Chat with Woodson, Gantos, Cabot on Teen Second Life
By Debra Lau Whelan -- School Library Journal, 7/17/2008
Fancy a chat with Jacqueline Woodson, Jack Gantos, or Meg Cabot? You’re in luck. A new program called “Summer Author Chats” allows teens to talk to some of their favorite authors via Teen Second Life.
Sponsored by the Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County (PLCMC), TeachingBooks.net, and Chicago Public Schools Department of Libraries and Information Services, 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, the library says.
In short, the series merges traditional summer author visits at the library with the technology of Second Life. “We’re bringing authors to where the teens are, and enabling them to interact and learn from each other,” says Lisa Perez, library coordinator of the Chicago Public Schools Department of Libraries.
Kelly Czarnecki, PLCMC’s technology education librarian, agrees. “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,” she says.
This marks the first time that the three award-winning authors—who are volunteering their time for this program—have ever participated in a Second Life program. All three will participate as avatars.
To learn more about these events, how to log onto Teen Second Life (visitors must be 13–17 years old), how to visit a companion educator’s event (users must be 18 years or older), 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 and select “View Eye4YouAlliance Island Live Streaming Video."
Here’s a schedule of the author chats:
Jacqueline Woodson is scheduled for Friday, July 18, at 5 p.m. EST.
Jack Gantos is scheduled for Thursday, July 24, at 7 p.m. EST.
Meg Cabot is scheduled for Friday, August 8, at 4 p.m. EST.
