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!!!

Stephen Abram On Second Life Library

From Rev Up Your Avatars - Future Libraries’ Third Presence in Second Life

"Several people, including one from the library press, asked me why Second Life libraries were such an important development. One said they just didn’t “get it.” I know it’s not age, because I’m getting up there, and I get it. I didn’t have a great answer at the time, but it gave me the impetus to write this article. It’s about the experience. It’s about learning by doing. It’s harder to get Second Life in the abstract – much like it was difficult to explain what the Web and Internet were going to be in the early days."

The emphasis above is mine, not Stephen's, 'cause I think he got it right --- It's all about the experience. If you haven't tried SL yet, do! You might be amazed by what you find.

Technorati Tags: Second Life Library, Info Island, Teen Second Life, SirsiDynix