-APA (American Library Association-Allied Professional Association <http://www.ala-apa.org>), the organization for the advancement of library employees. It is the Tuesday of National Library Week.

This year it was celebrated April 15, 2008, with the theme: Libraries Work Because We Do!

There's more about it at the main National Library Week web page, including an interview (mp3) with ALA-APA director, Jenifer Grady, at:
http://www.ala.org/pio/nlw

There's also a link to the interview with Jenifer Grady on the new blog, Visibility @ your library, which comes out of ALA's public relations department, the Public Information Office (PIO <http://www.ala.org/pio>), in the entry, ALA-APA Director explains National Library Workers Day.

Library staff and patrons alike could nominate library employees as NLWD Stars -- see the press release, Why are library staff important? See the (NLWD) Stars.

In addition to a list of NLWD stars appearing on the ALA-APA web site, library workers could also enter Second Life and get pictures of their avatars taken and added to the NLWD Constellation of Stars wall on ALA Island.

Also, your Second Life avatar could get a free National Library Workers Day t-shirt.

Both my Flickr photostream and the ALA Staff Flickr photostream show photos from the ALA Island Second Life parties and events.

ALA Island will be around throughout the year, though. Feel free to drop by and talk to ALALibraryVal Miles (me!).

Introduction only bit of the series of video spots promoting National Library Week!

See the entire series of videos at http://alfocus.ala.org/categories/national-library-week

And see the spots featuring honorary National Library Week chairperson Julie Andrews both on the main National Library Week page (YouTube links) and at
http://www.ala.org/ala/pio/natlibraryweek/andrews.cfm

Proposed schedule of Second Life activities during National Library Week in Second Life. And I am avatar ALALibraryVal Miles!

SLBuzz.com Resident Profile for ALALibraryVal Miles -- http://profiles.slbuzz.com/alalibraryval-miles

===================

On March 27, instead of heading home in the snow blizzard in downtown Chicago at 5:00 pm, I went into Second Life as my avatar, ALALibraryVal Miles, and attended an in-world author appearance of Sarah Robbins (Intellagirl Tully in SL/Second Life) and Mark Bell (Typewriter Tackleberry in SL/Second Life), the two writers of the 2008 Wiley publication, Second Life for Dummies. I admit to maybe knowing more about the Second Life virtual world than most staffers, but I certainly don't know everything!

The talk was both informal and informative, similar to how Robbins and Bell said they approached writing and compiling the book. It sounded like a solid, fun addition for the library of anyone wanting to know more about Second Life and how it works--and how it can work for you and help you to accomplish your goals, either with a group or individually.

It certainly sounds like a book the ALA Library should have--so it's a good thing that I won a copy, that I will be donating to the ALA Library!

Wiley, the book's publisher, put together four prize packages, each including a copy of the Second Life for Dummies book and a Dummies duffle bag and other Dummies items (apparently, March is For Dummies month). There was a trivia quiz at the end of the event, and I thought I was done winning when I answered one early "door prize" question correctly which netted me a cute floaty blue halo for my avatar to wear. The questions for the Dummies prize package were a little harder, but through a rather funny set of circumstances, I managed to answer the last one correctly and win!

The last question was the name of the island and the Second Life coordinates for publisher Wiley's in-world bookstore, which I found out in about as roundabout a way that you could imagine--! The "pre-show" entertainment was host Kim Anubis performing magic tricks (well, Second Life scripted magic tricks, of making items appear and disappear) for the audience that was gathering in the chairs in front of the stage. One of the tricks was Kim summoning up some big soap bubbles that anyone could click on and have their avatar ride in. Always game for anything (sadly...), I clicked on one of the bubbles and my avatar suddenly appeared inside it, and the bubble proceeded to float up higher and higher above the crowd and into the sky--and kept floating out further and further up and away from the event!? Yagh! I ended up clicking on the bubble itself, which popped and released me, but now I had no idea where I was or how to get back. Now, on my way in to the chairs and stage for the event, Wiley had set up a set of tables that you could click on and get sample chapters of all of their Second Life books, which included a Landmark (a kind of bookmark/favorites link for Second Life, to use to return to places). I assumed that the Landmark was for the event, so I double-clicked on it to use it, but it didn't teleport my avatar back to the event, it took me to--Wiley's in-world bookstore! At the time, I was really confused. I dug through my Inventory and found the Landmark I originally used and luckily made it back to the event and even back to my original chair. Little did I know such accidental information would come in handy!

Should you want your own cute floaty blue halo someday, it's not too late to read the AL (American Libraries) Direct Ask-the-Librarian question on Second Life as well as specific pages about it on the ALA Professional Tips Wiki, at:

Second Life and Libraries (2008 March 19) - includes step-by-step instructions on joining the free online virtual world

Second Life

Library Uses for Second Life

 

For more background on where ALA is going with Second Life, see:

Second ALA Life, Marginalia Blog Post by Jenny Levine (3/14/08)

ALA Staff in Second Life Flickr Photo Set

As I was writing this post, my prize arrived from Wiley!! Along with the Second Life for Dummies book, I got several branded For Dummies items, including the (gorgeous!) duffle bag, a notebook, a highlighter/pen, a pin, a travel coffee mug, CD travel case, and a collapsible keyboard! Most groovy and marvy!

Thank you, Wiley, Kim Anubis, Intellagirl Tulley, Typewriter Tackleberry, and most definitely, Krisser Deschanel at Wiley!

As you know, "And Tango Makes Three" continues to be challenged in schools and libraries across the country, most recently in Virginia last week (which was discussed on "The View" on February 18, 2008):

2 Guys and a Chick Set Off Loudoun Library Dispute - 2/16/2008
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/16/AR2008021600749.html

  The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered Round Table (GLBTRT) of the American Library Association (ALA) compiled and recently introduced the first installment of the Rainbow List on their blog <http://blogs.ala.org/glbtrt.php>, at:

Rainbow Project 2008 List
http://blogs.ala.org/glbtrt.php?cat=441
(excerpt)

Introduction

On the fortieth anniversary of the Kinsey report telling the world that glbtrq people are not alone in their feelings or experience, 25 years since the publication of the controversial Annie on My Mind, and almost 20 years after Daddy’s Roommate and Heather Has Two Mommies, the Rainbow Project proudly presents its inaugural bibliography, a bibliography of current books for young readers from birth through age 18 dealing with the myriad of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered or questioning issues.

=====================================================

Accompanying articles from the (non-ALA) School Library Journal magazine:

Nel Ward Talks about a New Annual 'GLBTQ Book List'
by Joan Aleck, 2/13/2008
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6532170.html

Out and Ignored: Why are so many school libraries reluctant to embrace gay teens?
by Debra Lau Whelan, 1/1/2006
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6296527.html

The founding organization of Black History Month is the Association for the Study of African American Life and History. See the web site of this organization for more information:

Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH)
http://www.asalh.org

National Black History Themes - http://www.asalh.org/themes_future.html 

- 2008

Carter G. Woodson and the Origins of Multiculturalism

http://www.asalh.org/2008NationalBlackHistoryTheme.html     

The multitalented Common desires to make a difference in the lives of others, especially youth. He has written several young adult books, including I Like You, But I Love Me, which was recently nominated for a NAACP Image Award. He also started the Common Ground Foundation, an organization dedicated to helping youth in underserved communities. His current album, Finding Forever, won the BET Hip-Hop Award for CD of the Year. Look for him on the silver screen in Wanted with Angelina Jolie and Morgan Freeman this spring.

Find out more about Common's Common Ground Foundation via the THINK MTV social network, at:
http://think.mtv.com/profile/CommonGroundFoundation

For Immediate Release,
January 14, 2008

American Library Association announces literary award winners

http://www.ala.org/ala/pressreleases2008/january2008/announce08.htm

PHILADELPHIA - The American Library Association (ALA) today announced the top books, video and audiobooks for children and young adults - including the Caldecott, King, Newbery, Schneider Family and Printz awards - at its Midwinter Meeting in Philadelphia.

( Read more... )

The Newbery Medal and Caldecott Medal and several other literature and media awards of the American Library Association (ALA) will be announced on Monday, January 14, 2008, at 7:45 a.m. EST, from the site of ALA's Midwinter Meeting in Philadelphia, PA. The awards announcement can be watched via a live webcast. Also, the winners can be delivered to your cell phone. See the following for details: