[Web4lib] Announcement: Virtual Worlds, Education, and Libraries

[Tom Peters]

Greetings!  On Thursday evening, October 12, and throughout the day on Friday, October 13  there will be a series of presentations and discussions about virtual worlds, education, and libraries.  Details are below.  For updates and hotlinks, please visit the OPAL master calendar of upcoming events at:
 
http://www.opal-online.org/progschrono.htm
 
The great thing about these events is that you can choose how you attend:  in-person, in OPAL, and/or in Second Life.  
 
Thursday, October 12, 2006 beginning at 7:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, 6:00 Central, 5:00 Mountain, 4:00 Pacific, and 11:00 p.m. GMT:


VIRTUAL WORLDS AND EDUCATION: THE CUTTING EDGE 

A number of colleges and universities now are holding classes in virtual worlds such as Second Life. John Lester, Community Manager at Second Life, will discuss current and future education projects taking place in Second Life. Tom Peters and Lori Bell from the Alliance Second Life Library 2.0 project will discuss how your academic library can become involved through Alliance Library System. Librarians, encourage interested educators and administrators to attend this event--in person, through streaming audio in OPAL, or in Second Life itself! 
6:00 to 6:45 p.m. Central Daylight Time: Overview of Higher Education Activities in Second Life, presented by John Lester, "Pathfinder Linden", Community Education Manager, Second Life 
6:45 to 7:15 p.m. Central Daylight Time: Bradley University and Second Life, presented by Ed Lamoureux, Assoc. Professor, Multimedia Program and Department of Communication and Co-Director of the New Media Center, and Barbara Galik, Director, Cullom Davis Library, Bradley University 
7:15 to 8:00 p.m. Central Daylight Time: Education Activities of Alliance Library System in Second Life, presented by Tom Peters, CEO of TAP Information Services, and Lori Bell, Director of Innovation at the Alliance Library System 
To Attend In Person
Both sessions will be held at Alliance Library System in East Peoria, Illinois. Register via CLEO. Cost to attend in person is $10. Please write "Innovation Days" and the dates for which you are registering on your check. Please mail payment to: S. Zimmerman, Alliance Library System, 600 High Point Ln., E. Peoria, IL 61611. Sorry, credit/debit cards are not accepted. 
To Attend Virtually
The sessions will be held in the open auditorium of Info Island in Second Life. A live audiocast from the sessions will be available via OPAL. Go to the entrance to the OPAL Auditorium, type your name, and press enter to hear the audio, even when in Second Life. Registration via CLEO is not necessary if attending via OPAL and/or Second Life. There is no cost to attend virtually via OPAL and/or Second Life. 
Friday, October 13, 2006 beginning at 10:30 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time, 9:30 Central, 8:30 Mountain, 7:30 Pacific, and 2:30 p.m. GMT:


VIRTUAL WORLDS AND ALTERNATE REALITIES: WHERE DO LIBRARIES FIT IN? 

During this exciting series of events you will learn what libraries are doing to extend library services and the library itself in virtual reality spaces. Learn how you can participate in the Alliance Library System's Second Life Library project and also how you can set up your own library in three-dimensional virtual reality. Speakers will show you various worlds and share issues, successes, and challenges in setting up libraries in virtual worlds. 
9:30 a.m. Central Daylight Time: Welcome and Introductions, by Kitty Pope, Executive Director, Alliance Library System 
9:45 a.m. Central Daylight Time: Introduction to Virtual Worlds and Educational Activities in Virtual Worlds, presented by John Lester, "Pathfinder Linden", Community Education Manager, Second Life 
10:45 a.m. Central Daylight Time: break 
11:00 a.m. Central Daylight Time: The Alliance Second Life Library Project: How To Get Involved, presented by Kitty Pope, Lori Bell, and Mary-Carol Lindbloom from the Alliance Library System 
Noon Central Daylight Time: Technology Leadership in Real Life, presented by Lori Johnson, CEO, Pearl Technologies 
1:30 p.m. Central Daylight Time: The Teen Second Life Library Project: How To Get Involved, presented by Kelly Czarnecki, Teen Services Librarian, and Matt Gullett, Technology Education Librarian, ImaginOn, Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County.
Want to offer library services for teens in virtual worlds? Learn about this exciting new service for teens that your library can offer. 
2:00 p.m. Central Daylight Time: Perspective of the Millennial Librarian on Libraries in Virtual Worlds, presented by Jami Schwarzwalder, Library & Information Science graduate student, Indiana University 
2:30 p.m. Central Daylight Time: Thoughts on What We've Learned About Libraries and Virtual Worlds Over the Last Six Months, presented by Tom Peters, Second Life Library Project evaluator, TAP Information Services. 
Tom will talk about what we have learned and the future of libraries in virtual worlds during the first six months of the Alliance Second Life Library project. 
To Attend In Person
This mini-conference will be held at Alliance Library System in East Peoria, Illinois. Register online via CLEO. Cost to attend in person is $10. Please write "Innovation Days" on your check. Please mail payment to: S. Zimmerman, Alliance Library System, 600 High Point Ln., E. Peoria, IL 61611. Sorry, credit/debit cards are not accepted. 
To Attend Virtually
The sessions will be held in the open auditorium of Info Island in Second Life. A live audiocast from the sessions will be available via OPAL. Go to the entrance to the OPAL Auditorium, type your name, and press enter to hear the audio, even when in Second Life. Registration via CLEO is not necessary if attending via OPAL and/or Second Life. There is no cost to attend virtually via OPAL and/or Second Life. 

 
Tom Peters, OPAL Coordinator

TAP Information Services
1000 SW 23rd Street
Blue Springs, MO 64015
phone: 816-228-6406
email: tapinformation at yahoo.com
web: www.tapinformation.com

TAP Information Services provides a wide variety of high quality 
planning, consulting, research, and assessment services 
supporting libraries, library consortia, government agencies, professional associations, and other information-intensive organizations.