Teen Second Life makes front page

What a lovely surprise when I pulled my weekend paper out of the mailbox this morning ... the library's teen Second Life project was front & center on the Charlotte Observer's front page.

Read the full story here, Schools, libraries find second life in Second Life

"The libraries have set up in areas specifically designated for their use... The Alliance Library System of Peoria, Ill., was one of the first libraries to hang a virtual shingle last year, and staff members there have morphed into the backbone of the growing library presence.Kelly Czarnecki, a librarian at ImaginOn: The Joe & Joan Martin Center, and Matt Gullett, a technology staffer for the library, began talking about buying an island in Teen Second Life, an offshoot that is only open to teenagers. Alliance agreed to a partnership and put in the startup money, buying the island and paying maintenance fees. They call it the Eye4You Alliance."

Related links:
PLCMC Teen Second Life info
Teen Second Life Eye4You Alliance
InfoIsland Second Life Library

Congratulations Matt & Kelly! You guys rock!!!

Summer Reading Teen Video

This is pretty cool ... 3 teens, aka the Rust sisters and patrons of our library, have created a film noir PSA for this year's National Collaborative Summer Reading Program titled YNK! You Never Know @ Your Library!.

It's pretty good, no? Hmmm, I wonder ... does the Oscars have a category for PSAs yet?

Teen Second Life on cover of SLJ

I’ve known that SJL was going to feature the Teen Library Second life project for a couple of months now, but seeing the flying avatar on the cover just makes it better. :)

“A Web presence that helps teens develop positive identities, take charge of their lives, and assume leadership roles as world citizens? As librarians, we knew a good thing when we saw one...

So in fall 2006, PLCMC and the Alliance Library System (ALS) in East Peoria, IL, announced a formal partnership to create Eye4You Alliance, an island within the teen grid. By setting up shop in the virtual sphere, we hoped to establish a dedicated space for youth that was both informative and interactive and could function as a bridge to other youth organizations”

Read the full article, Meet the New You
And then check out more on the project at the Eye4You alliance blog.

PS: Congrats Kelly & Matt on a great article!