CAL's Sustainable Living Library

Transcript of 'Second Life: Stepping into Virtual Librarianship'

2010-07-26T14:51:00.000-07:00

Transcript of 'Second Life: Stepping into Virtual Librarianship'

*Please note that this transcript was edited for continuity and to remove personal information.

[07:55] Plautia Corvale: Hello!

[07:56] Plautia Corvale: Hi Elle!

[07:56] Ariell Enoch: Mary are you from Denver?

[07:56] Mary Wumpole: Yes, I am.

[07:57] Ariell Enoch: great : )

[07:57] Plautia Corvale: Mary, it is nice to meet you

[07:57] Plautia Corvale: I'm glad that you were able to make it today :)

[07:57] Elle Bromide: Good morning!

[07:57] Mary Wumpole: Likewise, I'm sure.

[07:58] Ariell Enoch: is this your first experience with Second Life?

[07:58] Mary Wumpole: It is for me.--Mary W.

[07:59] Ariell Enoch: ok it will be a lot of fun

[07:59] Ariell Enoch: I'm going to ask you to be my friend

[07:59] Plautia Corvale: Mary, great :)

[07:59] Plautia Corvale: Yes, that will make things easier if we are friends -

[08:00] Ariell Enoch: did a message pop up?

[08:00] Mary Wumpole: I would like to be friends also. I did not see a popup.

[08:01] Plautia Corvale: I just sent another one - looks like you got that pop up

[08:01] Plautia Corvale: Hello Sydney!

[08:01] Sydney Delphin: Hello

[08:02] Plautia Corvale: How are you doing today?

[08:02] Sydney Delphin: doing well in Northern California (Bay Area)

[08:02] Mary Wumpole: I'm doing well, thank you.

[08:02] Plautia Corvale: Oh, it must be lovely out there in CA :)

[08:03] Plautia Corvale: I used to live in Sunnyvale :)

[08:03] Sydney Delphin: We're having our usual summer - high overcast fog which turns into a lovely, warm afternoon

[08:03] Plautia Corvale: Nice :)

[08:03] Ariell Enoch: nice I'm in NYC and it is hot and muggy

[08:04] Sydney Delphin: Plautia, I'm in ________ - we were neighbors ;)

[08:04] Plautia Corvale: lol, it's nice and sunny here in CO this morning - supposed to rain this afternoon - we're in the Monsoon season here :)

[08:04] Ariell Enoch: Hi Porphyria

[08:04] Plautia Corvale: I LOVE __________!!

[08:04] Plautia Corvale: Everyone, we're supposed to have about 10-12 people here today, so we're going to wait a bit to start the workshop ;)

[08:05] Porphyria Franizzi: Hi Everyone. I'm ________ from _______, Colorado. Nice to meet you all.

[08:05] Mary Wumpole: Of course, "monsoon" is a question of relativity. I doubt that folks from India would call this a monsoon.

[08:05] Ariell Enoch: nice to meet you

[08:05] Sydney Delphin: Will the session be all text?

[08:05] Plautia Corvale: Hello Porphyria!

[08:05] Plautia Corvale: Yes, it will be

[08:05] Plautia Corvale: my Mic crashed on my computer

[08:05] Sydney Delphin: great. Thanks

[08:05] Ariell Enoch: I'm from ______

[08:05] Plautia Corvale: I have another one here that I can use for voice if we need that!

[08:05] Ariell Enoch: Hi Blood

[08:06] Plautia Corvale: Hello BloodCry!

[08:06] Plautia Corvale: How are you today?

[08:06] BloodCry Shelter: hello

[08:06] Ariell Enoch: while we are waiting we can friend each other

[08:06] Plautia Corvale: Yes, wonderful, Ariell

[08:07] Plautia Corvale: If we miss someone, please 'friend' us!

[08:07] Plautia Corvale: To do that, you need to right-click on a person's avatar, and choose 'Add Friend'.

[08:08] Ariell Enoch: Also, we would like you all to joing the Sustainable Living Library group for future programs and events

[08:08] Plautia Corvale: There is a lot of power in the right-click in SL :)

[08:08] BloodCry Shelter: cool now that I have more friends and make good friends

[08:08] Ariell Enoch: it is one way we can all stay in touch

[08:08] Plautia Corvale: When we begin the workshop, we will start with a short tour of the library

[08:08] Plautia Corvale: we have a group joiner inside :)

[08:09] Sydney Delphin: Ariell, please remind me how to join a group. Thanks

[08:09] Ariell Enoch: We can do that when we tour the building it will be easier at that point

[08:09] Plautia Corvale: Hello Anika!

[08:09] Sydney Delphin: ok - thanks ;)

[08:10] Ariell Enoch: Hi Anika

[08:10] BloodCry Shelter: thank you so much more I'm going back a far ok

[08:10] Plautia Corvale: Elle has just let me know that some people are not able to attend this morning because of technical difficulties :(

[08:11] Plautia Corvale: So I think we can start the workshop now :)

[08:11] Plautia Corvale: I have a notecard I'd like to give everyone

[08:11] Ariell Enoch: ok

[08:11] Plautia Corvale: You will se a pop-up, just accept the notecard into your inventory

[08:12] Plautia Corvale: Did everyone get a notecard from me?

[08:12] Elle Bromide: Yes

[08:12] Mary Wumpole: Yes, but it disappeared before I had a chance to respond.

[08:12] Sydney Delphin: yes

[08:12] Anika Ahren: no, don't know what you mean by notecard.

[08:13] Plautia Corvale: It is basically a note -

[08:13] Porphyria Franizzi: I don't see anything either.

[08:13] Plautia Corvale: a pop up should appear, and you should click, accept :)

[08:13] Plautia Corvale: I'll resend

[08:13] Ariell Enoch: it will appear in the bottom right corner

[08:13] Porphyria Franizzi: Got it.

[08:13] Plautia Corvale: Great!

[08:14] Anika Ahren: sorry, still don't see any note.

[08:14] Ariell Enoch: there is an envelope

[08:14] Ariell Enoch: click on that

[08:14] Anika Ahren: okay, got it.

[08:14] Plautia Corvale: :)

[08:14] Plautia Corvale: We'll begin by telling everyone a little bit of our history here at the Sustainable Liviung Library and CAL

[08:14] Plautia Corvale: Ariell and I presented at the annual CAL conference in 2008

[08:15] Plautia Corvale: At that time, we also created a CAL Interest Group

[08:15] Plautia Corvale: (At the end of the workshop, let us know if you are interested in joining the interest group)

[08:15] Plautia Corvale: CAL gave us a *small* budget with which we started this library

[08:16] Plautia Corvale: You can see our mission statement on the notecard I sent out

[08:16] Plautia Corvale: Hello, Wheeler!

[08:16] Plautia Corvale: The Sustainable Living Library of Second Life is committed to creating better and healthier lives for ourselves and our children

through sustainable living practices. By developing workshops, exhibits and other resources, we strive to educate our visitors about green practices and

other ways to sustain healthy lives and a healthy planet.

[08:16] Plautia Corvale: We are a special library!

[08:16] Plautia Corvale: We focus on all things 'green'

[08:17] Plautia Corvale: And this island is also a 'green' focused island

[08:17] Wheeler Klaar: I forgot to RSVP, is it ok if I hangout? Unfortunately, I am not a member of CAL, go ahead and kick me out if you need to.

[08:17] Plautia Corvale: Ariell did a lot of research to find a place that was active and coincided with our mission

[08:17] Plautia Corvale: Wheeler, no problem

[08:17] Ariell Enoch: No problem : )

[08:17] Plautia Corvale: Everyone is welcome :)

[08:18] Wheeler Klaar: Cool.

[08:18] Plautia Corvale: We have a blog and a Facebook page, if you would like to join - we regularly post updates and events on those sites

[08:18] Wheeler Klaar: Is anyone using microphones, or is it chat only...

[08:18] Plautia Corvale: Just chat for now

[08:18] Plautia Corvale: We thought that would be easier for all

[08:18] Plautia Corvale: (and my mic crashed, lol ;-)

[08:19] Plautia Corvale: Now, I'd like to ask if you could all post a bit about yourselves?

[08:19] Plautia Corvale: You don't have to list your real name, if you don't want to

[08:19] Wheeler Klaar: _____ at __.

[08:19] Plautia Corvale: But just tell a little about your Real Life (RL) job and what brought you here

[08:20] Wheeler Klaar: Hi. I haven't used SL since they changed the interface a little, so I thought this would be a good refresher.

[08:20] Plautia Corvale: My RL name is Victoria Petersen, I am the Tech Manager at the Mancos Public Library.

[08:20] Mary Wumpole: I'm a reader advisor at the Colorado Talking Book Library. I signed up for this out of curiosity; I had never heard of Second Life

before.

[08:20] Anika Ahren: I'm _____ - a lib student at __. I'm really interested in technology and communications.

[08:20] Plautia Corvale: We are still learning the new interface, too, lol :)

[08:21] Sydney Delphin: _____ in California; library consultant and chair of SLA's Virtual Worlds Council. We are the co-hosts for the SL Library Buzz

sessions

[08:21] Ariell Enoch: My RL name is Eileen Dumas formerly from Aurora Public Library.

[08:21] Ariell Enoch: : )

[08:21] Plautia Corvale: Sydney, the Buzz sessions are great! I'm also looking forward to Pat Wagner's presentation in a couple weeks!

[08:21] Sydney Delphin: Thanks! I'll let her know as we're having a practice session at 11am sl today ;)

[08:22] Plautia Corvale: Excellent!

[08:22] Elle Bromide: I'm _____, and I'm an MLS student at ___.

[08:22] Porphyria Franizzi: _______ from ______. I'm currently managing our Teen Services Department. I haven't done much with Second Life, but got a brief overview last Midwinter from a helpful YALSA librarian. Looking forward to learning more about both SL and the teen counterpart.

[08:23] Plautia Corvale: Porph, there is a great 'teen grid' contingent of librarians

[08:23] Plautia Corvale: Have you met Blue Wings Hayek (sp?) yet?

[08:24] Porphyria Franizzi: No...this is my first real foray (in which I am not wandering around aimlessly and flying for the fun of it:)

[08:24] Plautia Corvale: Flying is a big benefit to being an avatar, lol

[08:24] Wheeler Klaar: How much does the train cost?

[08:24] Plautia Corvale: The train is free :)

[08:24] Wheeler Klaar: Yea.

[08:25] Plautia Corvale: If we have time, we can go on a short tour of Etopia.

[08:25] Anika Ahren: oh wow, I would like a tour

[08:25] Plautia Corvale: Now, I see from most of your profiles that many of you are new :)

[08:25] Plautia Corvale: How familiar are you with the Second Life browser interface?

[08:26] Mary Wumpole: I know very little about it. I'm trying to learn.

[08:26] Plautia Corvale: Okay :)

[08:26] Plautia Corvale: The best thing to do to begin is to click on things in the browser

[08:26] Sydney Delphin: I continually need refreshers ;)

[08:26] Anika Ahren: I also know very litle.

[08:26] Wheeler Klaar: Took me a little while to find the map.

[08:27] Wheeler Klaar: Otherwise, it is similar to the old interface.

[08:27] Ariell Enoch: yes but I think much better

[08:27] Ariell Enoch: easier to use

[08:27] Plautia Corvale: Yes, Wheeler, this most recent upgrade has left a lot of us feeling a little unbalanced -

[08:27] Wheeler Klaar: Agree.

[08:27] Anika Ahren: i have not used this new interface before today.

[08:27] Ariell Enoch: : )

[08:27] Plautia Corvale: we're used to doing things a certain way, and many of those things have changed in Viewer 2

[08:28] Plautia Corvale: If you look along the top of the viewer, you will see a toolbar

[08:28] Plautia Corvale: These are all of your basic commands

[08:28] Wheeler Klaar: Who is taking pictures?

[08:29] Plautia Corvale: If in doubt, look here for your answer on how to do basic commands

[08:29] Plautia Corvale: I'll be taking some pictures today :)

[08:29] Plautia Corvale: I'm a picture nut :)

[08:30] Plautia Corvale: We will not be doing any building today

[08:30] Plautia Corvale: But we will be taking a look at the other toolbar options

[08:30] Anika Ahren: When you say your basic commands, do you mean Communicate, World, Build, and Help?

[08:30] Plautia Corvale: Yes, Anika :)

[08:30] Plautia Corvale: Using these commands will help you get around, communicate with others, and look at your own profile, for example

[08:31] Plautia Corvale: As with most software, there are multiple ways to do the same thing :)

[08:31] Plautia Corvale: As you may have heard, there is a real economy in Second Life

[08:32] Plautia Corvale: You can still have a wonderful experience without spending any money here

[08:32] Plautia Corvale: But, as in RL, money is nice and makes some things better! lol

[08:32] Plautia Corvale: If you can all click on 'Me', and choose 'Preferences'

[08:32] Plautia Corvale: that would be great

[08:33] Anika Ahren: ok

[08:33] Plautia Corvale: Let us know if you have problems

[08:33] Sydney Delphin: ok - and done

[08:33] Plautia Corvale: Here are all your main controls

[08:33] Mary Wumpole: I don't see Preferences--right- or left-click?

[08:33] Plautia Corvale: The 'General' tab manipulates where your avatar will appear when you login

[08:34] Plautia Corvale: Left click on 'Me' up at the top of your screen, and then left click on 'Preferences'

[08:34] Wheeler Klaar: "Me" is at the top left of the screen where "File" usually is.

[08:35] Plautia Corvale: Thank you, Wheeler :)

[08:35] Wheeler Klaar: And preferences is the first option under me.

[08:35] Wheeler Klaar: No prob.

[08:35] Plautia Corvale: You can also hit Ctrl + P on your keyboard

[08:36] Plautia Corvale: !! :)

[08:36] Ariell Enoch: I have an Apple if anyone else is working on one

[08:36] Ariell Enoch: a few things are different

[08:36] Anika Ahren: ooh, I'm on a mac, too, so I would appreciate directions for macs.

[08:36] Ariell Enoch: np - I will let you know : )

[08:37] Plautia Corvale: The most important preferences to know about are the General tabs and the Sound & Media tabs; in the General tab, you can choose where your avatars are located when you log in. You can also choose what words appear over your avatar's head here, too - Name, group titles, etc. You can also set a time limit for your avatar to display 'away' over your head - kind of like an inactivity mode.

[08:38] Anika Ahren: My only choice under"Start Location" is "my Last location." How do you choose other locations?

[08:38] Plautia Corvale: You can set a certain location to be your home, this is another option. It probably isn't showing up if you haven't set a home location yet!

[08:39] Anika Ahren: What are "groups" in Second Life?

[08:39] Plautia Corvale: Groups are like anyother kind of RL group. If you join, you will receive notifications from groups you belong to - Notifications of events, etc. You will receive these notices when you log into second life. You can also have notiications go to your email, too

[08:40] Ariell Enoch: There are groups for almost every interest. It is a way to meet and connect with others.

[08:41] Plautia Corvale: Yes, we have a group for this library - there are MANY MANY different groups. At this time, Second Life lets you join a maximunm of 25 groups. These groups show up in your profile, so people can see what you are interested in :)

[08:41] Ariell Enoch: there are several library groups.

[08:41] Ariell Enoch: Librarians of Second Life is one of the largest.

[08:41] Anika Ahren: How do you find the library groups? Are groups generally open to anyone or can they also be closed?

[08:42] Plautia Corvale: Groups are generally open; you can request to join a closed group. Some groups can also cost money to join - these are more rare. You can find library groups by using the search bar in the upper right of your screen.

[08:43] Plautia Corvale: We will compile a list of the library groups and send that out after the workshop

[08:43] Ariell Enoch: yes

[08:43] Plautia Corvale: Most builidngs, islands, etc... have groups. Like Ariell said, this is a great way to communicate with people and let folks know what is going on in your group, library, etc.

[08:44] Plautia Corvale: Back to Preferences - The Sound and Media tab in preferences lets you control any sound in SL. There are many neat sound effects in SL, and you can turn this up or down, according to your preference. Several locations in SL have streaming music that plays when you enter that location - if you don't like the music, you can turn it down here, or even disable it. Media can be things like streaming videos, etc. Some of these things take up bandwitdh, so disabling them can make your avatar respond faster if you are not using them.

[08:46] Plautia Corvale: Voice Chat - we have the abiity to talk here in Second LIfe. Your voice can be heard by anyone that is in your immediate range, if you use this.

[08:47] Ariell Enoch: when talk is enabled there is a light above your head

[08:47] Plautia Corvale: Yes, a white dot appears; when you actually talk, there are little 'sound curves' that appear during your talking

[08:48] Anika Ahren: how do you enable talk?

[08:48] Plautia Corvale: Are you on the Sound & Media tab in Preferences?

[08:48] Anika Ahren: oh, i see it is enabled already on Preferences. But I don't see a white dot above my head.

[08:48] Plautia Corvale: Hmmm

[08:49] Ariell Enoch: there is one above my head

[08:49] Anika Ahren: okay, i see them now..

[08:49] Plautia Corvale: Anika, I can see one over your head

[08:49] Plautia Corvale: :)_

[08:49] Plautia Corvale: Good :)

[08:49] Plautia Corvale: Ariell, can you speak into your mic for a quick example?

[08:50] Plautia Corvale: (My computer mic has crashed, so I have no speaking abilities today :()

[08:50] Plautia Corvale: Yes! I can hear you!

[08:50] Wheeler Klaar: Yes.

[08:50] Elle Bromide: Yes

[08:50] Ariell Enoch: : )

[08:50] Ariell Enoch: all the way from New York City

[08:50] Plautia Corvale: When your mic is enabled, you click on the Speak button, located at the bottom toolbar, next to the chat bar

[08:51] Ariell Enoch: the speak button turns green

[08:51] Plautia Corvale: Hello!

[08:51] Wheeler Klaar: Hi.

[08:51] Plautia Corvale: I just tried to talk, but I still don't think my mic is working :( Yes, Anika.

[08:52] Ariell Enoch: to totally turn it off you have to go to Preferences - so be careful, because it picks up a lot if you don't

[08:52] Ariell Enoch: : )

[08:52] Plautia Corvale: Yes, the feed back can be awful if you leave the speak button turned on

[08:52] Plautia Corvale: If you use the little 'up arrow' located next to the speak button, it will pull up who is in the immdiate area, and list if they are

speaking

[08:52] Anika Ahren: then do you click "Speak" again to turn the mic off?

[08:52] Anika Ahren: i mean, is it like a walkie talkie where press first time to be heard, then second time to turn it off?

[08:52] Plautia Corvale: Yes, Anika

[08:53] Anika Ahren: what does "Voice morphing off" mean?

[08:53] Ariell Enoch: you can purchase didn't voices to change your own - it's not free

[08:54] Plautia Corvale: Voice Morphing uses your natural voice and morphs it into something bigger, smaller, bolder, or completely different. As you speak,

the technology seamlessly modifies the pitch, speed, tone, and other key attributes of your voice. Depending upon which morph you choose, the effect can be

subtle or quite dramatic. Since the system isn't a stiff speech synthesizer but builds upon your own voice, you can continue to speak naturally into your

microphone and the new, morphed voice is heard inworld. (From the Second Life wiki)

[08:54] Plautia Corvale: That is a new feature with this new viewer/browser

[08:55] Ariell Enoch: there is a location where you can test them before you buy

[08:55] Ariell Enoch: do you have any questions so far?

[08:56] Wheeler Klaar: How many patrons/SL people come here to ask library type questions?

[08:57] Plautia Corvale: We get at least one person that comes everytime we hold our 'office hours', a weekly one-hour session

[08:57] Anika Ahren: that's pretty good!

[08:57] Plautia Corvale: Other times, it is just random when we log in

[08:57] Plautia Corvale: We do have what is called a 'visitor counter' that lets us know who visits the library. It lists the date that there were here, and their avatar name. We average about 5 visitors a day

[08:58] Anika Ahren: which reminds me, I'd like to go over the "Privacy" settings at some point if there's time.

[08:58] Plautia Corvale: absolutely

[08:58] Plautia Corvale: If you all click on the Privacy tab in preferences. Here you can choose who 'sees' you when you are logged in. By default, your friends can see when you are online whether that is checked or not (Only friends and groups know I'm online). People can search for your avatar name and view your profile (even if they are not friends with you). You can choose to remain totally anonymous, by not putting any personal info in your profile, so it's okay if people can see whether or not you're online. You also have the ability to be kind of invisible

[09:02] Anika Ahren: do you control your profile in your Dashboard?

[09:03] Plautia Corvale: Your dashboard is your 'online' account, so this will pull up your account info on the second life website

[09:03] Anika Ahren: not sure what you mean

[09:03] Plautia Corvale: it will open your account in your regular internet browser

[09:04] Anika Ahren: Can you please explain the difference between accounts in the regular internet browser, and what we're viewing right now?

[09:04] Plautia Corvale: We are in the Second Life 'Viewer' right now - it is the special download you had to make to 'enter' second life. Your online account comes up in your regular internet browser, and is a regular web page. You can do some things there so you don't have to log in to Second Life. For instance, you can purchase money on the SL website, without logging into Second Life.

[09:06] Plautia Corvale: Does that make sense?

[09:07] Anika Ahren: It sounds like in order to visit worlds, islands, buildings - you have to use the Second Life Viewer.

[09:07] Plautia Corvale: Yes! Exactly, Anika -

[09:08] Plautia Corvale: The website account is all the background 'business stuff'. Personally, I don't really log into my 'account' on the SL website as much as I login here to Second LIfe

[09:08] Anika Ahren: How do you bypass the SL website and go straight to the SL Viewer?

[09:08] Plautia Corvale: You never have to visit the website if you don't want to - you can always just use the 'Viewer' to come here or visit other places

[09:09] Wheeler Klaar: Sorry if I run int peopl, my mvement here re realy realy chopy.

[09:09] Plautia Corvale: np, Wheeler

[09:09] Plautia Corvale: That is called 'lag', everyone

[09:09] Anika Ahren: how do you get straight to the Viewer?

[09:10] Ariell Enoch: I put the app on my bar - I move it from applications, I dock it. Then whenever I go into Second Life I click on the icon in my dock

[09:10] Plautia Corvale: Yes - this is the 'application' - the world of Second LIfe. The website is just a website. If you open your 'viewer', you are here in Second Life!

[09:11] Ariell Enoch: right

[09:12] Anika Ahren: the SL application automatically puts you onto the internet?

[09:12] Ariell Enoch: no it puts you into Second Life

[09:13] Plautia Corvale: The Sl application (viewer) automatically brings you here to the Second LIfe world. The website will just bring up your textural account info, and is not neccessary to log into

[09:13] Ariell Enoch: right

[09:13] Anika Ahren: okay

[09:14] Plautia Corvale: I'd like us to do a quick review of the other toolbar options -

[09:14] Plautia Corvale: Communicate is how you can 'chat' with your friends or nearby people

[09:15] Plautia Corvale: If you click Communicate and Nearby Chat, you will see a list to the right of your screen of all the people in the immediate area. This is handy :) You can use this list to pull up people's profiles and send them instant messages

[09:16] Ariell Enoch: I notice that time is getting close to the end of the workshop

[09:16] Plautia Corvale: WOW! It is! Time flies!

[09:17] Ariell Enoch: Plautia and I would like to set up individual meetings with each of you to explore Second Life in more detail

[09:17] Anika Ahren: wow, what a great offer!

[09:17] Ariell Enoch: we can take more to time to practice skillsn and visit islands, go shopping : )

[09:17] Ariell Enoch: Shopping is my favorite activity

[09:18] Ariell Enoch: we can mentor each of you

[09:18] Wheeler Klaar: Okey Dokey.

[09:18] Ariell Enoch: do you have our email?

[09:19] Ariell Enoch: I'm visiting family this week but I'm free until I find another job : )

[09:19] Plautia Corvale: brb - phone

[09:19] Sydney Delphin: Ariell, I have a RL friend who is writing a column about "green" libs and green resources. I think that it would be great if she

interviewed you two. Would you be willing to talk with her about the Sustainable Living Library?

[09:19] Ariell Enoch: I have the most flexibility

[09:19] Ariell Enoch: yes I would love it. I'm sure Plautia would too

[09:20] Elle Bromide: Could everyone please IM me their email address so that I can have CAL CE send you a survey? Thank you!

[09:21] Anika Ahren: are you going to use our emails to set up mentor sessions?

[09:21] Ariell Enoch: yes

[09:21] Anika Ahren: how do we see records of this chat?

[09:22] Mary Wumpole: /stretch

[09:22] Ariell Enoch: click on the arrow by the chat bar

[09:23] Plautia Corvale: I will post this text chat to our blog - http://sustainablelivinglibrary.blogspot.com/. I will take out our personal info before doing that. (so no names or emails will be posted:)

[09:23] Anika Ahren: where's my chat bar?

[09:24] Plautia Corvale: Your chat bar is the white bar at the bottom left of the screen, where you are typing everything

[09:24] Plautia Corvale: Before we wrap up, I want everyone to know that we will be having a Real Life meeting at the CAL Annual Conference. Our Interest Group is called SLIG (Second Life Interest Group). We bring our laptops, and login to SL while all together. That way, people not attending the conference can join in, too. :) We will post all that info on our blog and Facebook page.

[09:26] Plautia Corvale: There is so much we didn't cover in this workshop that we'd love you to know, so we will be contacting all of you via email to set up the one-on-one meetings that Ariell mentioned.

[09:26] Wheeler Klaar: SLUG for SL User Group would have bee cool, too.

[09:27] Plautia Corvale: LOL!!

[09:27] Anika Ahren: thanks - I appreciated the session.

[09:27] Wheeler Klaar: Went geat.

[09:27] Plautia Corvale: Let's wrap up the session with a quick tour of the library!

[09:28] Wheeler Klaar: great.

[09:28] Plautia Corvale: Does everyone know how to move?

[09:28] Ariell Enoch: It was very nice meeting all of you

[09:28] Elle Bromide: Sounds good!

[09:28] Anika Ahren: give us directions and we can try to follow.

[09:28] Plautia Corvale: You can walk using your arrow keys on your keyboard - begin hitting your up arrow to move forward and then the left and right arrows to direct :)

[09:30] Plautia Corvale: This is our 'lobby'. We have some informational tools here in the lobby. There are many ways to disseminate info here in SL. The main one that we use here in the Sustainable Living Library are called 'LibMon's (short for library monitors).

[09:31] Plautia Corvale: I am standing between two of them

[09:31] Plautia Corvale: They look like computer monitors. If you click on the one that says 'Library Information' you will see a pop-up that will give you different options. These different options will take you to different Internet websites. So we have our blog and facebook listed here. Also, our sponsors websites, even a link to google!

[09:33] Plautia Corvale: There are also other ways to give people info - you can have a streaming video, you can have people click an object, and they will receive a notecard - So you can write 'essays' or other textural pieces of information

[09:34] LibMon 2.1 whispers: Sustainable Living Library Facebook Fan Page = http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sustainable-Living-Library/252955468032?ref=ts

[09:35] Plautia Corvale: I've just walked over to our Group Joiner; to join our group and get notices, you can click on the group joiner

[09:35] Ariell Enoch: I need to leave now

[09:35] Ariell Enoch: I'm visiting family

[09:35] Plautia Corvale: Ariell, thank you!

[09:35] Milux Group-Joining: CAL Sustainable Living Library

[09:35] Ariell Enoch: I will talk to Plautia and we will get back to each of you to set up a time

[09:36] Ariell Enoch: Bye everyone

[09:36] Ariell Enoch: Have a good week

[09:36] Plautia Corvale: You too, Ariell! Thank you for everything!

[09:37] Plautia Corvale: So, even though Ariell and I have been in Second Life for a few years - we are still always learning! We recently had an episode with what is known in Second Life as a 'Griefer'. We gave all group memebers the ability to practice building on our land... small items, etc. using our property as a learning 'sandbox'. Someone built a HUGE house on the property, and it forced some of our personal items back to our inventories!

[09:38] Wheeler Klaar: Thanks.

[09:38] Wheeler Klaar: Bye all.

[09:38] Plautia Corvale: Bye, Wheeler!

[09:38] Plautia Corvale: Thanks for coming!

[09:38] Elle Bromide: Bye, Wheeler!

[09:39] Wheeler Klaar: See you next time.

[09:39] Plautia Corvale: We had a great 'Water Resources' exhibit here on the first floor of the library, and the entire exhibit was returned to us! So that is why the main two rooms here are empty :( Sorry about that... We are working to get things back to the way there were just a couple of days ago!

[09:40] Plautia Corvale: Uptairs we have a small exhibit on Photovoltaics (solar panels). To walk up the steps, you just aim yourself towards the steps, or, you can double click on the banister that says Up. In this upstairs room, we have two posters, as well as a LibMon. The posters are static, and the libmon lists different websites. We researched them and made sure that the sites have valuable, reliable information, just like we would in a real life library.

[09:42] LibMon 2.1 whispers: How Does it Work? = http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2002/solarcells.htm

[09:43] Plautia Corvale: The other room on the second floor is a meeting room. We open this meeting room to different second life groups. The meeting room is very popular right now with an Aquaponics group.

[09:43] Anika Ahren: how often does this group have meetings?

[09:44] Plautia Corvale: SLIG meets at least once a quarter. Ariell and I meet every week here - I actually need to change our poster downstairs - we've recently changed our office hours to Tuesdays from 8-10 mountain time. We like people to know we will be here at certain times :)

[09:45] Plautia Corvale: Do you have any other questions?

[09:46] Anika Ahren: no, but I'm really looking forward to the mentoring sessions. I think they will be so useful!

[09:46] Plautia Corvale: Thank you, Anika!

[09:46] Plautia Corvale: This is our first time doing a library intro completely in Second Life - it's a bit different when you can talk and interact with people in real life, lol. We didn't cover nearly what we wanted to!

[09:47] Plautia Corvale: I think the one-on-one sessions will be really helpful :)

[09:48] Elle Bromide: Thank you for doing that, Plautia!

[09:48] Anika Ahren: I am the chair of the student ASIST group at DU MLIS program. Maybe I'll try to get everyone to meet on Second Life...

[09:48] Plautia Corvale: We love to help folks out! :-)

[09:48] Plautia Corvale: Anika, that would be great. Let me know if we can help out with that!

[09:48] Anika Ahren: Yes, perhaps we can do a similar thing as we did today with the student group.

[09:49] Plautia Corvale: Absolutley

[09:49] Plautia Corvale: In August, we are also going to have a Beach Party. Parties are an important part of Second LIfe, we've found

[09:49] Anika Ahren: well! that sounds interesting!

[09:49] Plautia Corvale: People are so tired of 'meetings', that we get better attendance at 'parties' :)

[09:49] Anika Ahren: i can't wait to experience my first SL party.

[09:50] Plautia Corvale: Let's go out back, and I'll show you what we'll do! We can just go out this balcony door. To open a door, just double click on it

[09:50] Plautia Corvale: The island of etopia doesn't allow flyng, but we've set our land to enable flying. You can hit your Page up button to begin flying. Once you are in the air, you can use your arrow keys to move in any direction. Use your page down button to land!

[09:52] Anika Ahren: is Etopia the Sustainable Librarian group's private island, or do you share it wth other groups?

[09:52] Plautia Corvale: Etopia is an island owned and operated by non-librarians. They are all interested in Sustainability and green living. We bought land from them to start the library. We interact with a lot of the Etopia residents, through parties and dances. When we have events, usually Etopia people also come :) We choose this place to set up the library, so that we could be close to people that are interested in the theme of our 'special library'

[09:56] Porphyria Franizzi: Thanks for the tour! Looking forward to getting more involved... Bye!

[09:56] Plautia Corvale: Bye, Porphyria! Thank you for coming :) We will contact you to set up a one on one session, if you are interested!

[09:59] Plautia Corvale: Elle, thank you for orgainizing this great event :)

Library Exhibits and Events for June

2010-06-14T13:03:00.000-07:00

The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) is holding their annual conference in Denver June 27-30. An ongoing exhibit will be a Second Life representation of Denver and the conference center for participants to explore and also learn the potential of Second Life as a learning tool. As part of this SL experience, the Sustainable Living Library will be hosting a group on Sunday June 27 from 1 to 2 pm MTN time or 12 noon to 1 pm SL time. The library staff will give a brief introduction of library services and a bicycle tour of Etopia.

The library has a new exhibit to raise awareness about the signs and symptoms of heart attacks, strokes and common medical terminology. There are three interactive quizes designed by a medical librarian and clinical advisory team. This is part of a real life research project to determine the effectiveness of gaming on consumer health, health care behavior, and decisions. The exhibit is located on the library's front deck.

In addition, there is a two room exhibit on Water Resources researched and designed by Alliejnv library graduate student from Long Island University's Palmer School of Library and Information Science.

Earth Day April 22, 2010

2010-04-20T09:15:00.000-07:00

Earth Day is this Thursday April 22. Etopia and the Sustainable Living Library will be celebrating with activities throughout the day. Below is a schedule of events:

Greeters will be at the main landing point on Etopia Island to welcome you to the sim.
Gondola and Shuttle rides - all day
Poetry readings at the Poetry corner by the main landing point from 8:00 am-9 SLT/
9-10 Mountain Time. Read your own poetry or those of others. Event will be in voice.
Bicycle tour of Etopia from 12 noon-1pm SLT/ 1-2 pm Mountain Time with Ariell Enoch
Open House at The Sustainable Living Library from 4:00-6:00 pm SLT/ 5-7pm MountainTime. There will be a special exhibit on water conservation and resources.The exhibit, done by graduate library student Allie Listern, will be on loan for the next few months so be sure and stop by to see it if you can’t make thisThursday's event.
Dance from 6:00-8:00pm SLT/ 7-9pm Mountain Time at the Pavilion. DJ Aquiel Aero will take you requests. Come dressed as an endangered species.

Earth Day April 22, 2010

2010-04-12T19:30:00.000-07:00

Celebrate Earth Day on Etopia at the Sustainable Living Library. More information to follow.

A Green Tour of Second Life

2010-03-31T08:28:00.000-07:00

Albaycin Nature Preserve

I have decided to add a new feature to our blog, a look at Second Life communities and or groups that emphasize an ecological concern for the environment. My first community is the Albaycin Nature Preserve, which is a part of the Al-Andalus Sim. (http://slurl.com/secondlife/Al%20Andalus%20Alhambra/201/105/49) The Al-Andalus Caliphate Project, planned by Rose Springvale and Michel Manin, is a recreation of 14^th century Moor Alhambra. “The plan is to create a system of political and legal governance, based on notions of community self-governance, active citizen participation, equality, dignity, social justice and democracy, and human rights.” (http://primperfectblog.wordpress.com/2008/03/08/al-andalus-opens/ )

Albaycin Nature Preserve is a territory within this sim and is designed to “be a simulated demonstration of ways that people can live in harmony with their natural environment.” (From Introductory Notecard to Albaycin Nature Preserve). Animals (terrestrial and marine), plants, geology, and temperature (wet and moderate) closely replicate the Bay of Biscay on the northern coast of the Iberian Peninsula. This is a beautiful territory, with friendly people, and a lot to do and see. Activities include canoeing, windsurfing, swimming, and hiking. (See attached pictures).

Manager and creator Delia Lake ask that you respect the territory. As in real life, she requests that you leave only “soft footprints.”

Fascinating Reading about the Bottled Water Industry

2010-03-26T06:43:00.000-07:00

The Huffington Post has released a story that contains a video put out by the Bottled Water industry. In this video, the BW industry proclaims how 'green' they are - and this video has been linked to 'fake reporting'. There are also several great links to other stories about this industry, and some facts about the true nature of bottled water production.

Read more and watch the video here.

10 Date and Gift Ideas for a Green Valentine's Day

2010-02-11T09:15:00.000-08:00

From Natural Home Magazine:

Celebrate the holiday of love by showing some love for the earth. From organic flowers and chocolates to romantic evenings at home, here’s how you can have a green Valentine’s Day.

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner. This year, why not show some love to the earth as well as your sweetheart? You can have a romantic Valentine’s Day without putting any extra strain on the earth.

Natural Home Magazine's 10 Ideas for Valentine's Day

Fish for dinner? Best Choices for the Planet

2010-02-03T17:45:00.000-08:00

What are the best and worst seafood choices for the environment?

Best to choose:

Anchovies

Atlantic herring

Catfish

Crab--blue or Dengeness and stone

Sardines

Shrimp

Tilapia

Wild Salmon from Alaska

Best to Avoid

American Lobster

Atlantic cod

Atlantic halibut

Chilean Sea Bass

Grouper

Monkfish

Snapper

Swordfish

What makes one fish safer or more desirable to eat than another: farming practices, mercury levels, habitat damage, and overfishing of certain species.

Farming practices: Farmed Atlantic Salmon pose a threat to wild fish because of the parasites found in their waste which is eventually dumped into the ocean; the amount of food needed to sustain them; and the open pens which allow them to escape bringing parasites and disease to wild fish especially to the Atlantic Salmon. Change is occurring but at a slow rate. Better choice: Wild Alaskan Salmon.

Overfishing: some species mature at a slower rate than others. Selecting fish from these species does not allow them enough time to grow to maturity and reproduce themselves. Because state of the art fishing trawlers can detect schools of fish, sweep them up, prepare them for flash freezing and storage maturity of the fish becomes a moot point. Unscrupulous companies catch according to popular tastes. Yellowtail and bigeyed Tuna will be extinct within the next 3 to 5 years, also included in this category is the Patagonian tooth fish (Chilean Sea bass), and Atlantic Cod. Better choice: Tiliapia or Pacific halibut.

Habitat damage: Habitat damage is not only caused by global warming but also from the fishing practices of large trawlers destroying the natural balance of the oceans by killing smaller fish, plankton, slow growing coral, and krill through their fishing practices. Choose fish that are caught by pole-and-line (see below).

Fishing Practices: Longline or purse seines (use of nets to catch large schools of fish) result in moderate to high bycatch of seabirds, turtles and marine mammals. Pole-and-line caught fish are a better choice. A growing number of restaurants will indicate how their fish were caught. If the information is not available on the menu, ask the wait person.

Mercury Levels: Mercury levels in tuna is a worldwide ecological problem. Most high levels are found in bluefin tuna. Buyer beware.

Green Energy “Oasis” to Bloom in Desert

2010-01-24T09:17:00.000-08:00

A recent National Geographic article discusses renewable-energy research centers scheduled to be built in 2010. Selected sites will be located in Australia, Africa, the United States and Middle East. These centers, collectively known as the Sahara Forest Project (Sahara an Arabic term for desert), will be a proving ground for new technologies designed to bring green living to the deserts.

An example is the use of specially designed greenhouses to collect hot desert air and seawater to make fresh water for growing crops, solar panels to generate power, and lab grown algae pools for renewable and easily transportable fuel supplies (the algae’s fatty oils can be used as energy-rich biofuel )

According to Frederick Hauge, founder and president of the Norwegian environmental nonprofit the Bellona Foundation: “The Sahara Forest Project is a holistic approach for creation of local jobs, food, water, and energy, utilizing relatively simple solutions mimicking design and principles from nature."

For more information go to:

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/01/100122-green-desert-oasis-sahara-forest/

Best Green Gadgets Of CES 2010

2010-01-15T08:59:00.000-08:00

From the Huffington Post:
One of the top trends at this year's Consumer Electronics Show was green tech.
From solar powered backpacks to electric cars, eco-friendly gadgets were some of the stars of the show.

We at the Sustainable Living Library loved the gadget hand charger and the bamboo computer peripherals. Wow!!

View the Huffington Post article and check out these fabulous green tech items!

New Year and a New Library Building Leads to Open House Events

2010-01-12T14:10:00.000-08:00

The Sustainable Living Library will host TWO Open Houses this month at the library.

We'll be giving tours of our new building, talking about sustainability, and networking! Join us Thursday, 28 Jan from 8pm-9pm Mountain time, or Sunday, 31 Jan from 2pm-3pm MT.

Hope to see you there!!

Facebook Fan Page

2009-12-21T09:33:00.000-08:00

The Sustainable Living Library is happy to introduce our Facebook Fan Page!

Please become a fan to subscribe to all of our announcements regarding programs, events, and new exhibits.

Green Your Coffee

2009-12-09T13:00:00.000-08:00

Green Your Coffee

1. Look for Fair-trade Certified Brands thereby guaranteeing that the farmers are not only paid a fair price for their beans but in addition are given technical assistenance to evetually switch to organic growing

2. Buy Organic Coffee to greatly reduce your exposure and that of the environment to hazardous pesticides that are commonly applied to commercial crops

3. Look for shade grown beans because they were grown under trees that protect the home of migratory birds

Office Hours - Now Beginning!

2009-11-28T12:28:00.000-08:00

SLIG is happy to announce our new "Office Hours"!

Victoria/Plautia and Eileen/Ariell will be at CAL's Sustainable Living Library every Saturday (weather permitting:-) from 10am to 12 noon MT.

We will be there to help CAL members learn about any Second Life topic of their choice!

During our open 'Office Hours', Plautia and Ariell will be able to help you with the following:

Navigating this exciting virtual world
Changing your appearance
Creating educational exhibits and displays
Finding 'freebies'
...and more!

We have found that informal learning sessions in Second Life are more conducive to learning for some folks than learning in a traditional classroom setting. Also, by having them at a set time every week will make it easier for people to log in when they have time!

So, pop on by CAL's Sustainable Living Library and say hello!

CAL Second Life Interest Group Meeting 2009

2009-11-25T09:38:00.001-08:00

Well, another CAL Annual Conference has come and gone. We had a successful Interest Group meeting (after we all found each other - as Interest Group leader, I was informed of one location - and the conference program told the members to go to a different one! Thanks for coming to find me, folks!), and discussed future plans for CAL's Sustainable Living Library.

This past year we have worked on learning the basics of Second Life; we've introduced Colorado Librarians to this exciting virtual world, and learned ourselves how to effectively use Second Life tools to get resources out to library visitors.

In 2010, we will be focusing on Programming and Educational Exhibits. Many of our interest group members are passionate about water, and we will be introducing a 'Water Series', programming focusing on water issues - both locally and globally.

We were also lucky to meet Melissa Mayhew, a Colorado author that had a booth at the conference, and is very active in Second Life. She is interested in partnering with us for some programming activities.

We also announced our upcoming 'Office Hours' at the Sustainable Living Library. Every Saturday, from 10am-12pm MT, Victoria/Plautia and Eileen/Ariell will be logged in and available at the library to answer any questions about Second Life and sustainability. We are happy to provide this service on a regular basis to encourage Colorado librarians to visit and learn about Second Life in an informal way. So pop in and say hello!

All in all, it was a terrific meeting and has re-energized us all! We are looking forward to a busy and rewarding upcoming year at CAL's Sustainable Living Library.

2009 CAL SLIG Annual Report

2009-11-05T13:38:00.000-08:00

2009 Second Life Interest Group Annual Report
for Colorado Association of Libraries

2009 Happenings

Grand Opening @ Emerald City / DJ & Dance

SLIG threw a Grand Opening Party for CAL’s Sustainable Living Library during ALA Midwinter meeting. A DJ spun tunes live at the party, and tours of the new library were given. Many contacts from various green communities in Second Life attended the party, making us feel very welcome.

The Alliance Library System of Illinois owned Emerald City, the first location of CAL’s Sustainable Living Library. The Alliance gave CAL almost a year of free rent on their island (Oct ’08 – Sept ‘09).

Program – Photovoltaics 101

Phil Friedman discussed the basics of solar electricity and how it applies to reversing the damage done to our environment due to human activity. This successful program was in an “open-ended discussion” format to encourage participation by all attendees. Phil has been working in photovoltaic design, installation, and renewable energy education since 2003. He holds a Masters Degree in adult education and training from Colorado State University and electronics technology certification from Front Range Community College. Phil is a consultant in the area of PV design work and solar site analysis. Phil is also an online instructor for Solar Energy International in Carbondale, Colorado.

In August/September of 2009, Emerald City closed due to budgetary reasons of the Alliance Library System. We had known that our free land and rent was ending soon, so we had been researching green communities. The Interest Group felt that the CAL Sustainable Living Library would better serve residents located on a vital and sustainable island, and chose to move to Etopia Prime, a very active green community.

Our September meeting ended with a Personal Tour of Etopia given by WilliamtheWise Goodman, the owner of the island. William noted that he had received good feedback and many positive comments about CAL’s library. Apparently, we are the first library to be located on the island.

CALCON09:

• Conference Opening Keynote by Stacy McKenzie - RL & SL speaker and attendees. Stacy’s opening conference address will take place in real life and in Second Life. This portion of the conference will also be open to CAL members that cannot attend the conference.
• Virtual/Real Life Meeting – Group RL & SL Photos. SLIG will have an annual interest group meeting. The conference committee is providing us a meeting space with wireless, and we will hold the meeting in real life and Second Life. The meeting will be open to all interested parties, whether they are able to attend the conference or not. We will also be taking a photo of the real life group, as well as a shot of the Second Life avatars.
• Tech Petting Zoo exhibit – We will be demonstrating Second Life live for conference goers at the Petting Zoo.

Wrap-Up/Forward Planning Meeting in January 2010. SLIG is planning a ‘Water Series’, with guest speakers to take place in the first half of 2010. This series will focus on the very important natural resource of water, and how it affects the people of the United States. At this time, we have 2 speakers lined up to speak. We hope to get 2-4 more speakers. We are also hoping to get a regular volunteer contingent to create rotating educational exhibits in the library.

Activities

Meetings:

SLIG has virtual meetings for the group 6 times a year. The co-chairs meet at least every month to plan and create exhibits at the virtual library, and to plan and conduct online programs.

Training:

CAL Con't Ed Full Day Workshop - August '09, Victoria Petersen & Eileen Dumas;

Presentations:

CAL Annual '08, Victoria & Eileen;

Virtual Second Life Presentations:

Green Holidays – December ’08, Victoria & Eileen;

CoASL Spring '09, Victoria;

Online Presence

In the last year we have created a virtual green library on Second Life, which provides resources on green and sustainable living to Second Life residents. The library and its virtual marketing promotes CAL, and has information about and a link to the CAL website.

CAL SLIG also has a Google group (groups.google.com/group/calslig) and a blog (sustainablelivinglibrary.blogspot.com).

Member List

34 Total Members

*Note: For privacy reasons, we have excluded the names and emails of our members from this post.

CAL Second Life Interest Group Meeting

2009-09-02T09:46:00.000-07:00

CAL SLIG will be holding a meeting at its new Second Life location on Etopia Prime Island next Tuesday, 8 September at 8pm. We will be discussing future events/meetings/programs, as well as what needs to be done in preparation for the CAL Annual Conference.

After the meeting, the owner of the Etopia Islands (who happens to reside in Boulder in RL!) will be giving us a tour of the islands and a bit of history and the purpose of this vibrant, green sustainable community.

So, put on your avatar, and come join the fun at CAL's Sustainable Living Library! SLurl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Etopia%20Prime/69/181/24 (Note: Log into Second Life before using the SLurl).

Photos from Photovoltaics 101

2009-06-06T13:56:00.001-07:00

Photovoltaics are explained by Philip Friendman of Solar Energy International
We had 12 attendees in Second Life, and 5 attendees watching in Real Life at Mancos Public Library
Phil discussing the history of Photovoltaics
It was a beautiful day on Emerald City at the Sustainable Living Library!
The workshop concluded with a tour of the Sustainable Living Library.

Transcript of Photovoltaics 101 - Solar Electricity Workshop

2009-06-06T13:49:00.000-07:00

The transcript of today's Photovoltaic workshop follows. (It has been edited to remove personal information and to correct some typos and mispellings.)

[9:57] Plautia Corvale: Welcome everyone!
[9:58] AnthonyCl Yalin: hello sorry lag
[10:00] Archivist Llewellyn: Is the talk in voice?
[10:00] AnthonyCl Yalin: i hope not. i can't hear a thing.
[10:00] Archivist Llewellyn: lol
[10:00] Archivist Llewellyn: me either
[10:00] Royk Humbridge: haha
[10:00] Plautia Corvale: The speaker has just arrived!
[10:01] Plautia Corvale: We are not using voice at this time :)
[10:01] Archivist Llewellyn: ok ty
[10:01] Royk Humbridge: ok
[10:02] Plautia Corvale: A little bit of background: This workshop on the basics of solar electricity. This workshop will be focusing on alternative sources of energy for the home and work place.
[10:02] Ariell Enoch: Let me dress him
[10:02] Royk Humbridge: hahaha
[10:02] Plautia Corvale: The workshop, presented by Philip Friendman, will be an open-ended discussion, so get your questions ready!
[10:02] Royk Humbridge: ok
[10:03] AnthonyCl Yalin: can you stand in for phil?
[10:03] Plautia Corvale: Phil has been working in photovoltaic design, installation, and renewable energy education since 2003. He holds a Masters Degree in adult education and training from Colorado State University and electronics technology certification from Front Range Community College
[10:03] Plautia Corvale: Phil is here, his avatar is Sam Arriaga.
[10:04] Plautia Corvale: I believe his avatar lost most of his clothes, so Ariell is attempting to help him get dressed, lol
[10:04] Plautia Corvale: Phil has worked in the field and in front of a computer with PV installs, technical support, and design and consultation. Now he is primarily consulting on PV design work and solar site analysis. Phil is also an online instructor for Solar Energy International in Carbondale, Colorado and is helping with developing new course curriculum.
[10:04] Plautia Corvale: You can find more information on SEI at http://www.solarenergy.org/ and http://www.solarproservices.com/
[10:04] Plautia Corvale: Are we ready to begin?
[10:05] Ariell Enoch: yes
[10:05] Plautia Corvale: Everyone, please welcome Phil/Sam!
[10:05] Plautia Corvale applauds
[10:05] AnthonyCl Yalin: /clap
[10:05] Royk Humbridge: appaluds
[10:05] AnthonyCl Yalin: /applause
[10:05] Royk Humbridge: /applause
[10:06] Sam Arriaga: hello all
[10:06] Sam Arriaga: I am here to answer all your questions
[10:06] Plautia Corvale: Hello, Phil/Sam
[10:07] Sam Arriaga: I am new to SL, but have used computers and worked in the computer field since BEFORE the Internet so bear with me for my SL faux pas
[10:07] Plautia Corvale: No problem, we've all been there!!
[10:07] Sam Arriaga: so...to begin
[10:07] Royk Humbridge: :D
[10:07] Sam Arriaga: does anyone have some basic question about solar photovoltaics or would you ratherme give some information?
[10:08] Ariell Enoch: Start with some basics
[10:08] Ariell Enoch: info
[10:08] AnthonyCl Yalin: well this class is about the basics?
[10:08] Sam Arriaga: OK
[10:08] Ariell Enoch: right
[10:08] Sam Arriaga: here goes
[10:09] Sam Arriaga: First, PV has ben around since the mid 1800s when Jacque Becarel (sp) of France first discovered the PV effect. That is
[10:09] Sam Arriaga: when sunlight shined on a particular surface made of certain materials an electric current was generated.
[10:09] AnthonyCl Yalin: what materials were those?
[10:11] Sam Arriaga: I cannot remember for certain but they were substances that what today we would consider semi conductors such as silicon (the bases for all integrated circuits).
[10:12] Sam Arriaga: Today those materials are things like cadmium telluride and cadmium indium gallenium diselenide,
[10:13] Sam Arriaga: But the wonderful fact was that these materials produced electricity when their atoms where excited by certain wavelengths of light.
[10:13] Fim Fischer: HI everyone
[10:13] Plautia Corvale: Hello, Fim!
[10:13] Archivist Llewellyn: so cadmium as in batteries
[10:13] Plautia Corvale: Welcome to Photovoltaics 101
[10:13] Sam Arriaga: yes the same element
[10:14] AnthonyCl Yalin: sorry rl
[10:14] Sam Arriaga: but in nickel cadmium batteries the effect is purely electrochemical; sunlight is not part of the picture!
[10:15] Sam Arriaga: let's fast fwd to the mid-1950s
[10:15] Ariell Enoch: everyone if you have questions please feel free to interrupt
[10:15] Sam Arriaga: Enter Bell Labs (remember them?)
[10:15] Sam Arriaga: part of the ATT monolithic empire that was broken apart in the 1980s
[10:16] Sam Arriaga: Anyway two scientist there discovered (along with research that developed the transistor) using silicon (the basis of transistors)
[10:17] Sam Arriaga: and "doping" that silicon with two other elements -- boron and phosphorous -- they could reliably enhance the PV effect and
[10:17] Sam Arriaga: generate useable electricity.
[10:18] Sam Arriaga: 5- 4- 3- 2- 1 Blast off!
[10:18] Sam Arriaga: the first use of PV was in outer space in the American space program.
[10:19] Sam Arriaga: SO commercially viable PV was one of the first, if not the first, manufactured item that found its first application not on the Earth, but in space.
[10:19] Sam Arriaga: The cost of the first PV cell that went into a US launched satellite was approaching USD$200 per Watt!
[10:19] Sam Arriaga: Yieks!!!
[10:19] Archivist Llewellyn: :)
[10:20] Sam Arriaga: Not a very viable use.
[10:20] Sam Arriaga: In contrast today PV panels cost between 3-5 USD a watt. The industry hope is to get that down to under 1$USD
[10:21] Sam Arriaga: AT that level we reach grid parity.
[10:21] Sam Arriaga: ANy one have an idea what grid parity might mean?
[10:21] Stonewire Python: pardoy?
[10:21] Sam Arriaga: parity as in equality
[10:21] Stonewire Python: Parody? *Rather
[10:21] Sam Arriaga: OK
[10:21] Archivist Llewellyn: electricity grid - equally take and give?
[10:21] Stonewire Python: Reduce our dependence on Foreign Oil?
[10:22] Sam Arriaga: Grid parity mean the cost of PV generated electricity per kilowatt hour (1000 watts or ten 100 watt lightbulbs) would be equal to the cost of all other elect gen in the USA
[10:23] Sam Arriaga: Today in the USA the national average is about 11 US cents per kWhr. That is cheap!
[10:23] Plautia Corvale: Wow!
[10:24] Stonewire Python is resisting the urge to ask 100 questions
[10:24] Sam Arriaga: The cost varies though with the demand and with the locale. Say, in Calif it can be as high as 30 cents and in parts of New England can be 16 cents.
[10:24] Royk Humbridge: depends from demand?
[10:24] Sam Arriaga: ask away
[10:25] Sam Arriaga: depends on demand meaning the electricity market like many other markets is supply/demand sensitive.
[10:26] Archivist Llewellyn: What is the concept called then about you use so much electricity pulling from the "Grid" and using solar power or wind power can get your use to 0 or actually produce a surplus to give back to the "Grid"?
[10:26] Plautia Corvale: Stonewire, please ask as many questions as you like - this is an interactive session!
[10:26] Sam Arriaga: Good question!
[10:26] Sam Arriaga: That is called net-zero.
[10:26] Stonewire Python: Kk
[10:27] Stonewire Python is taking notes
[10:27] Sam Arriaga: That is, if you use 10,000 kWhrs per year (the US national residential average) you would also produce that same amount on an ANNUAL basis,
[10:28] Sam Arriaga: So....you would be net zero...neither using net energy nor producing net energy -- again on an ANNUAL basis
[10:28] Stonewire Python was just curious how cost-effective, and/or sensible to run a bar/grill from solar; Walk-in Coolers=alot of kwH
[10:28] Archivist Llewellyn: can net zero be achieved realistically for industry using solar? I thought I heard of one company trying but cost of solar panels was daunting.
[10:28] Sam Arriaga: Lots of kWhr are not now cost effective to run on PV.
[10:29] Sam Arriaga: That is because the average small scale PV system generates electricity at approx 30 cents per kWhr.
[10:30] Ariell Enoch: oops
[10:30] Archivist Llewellyn: I also thought I heard Google uses solar panels for parking lots to charge electric cars? Is that true?
[10:30] Stonewire Python laughs
[10:30] Sam Arriaga: Yes
[10:30] Stonewire Python: That's neat
[10:30] Sam Arriaga: They do, but there are not that many electric vehicles on the road yet...but wait – there will be.
[10:30] Stonewire Python: YET!
[10:31] Royk Humbridge: there a car, aptera
[10:31] Royk Humbridge: use electricity 100%
[10:31] Sam Arriaga: And to know why we don't have viable electric cars on the road now…. see the movie "who killed the elec car?" The answer is GM!!!!!!!!!!
[10:31] Plautia Corvale: The oil industry in general!!
[10:31] Sam Arriaga: The very same company we are now spending billions of taxpayer money to bail out.
[10:32] Stonewire Python saw a neat project involving the sun heating an amonia condensor thing, to cool a freezer
[10:32] Sam Arriaga: GM was solely and unequivocally the culprit--they killed their own product. And the oil companies certainly helped there, too!
[10:32] Sam Arriaga: But we digress
[10:32] Archivist Llewellyn: So the problem with the electric car is a technology/engineering to develop a battery that can support regular driving habits ... and the lack of infrastructure like "gas stations" as well as time to recharge... can you imagine waiting hours to "fill up your battery" on a trip?
[10:33] Stonewire Python ripps his hair out in distress! HOURS?
[10:33] Archivist Llewellyn: The battery capacity is a serious problem.
[10:33] Sam Arriaga: yes...all that you said is true...but in the late 90s GM and other were pouring money into technology to solve this problem, and then, well, they pulled the plug.
[10:34] Sam Arriaga: Today Toyota and Nissan and an Israeli company (whose name escapes me) are on the brink of solving this problem. It could have been the US but we blew it.
[10:35] Sam Arriaga: So Google has about 1.7 megwatts of PV on their roof at their campus in Silicon Valley,
[10:35] Sam Arriaga: I believe it is the largest commercial rooftoop system in the US.
[10:35] Archivist Llewellyn: cool
[10:36] Plautia Corvale: I knew I loved Google for a reason. :-)
[10:36] Sam Arriaga: They provide dedicated reserved parking space for EVs
[10:36] Stonewire Python: Google is Awesome
[10:36] Sam Arriaga: The plugin hybrid will be the next major step.
[10:37] Plautia Corvale: We will have a reserved space for hybrid cars at our new library in RL!
[10:38] Sam Arriaga: There is a company called Better Palce (website is the same .org) that is on the forefront of elec vehicle technology...see what they have to say...the concept of "changeable batteries is thinking out of the box.
[10:38] Royk Humbridge: but the problem is that the hybrid engines
[10:38] Sam Arriaga: That is Better Place.
[10:38] Royk Humbridge: work with fuel gasoline
[10:38] Sam Arriaga: say again
[10:39] Royk Humbridge: fuel (gasoline) i mean that, hybrid cars works with an electric engine and gasoline one
[10:39] Sam Arriaga: yes...
[10:39] Royk Humbridge: or hydronge who is not sustainable
[10:39] Plautia Corvale: Hello Dali!
[10:39] Archivist Llewellyn: McCain proposed $300M prize for hybrid electic battery development but that tanked.
[10:39] Dali Waverider: Hi Plautia
[10:40] Sam Arriaga: and a plugin hybrid uses a higher capacity battery to give say 40 miles on elec. Then the ICE (internal combust engine)
[10:40] Royk Humbridge: do you think that PV systems can be use in cars? I read some days ago about a paint who can be used in cars and homes to catch solar energy
[10:40] Plautia Corvale: Here is the link to Better Place that Phil/Sam mentioned: http://www.betterplace.org/
[10:41] Sam Arriaga: is used to charge up the battery as you are driving. Voila! you can go forever. But they key is that most daily commutes/driving in the USA are under 35 miles, I believe the exact number is 70% of the daily commutes.
[10:41] Plautia Corvale: That would be interesting, Royk
[10:42] Sam Arriaga: Back to PV
[10:42] Royk Humbridge: haha yeah
[10:43] Sam Arriaga: Today in the US cost of installing a PV system is about $7-8 per DC watt on the roof. That is for small scale systems under 10kilowatts.
[10:44] Sam Arriaga: That cost is for the PV modules, the DC to AC inverter, the mounting hardware, elec switch gear, instlal labor, permits, etc. Turn key.
[10:44] Royk Humbridge: pretty cheap
[10:44] Sam Arriaga: But at the cost per DC watt, the amortized cost over say 20-25 years (the expected life of the system) is till approaching 30 cents per kilowatt hour AC,
[10:45] Sam Arriaga: too high for widespread adoption without utility incentives and government tax credits.
[10:46] Dali Waverider: ...or ballooning fossil fuel costs.
[10:46] Royk Humbridge: yes
[10:46] Sam Arriaga: With those incentives the cost can be cut in half to about 3-4 $ per watt installed and a similar reduction in the cost per kwhr
[10:46] Sam Arriaga: yes...increasing cost of fossil fuels would do it, too.
[10:46] Royk Humbridge: whats the average develop of PV system
[10:47] Sam Arriaga: Today, in the US and in most of the developed world, the cost of fossil fuels in subsidized to a tremendous degree.
[10:47] Sam Arriaga: so why not PV? what are we afraid of?
[10:47] Sam Arriaga: I will tell you what...we are afraid of the OIL and COAL companies
[10:48] Royk Humbridge: totally true
[10:48] Archivist Llewellyn: Dali, I think we have seen that ballooning fossil fuels does spark interest and action in development of alt. energy resources, but also nearly crippling people... and rising cost of food and other deliverables is a social problem as a result
[10:48] Royk Humbridge: but the problem is sustainability
[10:49] Sam Arriaga: Yes that is true those ballooning costs do affect us all, but for far too long we have lived a dream that energy was unlimited - costs would always be low and the supply would be unlimited,
[10:49] Sam Arriaga: Ain't so.
[10:50] Sam Arriaga: We have wars, supply disruptions, environmental issues, and have vs. have not disparities across the globe.
[10:50] Dali Waverider: We have China.
[10:50] Sam Arriaga: At some point we must hop off the never-ending fossil fuel bandwagon,
[10:51] Sam Arriaga: PV, wind, geothermal, ocean tide and current and biofuels (not from food stock) can all do this and can provide long term sustainable energy.
[10:52] Sam Arriaga: And we must not forget energy efficiency. That is the FIRST place for all of us to start.
[10:52] Archivist Llewellyn: well, not so sure about hopping off... more like a slow and painful dragging on the asphalt behind the bandwagon...
[10:52] Sam Arriaga: Agreed...hopping off would be too abrupt....
[10:53] Fim Fischer: /thx for the class. need to go. *waves*
[10:53] Sam Arriaga: That is why most studies and research into transitioning view this as very long term say 25-50 years, But... it CAN be done,
[10:53] Loki Ishmene: bye fim!
[10:53] Ariell Enoch: bye
[10:53] Ariell Enoch: thanks for coming
[10:54] Plautia Corvale: Bye Fim!
[10:54] Plautia Corvale: Hello, Clodilla!
[10:54] Sam Arriaga: Many studies have shown that the US can provide 20-25% of its entire elec energy supply with a combination of wind solar PV solar thermal by 2020 or 2025.
[10:54] Clodilla Sciavo: Hi everyone
[10:54] Ariell Enoch: Hi Clodilla
[10:55] Sam Arriaga: And I should mention that on the large utility scale there are two kinds of solar electric power generation.
[10:55] Archivist Llewellyn: Actually other studies show that is not possible to replace all use with alt. energy.
[10:55] Sam Arriaga: I never said all energy, and some studies say it is possible
[10:55] Royk Humbridge: its all about common sense
[10:55] Royk Humbridge: reduction plus alt energy production
[10:56] Sam Arriaga: Agreed
[10:56] Sam Arriaga: Back to solar elec.
[10:56] Sam Arriaga: PV uses sunlight directly to generate electricity from the PV effect.
[10:57] Sam Arriaga: CSP or concentrating solar power...
[10:57] Sam Arriaga: uses large mirrors to heat a thermal heat transfer liquid, which in turn heats water to make steam and voila
[10:58] Sam Arriaga: we have electricity from a steam turbine.
[10:59] Sam Arriaga: Not only will this make electricity, but it does it in a way the electric utilities really know..water to steam and then to a steam turbine.
[10:59] Sam Arriaga: This is how it is done in coal, oil and nuclear gen plates.
[11:00] Sam Arriaga: The great thing about CSP is that researchers have already designed working prototype plants the address the main bugaboo of all solar power
[11:01] Sam Arriaga: the lack of storage. CSP uses molten salts to store as much as 6-8 hours of "heat" to keep the turbines spinning.
[11:01] Sam Arriaga: And in the PV world, there is amazing work being done with super capacitors and battery technology to store energy.
[11:02] Archivist Llewellyn: Where would you say are the research hubs ?
[11:03] Sam Arriaga: Here in Colorado at the NREL -- the National Renewable Energy Lab in Golden, CO
[11:03] Sam Arriaga: At Sandia Labs in New Mex.
[11:03] Sam Arriaga: Los Alamos Labs in NM
[11:03] Sam Arriaga: Lawrence Livermore in Calf and many universities
[11:04] Sam Arriaga: And.....companies such as Energy Conversion Devices for batteries, GM and Toyota, and Honda for EV and plugin hybrinds,
[11:05] Sam Arriaga: Germany is doing some research...but they are much bigger in applied use.
[11:05] Sam Arriaga: In fact Germany is the number one installed base of PV in the entire world Spain is #2 and California is #3
[11:05] Sam Arriaga: Colorado is # 5 or 6,
[11:06] Sam Arriaga: Nevada is #4 and Hawaii is #3, I think.
[11:06] Archivist Llewellyn: could you explain, since you have a nice diagram... how solar cells (inside workings) convert sunlight to usable energy ? And could you explain, based on these research hubs, how the PV could be more readily implemented into our daily objects (other than cars) and not just the solar calculator?
[11:06] Sam Arriaga: yes....to take the first...and this delves a bit into quantum physics. Yikes!
[11:06] Plautia Corvale: I've seen a solar laptop bag that I'm dying to get!
[11:06] Plautia Corvale: That would come in handy :)
[11:07] Archivist Llewellyn: very!
[11:08] Sam Arriaga: OK...here goes...the silicon PV cell is a semi conductor. It is doped with boron and phosphorous. That "destabilizes" the chemical structure and creates a negative and positive energy "band" at the atomic level where the interface of phosphorous doped silicon and boron based silionv exitis.
[11:08] Sam Arriaga: This is at the atomic level. All of this is understandable and doable b/c of one man...any guess?
[11:09] Sam Arriaga: hint: E=m....
[11:09] Dali Waverider: Oh, that guy.
[11:09] Plautia Corvale: lol
[11:09] Plautia Corvale: :)
[11:09] Sam Arriaga: yes that guy with the curly hair. Old Albert
11:10] Sam Arriaga: Anyway that band gap contains destabilized atoms with electrons just dying to jump out of their orbits.
[11:10] Sam Arriaga: With me?
[11:10] Archivist Llewellyn: Alessandro Volta?
[11:11] Dali Waverider: put some light on the subject.
[11:11] Sam Arriaga: Not quite. Albert Einstein E=mc2 the spring board to quantum physics
[11:11] Royk Humbridge: so cells change photones
[11:11] Sam Arriaga: Anyway those agitated electrons really want to leave their orbits...but they cannot quite do it
[11:12] Sam Arriaga: even in a destabilized atom there still is enough force to hold that electron...so we need a stimulus (President Obama can you help?)
[11:12] Royk Humbridge: :D
[11:12] Sam Arriaga: ah...the stimulus is not economic but....any guess...
[11:13] Dali Waverider: put some light on the subject.
[11:13] Sam Arriaga: yes, light
[11:13] Archivist Llewellyn: (Yes, I meant the name that comes to mind when talking about photovoltaics is Volt himself.)
[11:14] Sam Arriaga: yes PV = photovoltaics voltacis from Ales, Volta. Correct.
[11:14] Sam Arriaga: So recall from high school physics that light is both a wave and a particle.
[11:14] Sam Arriaga: The particle is a photon,
[11:15] Sam Arriaga: The photon is the stimulus.
[11:15] Sam Arriaga: With just the right wavelength....
[11:15] Sam Arriaga: It bombards the destabilized silicon material and give the extra ‘umph’ to dislodge the electron.
[11:16] Sam Arriaga: Voila! We have current flow.
[11:16] Sam Arriaga: Add enough of these together give some good sun and you have a PV cell that produces electricity infinitely with no fuels as long as the sun shines
[11:16] Sam Arriaga: A few good websites:
[11:17] Royk Humbridge: and the effectiveness of the PV systems
[11:17] Ariell Enoch: I'm sorry to interrupt
[11:17] Sam Arriaga: renewablenergyworld.com
[11:17] Ariell Enoch: Can we wrap up?
[11:17] Sam Arriaga: PV cells are between 12-21 % efficient. The theoretical max is about 49%. So we have a long way to go.
[11:17] Sam Arriaga: another website:
[11:17] Royk Humbridge: yes
[11:18] Sam Arriaga: solarbuzz.com
[11:18] Sam Arriaga: cleanedge.com
[11:18] Sam Arriaga: solarnation.org
[11:18] Plautia Corvale: We will be posting these and other websites, plus books for further reading on our blog:
[11:18] Sam Arriaga: and the NREL website whose URL escapes me...just Google it.
[11:18] Plautia Corvale: http://sustainablelivinglibrary.blogspot.com/
[11:19] Sam Arriaga: Also, the US DOE has an amazing array of information on all kinds of energy use in the US and worldwide.
[11:19] Royk Humbridge: nice, thanks
[11:19] Ariell Enoch: I want to thank you
[11:19] Ariell Enoch: all for coming
[11:19] Sam Arriaga: DOE is US Dept of Energy
[11:20] Sam Arriaga: actually it is the US EIA Energy Information Agency,
[11:21] Ariell Enoch: Thank you Phil
[11:21] Plautia Corvale: And a big thank you to Phil Friendman, for this teaching us all about Photovoltaics and Solar Energy.
[11:21] Dali Waverider: thanks Phil
[11:21] Plautia Corvale applauds wildly
[11:21] Royk Humbridge: /applause
[11:21] Sam Arriaga: Thanks...it’s been fun,
[11:21] Plautia Corvale: Please return to our library for further programs and exhibits.
[11:21] Archivist Llewellyn: ty Phil
[11:21] Ariell Enoch: I hope you all look for our future workshops
[11:22] Ariell Enoch: : )
[11:22] Plautia Corvale: We will always send out notices to library groups and green groups of future workshops and programs
[11:22] Archivist Llewellyn: would you be able to give a tour of the library now Plautia?
[11:22] Plautia Corvale: Oh, yes, definitely!
[11:22] Ariell Enoch: I'm with Phil bye
[11:22] Ariell Enoch: thanks again
[11:22] Royk Humbridge: by Phil
[11:22] Plautia Corvale: Thank you Phil!

Solar Electricity (PV) 101 Workshop - This Saturday!

2009-05-31T14:25:00.000-07:00

Saturday, 6 June at 11am MT (10am SLT), Phil Friedman will discuss the basics of solar electricity and how it applies to reversing the damage done to our environment due to human activity. This is an open ended discussion so bring your questions.

Phil has been working in photovoltaic design, installation, and renewable energy education since 2003. He holds a Masters Degree in adult education and training from Colorado State University and electronics technology certification from Front Range Community College. He has worked in the field and in front of a computer with PV installs, technical support, and design and consultation. Now he is primarily consulting on PV design work and solar site analysis. Phil is also an online instructor for Solar Energy International in Carbondale, Colorado and is helping with developing new course curriculum. Find more information on SEI at http://www.solarenergy.org/ and http://www.solarproservices.com/

Earth Day April 22, 2009

2009-04-22T10:52:00.000-07:00

Celebrate Earth Day this year on Second Life. Etopia Eco Village on Etopia Island SLURL 115,71,22 has scheduled events throughout the week. This is a good time to renew your committment to sustainable living.

February Meeting - Date & Time

2009-02-14T10:32:00.001-08:00

We are trying out a new meeting time, so make sure and add this date to your calendar! We will convene next on:

Date: Tuesday, 17 February
Time: 8pm Mountain (7 SLT)
Where: CAL's Sustainable Living Library in Second Life
SLurl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Emerald%20City/123/62/26
Or, IM Plautia Corvale or Ariell Enoch for a TP!

Agenda:

1. Review of Grand Opening Bash
2. Report on ALA Virtual Worlds meeting
3. Finalization of Volunteer Committees: Collections and Programs
4. Field Trip! We will tour 2-3 other green islands to gain an understanding of what else is 'out there'.

Reducing Your Carbon Footprint

2009-02-07T09:28:00.000-08:00

What is a carbon footprint? It is the measure of the amount of carbon dioxide (a major contributor to greenhouse gas and global warming) that goes into the atmosphere as you go about your daily living. Below is a list of simple things you can do immediately to minimise your footprint:

turn off all lights when not in use
turn down your central heating by one or two degrees
unplug your mobile phone as soon as it is finished charging
do your shopping in a single trip
fill your dishwasher and washing machine with a full load
if you need to replace your car, consider an energy efficient model, ie hybrid or diesel
try to recycle paper, cans, plastic bottles, clothes, shoes, etc.
ride-share to work
try to buy items made closer to home
try to buy fresh fruit and vegetables in season otherwise they may have been flown in
look for "Energy Star" certified products when purchasing appliances (dishwashers, refrigerators, washing machines or dryers)

Green Libraries

2009-02-05T13:33:00.000-08:00

Libraries are a place for people to learn, and can be a touchstone for their communities on larger issues facing our world. One such issue is the delicate balance of the Planet Earth.

Like Mancos Public Library, there are a number of libraries across the country 'going green'.

Author Monika Antonelli gives a history of green libraries in the article, The Green Library Movement: An Overview and Beyond.

What would YOU like to learn about being green?

First published on the Mancos Public Library Building Project blog.

Grand Opening Bash a Success

2009-01-17T11:44:00.000-08:00

More than 20 avatars from around the world gathered to help us celebrate the Grand Opening of CAL's Sustainable Living Library in Second Life. Visitors toured the Library, which currently holds collections of web resources on Sustainable Living and Green Building, as well as an exhibit focused on the green aspects of the library itself.

The real fun began when DJ Zu started spinning tunes from a real-life turntable that was streamed live into Second Life. The songs ranged from classic pop favorites to electro-industrial to disco. We even grooved to a mixed version of Mozart - enhanced and combined with techno dance beats!

Some attendees were from other environmental-themed groups from across Second Life. They were happy to see CAL's efforts and encouraged us to take a look at what they are working on. SLIG will be working to partner with many of these groups to combine resources, and possibly co-host future events.

Next on the agenda is to continue to add to our collections, host new and informative exhibits, and to host workshops on 'green' topics, as well as Second Life Basics for new CAL SLIG members.

CAL SLIG, 2nd Meeting Information

2009-01-08T15:15:00.000-08:00

SLIG held its' second meeting last night, and even though attendance was a little sparse, a lot of good came out of it! We discussed the Library's Grand Opening festivities, which are all centered around ALA MidWinter meeting in just a couple of weeks.

A majority of the meeting was spent brainstorming about the resources we need to have in the library, so that we can educate our visitors about sustainability and the environment. We went on a field trip to Land of Lincoln to view an example of an educational display, and then journeyed to the Alliance Virtual Library to view various ways of getting information out there - SL style!

This Saturday, the Sustainable Living Library will be hosting a Second Life Basics workshop. If you need help sprucing up your avatar, this is one workshop you don't want to miss! The workshop begins at 1pm MT (12 SLT) at the Sustainable Living Library. IM Plautia Corvale or Ariell Enoch in-world for a TP, or search for CAL's Sustainable Living Library.

Green Tip January 2009

2009-01-02T07:45:00.000-08:00

Edible hemp is one of the new "super foods" of the 21st century. It's nutritious providing "an optimal 3-to-1 ratio of omega-3's to omega-6's" and high in fiber, protein, magnesium, zinc, iron, and vitamin E which promotes healthy skin, stable blood sugar and intestinal health. Hemp plants grow like weeds making them a highly renewable food source. Extensive tests have shown that food-grade hemp has nothing in common with its wilder botanical cousin (much like poppy seeds and opium). Hemp products include hemp milk, seeds, and protein powders. Most of these products can be found at your local natural grocery. Living Harvest Hempmilk is about $5 a carton. For more information or order by the case at www.livingharvest.com

Green Tip December 2008

2008-12-12T08:43:00.000-08:00

"Sprig Serious About Play"

A Ft. Collins, Colorado toy company debuted its first line of eco-friendly toys this fall. Sprig Toys (www.sprigtoys.com ) has been in business for only 18 months but is already attracting national attention with its innovative line of battery free toy trucks. These trucks are made of child-safe composite recycled wood and reclaimed plastic called "sprig wood". The company uses minimal packaging. The toys are made in Canada rather than shipped a long distance from China. Sprig is in the process of making distribution deals with Toys R Us, Whole Foods, and independent toy dealers across the country.

Rocky Mountain News
Friday December 12, 2008
Business section, page 3

Green Links:

ImagiPlay--toys with integrity http://www.imagiplay.com
MiYim--organic cotton toys http://www.miyim.com
North Star Toys--wooden toys since 1979 http://www.northstartoys.com

Meeting Photos - First CAL SLIG Meeting

2008-12-07T14:00:00.000-08:00

The Sustainable Living Library

Getting Ready for the Meeting

Foreground, Bottom Right: Krull Aeon, Builder

On the Emerald City Tour

Sample 'Green Holidays" Program, with Power Point Presentation

CAL SLIG, 1st Meeting Transcript

2008-12-06T14:49:00.001-08:00

Chat Transcripts are a wonderful bonus of meeting in Second Life. All typed text can be copied, which results in 100% accuracy.

Sometimes reading a transcript can be a bit confusing, though. When several avatars are typing at once, the conversation can seem somewhat disjointed.

Around 15 avatars logged in, and engaged in the following lively conversations that you will read below. The meeting, tour, and sample program went very well, with a minimal amount of technical difficulties.

All in all, a very successful first meeting for SLIG!

CAL SLIG Meeting Transcript
Location: Second Life @ the Sustainable Living Library
6 December 2008

[9:30] Plautia Corvale: Well, I think we'll get started :)
[9:30] Ariell Enoch: lets get started
[9:32] Plautia Corvale: Hi Max!!
[9:32] Maxito Ricardo: hi
[9:32] Krull Aeon: Hi Max :)
[9:32] Plautia Corvale: Take a seat!
[9:32] Ariell Enoch: Hi everyone. I'd like to start off by welcoming you to the first meeting of the CAL Second Life Interest Group. Meeting on Second Life is great - we don't need name tags!!! I would like us to introduce ourselves, though. :) I'm Ariell Enoch, and I work at the Aurora Public Library.........
[9:32] Plautia Corvale: I'm Plautia Corvale, and I am the Technology Manager at the Mancos Public Library. I kept reading about Second Life and what Libraries where doing here, so I joined a little over a year ago, and have loved every moment of it!
[9:33] Midnight Mirajkar: I'm Bev Allen and I'm at the John C. Fremont library
[9:33] Ariell Enoch: Let s introduce ourselves
[9:33] Krull Aeon: Hi Daisy
[9:33] Daisyblue Hefferman: is this the open to the public part?
[9:33] Maxito Ricardo: I'm Tom Peters in real life, from TAP Information Services in western Missouri (kinda close to Colorado!)
[9:33] Plautia Corvale: Hi Bev/Midnight :)
[9:33] Daisyblue Hefferman: Hi, Kitty
[9:33] Krull Aeon: Your more than welcome to join us :)
[9:33] Daisyblue Hefferman: Hello, all
[9:33] Theophania Luminos: I am a technical librarian in large engineering firm
[9:33] Plautia Corvale: Hi Daisyblue!!
[9:33] Ariell Enoch: Hi
[9:34] Moria Sugarplum: Hi, I'm the Director of the Mancos Public Library and this is my first time in Second Life.
[9:34] Theophania Luminos accepted your inventory offer.
[9:34] Ariell Enoch: great
[9:34] Daisyblue Hefferman: Kitty, could you rez me a sit prim, please?
[9:34] Krull Aeon accepted your inventory offer.
[9:34] Moria Sugarplum accepted your inventory offer.
[9:34] Maxito Ricardo: Hi, Moria, welcome to SL
[9:34] Daisyblue Hefferman accepted your inventory offer.
[9:34] Krull Aeon: ok
[9:34] Maxito Ricardo accepted your inventory offer.
[9:34] Ariell Enoch accepted your inventory offer.
[9:35] Moria Sugarplum: Thanks!
[9:35] Midnight Mirajkar accepted your inventory offer.
[9:35] Plautia Corvale: I've just handed out an agenda
[9:35] Plautia Corvale: You will find it in your recent items in your inventory
[9:35] Plautia Corvale: In case you cannot find it, here it is:
[9:35] Plautia Corvale: Agenda
[9:35] Plautia Corvale: 1. Informational Meeting
2. Tour
3. Green Holiday Program
4. Conclusion and next meeting

Thanks for coming! We're looking forward to working with you to make the Sustainable Living Library the best Library in Second Life.

Happy Holidays!
[9:36] Plautia Corvale: Today we'll start with a short informational meeting, and then take a tour of Emerald City and the Sustainable Living Library.
[9:36] Plautia Corvale: Following the tour, we'll be giving a sample program, "Green Holidays". This should give you a taste of the educational opportunities available here in Second Life.
[9:36] Plautia Corvale: We'll conclude with a Q and A session, and will also be setting a date and time for our next meeting.
[9:36] Daisyblue Hefferman: TY, Krull
[9:36] Ashland Carter accepted your inventory offer.
[9:37] Daisyblue Hefferman: I'm Daisy, a retired public library director.
[9:37] Ariell Enoch: As Plautia said in her email, we want this to be a fun experience. So we don't want anyone to stand on formalities—just jump in if you have a question or thought.
[9:37] Daisyblue Hefferman: from NY
[9:37] Plautia Corvale: Welcome, DB! :)
[9:37] Plautia Corvale: How many of you are new to Second Life?
[9:37] Ashland Carter: I am almost new to SL
[9:37] Moria Sugarplum: I am very new!
[9:37] Midnight Mirajkar: I've been here a few times before, but still anewbie
[9:38] Plautia Corvale: Great! Well, For those of you who are new, we'll be explaining things as we go.
[9:38] Theophania Luminos: fairly new, but Have done a bit of exploring
[9:38] Plautia Corvale: First, sometimes the chat can move quickly or be difficult to follow. You can open a chat window by hitting the Local Chat button in the bottom left of your screen.
[9:38] Plautia Corvale: This will keep the chat up longer.
[9:38] Ashland Carter: BTW. does Sustainable Director mean a higher level of SL?
[9:39] Plautia Corvale: Ariell and I are the Co-chairs of CAL SLIG
[9:39] Plautia Corvale: Colorado Association of Libraries
[9:39] Maxito Ricardo: Hi, Shoshana
[9:39] Ashland Carter: Oh , thanks
[9:39] Plautia Corvale: Second Life Interest Group
[9:39] Shoshana Cardalines: Hi
[9:39] Plautia Corvale: Hello Shoshana
[9:39] Ariell Enoch: Hi Shoshana
[9:39] Plautia Corvale: Take a seat!
[9:39] Shoshana Cardalines: sorry I am late
[9:39] Plautia Corvale: not a problem
[9:39] Plautia Corvale: We are just getting started
[9:40] Daisyblue Hefferman: here's a chair Shooshanna, guess I messed up the auto seats. lol
[9:40] Plautia Corvale: Sooshana, For those of you who are new, we'll be explaining things as we go.
[9:41] Plautia Corvale: Today we'll start with a short informational meeting, and then take a tour of Emerald City and the Sustainable Living Library. Following the tour, we'll be giving a sample program, "Green Holidays". This should give you a taste of the educational opportunities available here in Second Life. We'll conclude with a Q and A session, and will also be setting a date and time for our next meeting.
[9:41] Plautia Corvale: Also, when we begin the tour you can get lost from the group. Slow us down!
[9:41] Plautia Corvale: You can make use of your mini map—follow the green dots and you can always find us or IM Ariell or myself.
[9:41] Ariell Enoch: The last tour of Info Island I took, I relied totally on the mini map to keep up with the group : ) as we TPed from location to location.
[9:42] Plautia Corvale: The mini map button is in the lower right hand side of your screen
[9:42] Maxito Ricardo: the mini map is a big help when navigating to a meeting or group.
[9:42] Ariell Enoch: yes
[9:42] Plautia Corvale: The green dots are other avatars
[9:42] Ashland Carter: I have it up but still not sure how to use it
[9:42] Maxito Ricardo: When they turn into green T's, that means they are higher or lower in elevation than you are.
[9:43] Plautia Corvale: It is a map of our immediate area
[9:43] Plautia Corvale: The green dots represent other avatars
[9:43] Ashland Carter: Oh ok
[9:43] Plautia Corvale: You are a yellow dot
[9:43] Ashland Carter: Oh I see me now
[9:43] Plautia Corvale: :)
[9:43] Plautia Corvale: We'll be keeping a history of the "chats" from all our meetings.
[9:43] Theophania Luminos: you can use your mouse controls to zoom in when you are on the map
[9:43] Plautia Corvale: Chats will be posted on the Sustainable Living Library blog, http://sustainablelivinglibrary.blogspot.com/ ,
[9:44] Plautia Corvale: as will monthly "green tips", information relating to sustainable/green living, and upcoming programs of interest not only on Second Life, but RL as well.
[9:44] Plautia Corvale: We want the blog to be informative and useful.
[9:45] Ariell Enoch: We are also hoping that some of you will be interested in volunteering your time to work with us. An hour or two once a month would be great. As time goes on, our need for volunteers will increase as our programs, library, and outreach efforts grow. Volunteering is a good way of meeting people, learning more about Second Life, and it's a lot of fun.
[9:45] Maxito Ricardo: Hi, Mairin
[9:45] Plautia Corvale: Hello, Mairin!
[9:46] Maxito Ricardo: Daisy keeps getting bumped off her chair!
[9:46] Plautia Corvale: We just did introductions, and told a little bit about ourselves
[9:46] Theophania Luminos: I am very interested in the whole idea of sustainable living. I sail, and Islands and small towns have in common that they must be self-sufficicent so much of the time
[9:46] Daisyblue Hefferman: I moved away so as not to confuse the table lol
[9:46] Mairin Vlodovic: hello! just woke up, sorry i am late!
[9:46] Krull Aeon: Daisy has her own little chair :)
[9:47] Daisyblue Hefferman: I just hadn't a minute to change! lol
[9:47] Plautia Corvale: Mairin, I’ve sent you an agenda
[9:47] Krull Aeon: lol
[9:47] Mairin Vlodovic accepted your inventory offer.
[9:47] Maxito Ricardo: Volunteering in SL is a great way to network professionally
[9:47] Ashland Carter: I am interested in that part
[9:47] Plautia Corvale: Yes, it is great to meet all the other librarians here
[9:47] Plautia Corvale: They are a great group of people
[9:47] Ariell Enoch: yes
[9:48] Shoshana Cardalines: I would like to volunteer. This is my first time in SL and I had to get my 16 year old to even get me into some decent clothes ;0)
[9:48] Ariell Enoch: great.
[9:48] Shoshana Cardalines: It all seems quite confusing right now.
[9:48] Maxito Ricardo: Shoshana, it takes awhile to feel comfortable in SL.
[9:48] Mairin Vlodovic: yes, i am still quite spazzy
[9:48] Ariell Enoch: I can second that : )
[9:49] Ashland Carter: That is for sure, I hit alot of learning curves but it really has potential to learn
[9:49] Ariell Enoch: Me too lol
[9:49] Theophania Luminos: And where else could we all get together for a face-to-face meeting without leaving the comfort of our usual places?
[9:50] Maxito Ricardo: very true!
[9:50] Ashland Carter: For surelol
[9:50] Maxito Ricardo: At a reasonable cost, too.
[9:50] Plautia Corvale: That is the beauty of SL
[9:50] Plautia Corvale: You can meet in your pajamas, if you'd like, and no one will know!
[9:50] Plautia Corvale: lol
[9:50] Plautia Corvale: lol = laughing out loud
[9:50] Maxito Ricardo: Just so you know, voice is possible in SL
[9:50] Midnight Mirajkar: yeah, i am!
[9:51] Plautia Corvale: We included the mission statement of the library in our last email, but was wondering if anyone had any questions or comments about it?
[9:51] Maxito Ricardo: Or you can sneak out to go check on the kids, as I need to do right now (sorry)
[9:52] Plautia Corvale: The Sustainable Living Library of Second Life is committed to creating better and healthier lives for ourselves and our children through sustainable living practices. By developing workshops, exhibits and other resources, we strive to educate our visitors about green practices and other ways to sustain healthy lives and a healthy planet.
[9:52] Moria Sugarplum: I'm not sure why I am Away - now it is gone.
[9:53] Plautia Corvale: When you don't touch the keyboard for a certain time period, you go to Away mode
[9:53] Plautia Corvale: It's okay :)
[9:53] Shoshana Cardalines: In order to use our voices do you just need to have a microphone and you press the talk button?
[9:53] Plautia Corvale: Yes, you have to have the voice enabled through your preferences
[9:53] Plautia Corvale: Then, if your computer has a mic, or you use a headset, then you can press the talk button
[9:54] Plautia Corvale: So regarding the Mission Statement, We will base all our programs around this mission statement but are also planning to include mini workshops on SL skills.
[9:54] Theophania Luminos: Or if you only have headphones, you can listen. Right now I am hearing the wind and keyboards as folks type
[9:54] Plautia Corvale: Ideas for programs are always welcome. : )
[9:55] Plautia Corvale: Does anyone have any other questions?
[9:55] Theophania Luminos: Where do we send program ideas, or do we discuss them here?
[9:56] Plautia Corvale: We can discuss them here, or you can always email us in RL (real life), or send us IMs here in SL
[9:56] Plautia Corvale: Do you have any ideas?!
[9:56] Ashland Carter: Not yet, I need to get to know more about you!
[9:56] Theophania Luminos: Yes. Sustainable landscapes, xeriscape
[9:57] Plautia Corvale: That will be great. We will be putting in a xeriscape garden at some point
[9:57] Theophania Luminos: I would love to help
[9:57] Plautia Corvale: If anyone would like to lead programs, that would be wonderful!
[9:57] Plautia Corvale: Theo, that is great
[9:58] Ashland Carter: Yes, I like xeriscapes
[9:58] Theophania Luminos: I hear a camera shutter or a slide change
[9:58] Plautia Corvale: When we go on the tour, we will be talking a bit about what else will be developed on Emerald City
[9:59] Plautia Corvale: I am taking picures to record this momentous occasion!
[9:59] Plautia Corvale: :)
[9:59] Plautia Corvale: *pictures
[9:59] Moria Sugarplum: We will doing sustainable living workshops at the Mancos Library after we move in our new library, so we could incorporate them in Second Life.
[10:00] Plautia Corvale: Moria, that will be wonderful. I'm glad that we have so many interested and knowledgeable people!
[10:00] Ariell Enoch: Yes
[10:00] Ariell Enoch: and then back to the library for the program : )
[10:01] Ariell Enoch: ready? : )
[10:01] Theophania Luminos: Lead on
[10:01] Ashland Carter: Whoopes I missed something where are we going? sorry
[10:02] Plautia Corvale: Let's start the tour. We'll come back to the library for our program and conclusion.
[10:02] Plautia Corvale: Let's start the tour. We'll come back to the library for our program and conclusion.
[10:02] Theophania Luminos: Daisyblue, Your outfit is quite charming
[10:02] Daisyblue Hefferman: TY, Theo!
[10:03] Daisyblue Hefferman: 'm usually a biggie, but was too busy to change yet today.
[10:03] Theophania Luminos: I like the whole look.
[10:03] Theophania Luminos: Very seasonal
[10:04] Daisyblue Hefferman: it's fun, there's a terrific group of tinies here.
[10:04] Theophania Luminos: can I find that on a search?
[10:04] Daisyblue Hefferman: Raglan is one of their main islands
[10:04] Daisyblue Hefferman: that will get you there
[10:04] Theophania Luminos: thank you I will check it out
[10:04] Plautia Corvale: Let's head to the library
[10:05] Shoshana Cardalines: Wow - this is great!
[10:05] Mairin Vlodovic: looks good, haven't been in 4 a while
[10:05] Daisyblue Hefferman: Krull, you outdid yourself with this build!
[10:05] Plautia Corvale: This is the Sustainable Living Library
[10:05] Krull Aeon: Thanks :)
[10:05] Plautia Corvale: CAL has agreed to support and fund this library
[10:06] Midnight Mirajkar: love the xmas tree!
[10:06] Plautia Corvale: CAL members will be responsible for running the library, creating exhibits
[10:06] Plautia Corvale: hosting programs, etc.
[10:06] Moria Sugarplum: This is beautiful. It looks similar to what our new library will look like.
[10:06] Plautia Corvale: I'd like to specially introduce Krull ---
[10:06] Shoshana Cardalines: I wish we could afford this much stone!
[10:06] Plautia Corvale: He is our master builder of this library!
[10:06] Krull Aeon: ^^
[10:07] Plautia Corvale: We sent him a small photo, and he built beyond our wildest dreams!
[10:07] Daisyblue Hefferman: oooh, he's blushing. lol
[10:07] Plautia Corvale: Thank you , Krull!!
[10:07] Krull Aeon: lol
[10:07] Plautia Corvale applauds wildly
[10:07] Krull Aeon: Your welcome :)
[10:07] Ariell Enoch: great job :)
[10:07] Plautia Corvale: Right now the library is still in the planning stages
[10:07] Krull Aeon: Thank you :)
[10:07] Midnight Mirajkar: very cool!
[10:08] Plautia Corvale: We have put up a few furnishings
[10:08] Plautia Corvale: We would like to create a space for rotating exhibits
[10:08] Plautia Corvale: As well as a pictoral diagram of why this building is 'green'
[10:08] Krull Aeon: You can use the new energy center for exhibits
[10:08] Plautia Corvale: Did anyone notice the photovoltaics on the roof?
[10:09] Plautia Corvale: Yes, that is true, Krull!
[10:10] Plautia Corvale: Does anyone have any questions about the library?
[10:11] Ariell Enoch: shalll we move on?
[10:11] Plautia Corvale: Yes, pleae!
[10:11] Ashland Carter: what is the customer "test" not found?
[10:11] Plautia Corvale: lol
[10:12] Plautia Corvale: That is a counter I put into the table -
[10:12] Plautia Corvale: It didn't work, and I couldn't get the floating text to turn off
[10:12] Daisyblue Hefferman: uh, Krull has one that works. rofl.
[10:12] Krull Aeon: lol
[10:12] Plautia Corvale: The customer service ppl will be here today
[10:12] Plautia Corvale: lol
[10:12] Plautia Corvale: Krull, I'll have to get yours!
[10:12] Krull Aeon: ok
[10:13] Plautia Corvale: Krull, would you like to talk about thewse?
[10:13] Plautia Corvale: *these
[10:13] Krull Aeon: These are solar collection arrays
[10:13] Krull Aeon: Foten found in mountainous regions
[10:13] Krull Aeon: Often*
[10:14] Plautia Corvale: Oh, by the way, everything else we will be seeing now is on Emerald City proper
[10:14] Krull Aeon: The are designed to collect the suns energy and focus it on a powerful energy translation coupling
[10:14] Moria Sugarplum: Do they provide energy for everything on the island?
[10:14] Krull Aeon: They provide some of the energy
[10:14] Krull Aeon: Each unit can provide as much as 10 Kilovolts of energy
[10:15] Plautia Corvale: They are wonderful
[10:15] Plautia Corvale: We also have the wind power generators
[10:15] Moria Sugarplum: Are we planning on installing wind generators?
[10:15] Plautia Corvale: lol
[10:15] Plautia Corvale: Moria, we have a wind 'farm' over here
[10:16] Shoshana Cardalines: I can hear it!
[10:16] Plautia Corvale: These also 'power' the island
[10:16] Moria Sugarplum: These are great!
[10:16] Plautia Corvale: Everything you see on Emerald City has been designed by our wonderful Krull :)
[10:16] Krull Aeon: ^^
[10:16] Ashland Carter: Wow that is cool
[10:17] Plautia Corvale: Up here was the first build on Emerald City
[10:17] Plautia Corvale: The Emerald Sustainable Gazebo
[10:18] Plautia Corvale: We had our first meetings here
[10:18] Ashland Carter: What do the mean by sustainable gazebo? Made by "green" materials?
[10:18] Plautia Corvale: Notice the rapidly renewing bamboo plants
[10:18] Theophania Luminos: and the bonsai trees
[10:18] Plautia Corvale: Yes, we used 'local' materials to build the gazebo :)
[10:18] Krull Aeon: :)
[10:18] Theophania Luminos: which here don't die like they do in RL
[10:18] Krull Aeon: Correct :)
[10:18] Plautia Corvale: Exactly!! rofl
[10:19] Plautia Corvale: There is a great view from the gazebo
[10:19] Plautia Corvale: :)
[10:19] Plautia Corvale: Down the hill we have our water power generator
[10:20] Plautia Corvale: This also prvides power for the island
[10:20] Plautia Corvale: *provides
[10:20] Moria Sugarplum: Is this a greenhouse?
[10:20] Krull Aeon: yes
[10:21] Plautia Corvale: Yes, we will be building an organic farm, and farmers market
[10:21] Plautia Corvale: We are developing this space as an experimental farming area
[10:21] Plautia Corvale: Other Ideas for Emerald City - Currently in Development
[10:21] Plautia Corvale: An ecosystem exhibit - showing the delicate balance of the earth
[10:22] Daisyblue Hefferman: Hi, Tedi!
[10:22] Plautia Corvale: Xeriscape Garden
[10:22] Tedi Latte: Hello!
[10:22] Plautia Corvale: Hello Tedi! Glad you could make it!
[10:22] Plautia Corvale: Green Village
[10:22] Plautia Corvale: Green Technology Petting Zoo
[10:22] Krull Aeon: lol
[10:22] Plautia Corvale: and a recycling Center
[10:23] Plautia Corvale: To hopefully create some income for the island, we will be opening
[10:23] Plautia Corvale: a Sustainable Fashion Store
[10:23] Plautia Corvale: Let's take a look at that!
[10:25] Plautia Corvale: We are looking for a designer that will create a sustainable clothing line
[10:25] Plautia Corvale: Revenue will be going to support the island
[10:25] Plautia Corvale: Emerald City is sponsored by three groups
[10:25] Plautia Corvale: CAL
[10:25] Plautia Corvale: And we are partnering with TAP Information Services
[10:26] Plautia Corvale: Max was here earlier
[10:26] Plautia Corvale: He is the principal of TAP
[10:26] Plautia Corvale: They are a library consulting gourp
[10:26] Plautia Corvale: *group
[10:26] Midnight Mirajkar: sustainable Project Runway?!
[10:26] Plautia Corvale: Exactly, Midnight!
[10:26] Plautia Corvale: There are several sustainable fashion shows that are steadily increasing in popularity in Real Life
[10:27] Plautia Corvale: We hope to ride the trend to generate some income here
[10:27] Midnight Mirajkar: \Interesting - I could get into that
[10:27] Plautia Corvale: Well, fashion is a huge part of Second Life, so it is a natural fit
[10:27] Plautia Corvale: CAL and TAP are also partnering with the Alliance Library System of Illinois
[10:28] Plautia Corvale: They have a huge presence in Second Life
[10:28] Plautia Corvale: Some of you may have heard of them already
[10:28] Plautia Corvale: They will bring us a huge knowledge base
[10:28] Plautia Corvale: as well as lend credibility to the entire projects
[10:29] Plautia Corvale: CAL is very excited to partner with both TAP and Alliance
[10:29] Plautia Corvale: Let's take a look at the newest build on the island before heading back to the library
[10:30] Plautia Corvale: Krull, can you explain this, please?
[10:31] Krull Aeon: lol
[10:32] Krull Aeon: This is the energy exhibition and event center
[10:32] Plautia Corvale: Does anyone have any questions?
[10:33] Plautia Corvale: Feel free to speak up! :)
[10:33] Moria Sugarplum: The tour was fun and educational and I feel more at ease moving around.
[10:33] Midnight Mirajkar: so what kind of events?
[10:33] Shoshana Cardalines: Is there a place where I can get a list of tutorials so that I can get a better handle on how to function in SL before our next meeting.
[10:34] Daisyblue Hefferman: go to Virtual Ability sim.
[10:34] Plautia Corvale: Ariell will finish up, I will be going to get the program ready!
[10:34] Daisyblue Hefferman: they run you through wonderful ones!
[10:38] Plautia Corvale: Hello:)
[10:39] Tedi Latte: thanks :) hard to get around in busy places for me
[10:39] Krull Aeon: :)
[10:39] Plautia Corvale: Is the tour finished?
[10:39] Plautia Corvale: :)
[10:40] Daisyblue Hefferman: yes, Plautia
[10:40] Daisyblue Hefferman: ladies, right click on a pillow to 'sit'
[10:40] Plautia Corvale: Okay, so we have assembled a sample program
[10:40] Plautia Corvale: This will give you a taste of the educational possibilities available in Second Life
[10:41] Plautia Corvale: Is the snow bothering anyone?
[10:41] Plautia Corvale: I can turn it off, if so :)
[10:41] Shoshana Cardalines: I'm freezing ;0)!
[10:41] Daisyblue Hefferman: each can turn off their own
[10:41] Plautia Corvale: lol
[10:41] Daisyblue Hefferman: ctrl alt shift and +
[10:41] Bonnie Tomorrow: I am okay, I really kinda like it
[10:41] Plautia Corvale: Thank you Daisy :)
[10:41] Daisyblue Hefferman: all held down together
[10:42] Ashland Carter: I like it
[10:43] Plautia Corvale: Sorry, I am using my husband's laptop, and I'm not used to it
[10:43] Plautia Corvale: lol
[10:43] Plautia Corvale: Okay
[10:43] Plautia Corvale: Holiday time is upon us
[10:43] Ashland Carter: It puts me in the holiday mood
[10:43] Plautia Corvale: And we'd like to give you a sampling of how you can make this time a little 'greener'
[10:44] Slide Viewer with pics: "2adoption copy," slide 2 of 8
[10:44] Plautia Corvale: Gift Giving Ideas
[10:44] Plautia Corvale: Can everyone see the slide show?
[10:44] Shoshana Cardalines: Yes I can.
[10:44] Kestrel Kytori: Yes
[10:44] Bonnie Tomorrow: yup
[10:44] Theophania Luminos: yes
[10:44] Plautia Corvale: There are several ways to give 'green' gifts
[10:45] Plautia Corvale: One is to 'adopt' an endangered animal, such as this polar bear
[10:45] Plautia Corvale: People will recieve a stuffed animal and an 'adoption' certificate
[10:45] Plautia Corvale: World Wildlife Fund Adoptions: http://www.worldwildlife.org/ogc/species_SKU.cfm?gid=27&sc=AWY0900WC000
[10:45] Daisyblue Hefferman: to zoom in closer to the slides, hold down your alt key while pressing the left mouse button and move mouse away from you
[10:46] Slide Viewer with pics: "3wraprage," slide 3 of 8
[10:46] Daisyblue Hefferman: after you point at the slides first. sorry.
[10:46] Plautia Corvale: Another possiblity for parents
[10:46] Ashland Carter: Great idea
[10:46] Plautia Corvale: Are Toys -
[10:47] Plautia Corvale: any of us with children know that toys are almost impossible to unwrap
[10:47] Plautia Corvale: The packaging is so tough - and kids are jumping up and down wanting to play with the toy!!
[10:47] Plautia Corvale: We almost pull out our hair!
[10:47] Daisyblue Hefferman: to say nothing of most all packaging today
[10:48] Plautia Corvale: Amazon has developed a 'Wrap Rage' line
[10:48] Plautia Corvale: Exactly, DB
[10:48] Plautia Corvale: There is minimal packaging, which is better for the environment
[10:48] Plautia Corvale: And this lesser packaging means that kids can enjoy almost immediately!!
[10:49] Daisyblue Hefferman: nothing like instant gratification. :)
[10:49] Krull Aeon: lol
[10:49] Plautia Corvale: http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?ie=UTF8&docId=1000276271
[10:49] Plautia Corvale: There is the link to the specific Wrap Rage items :)
[10:49] Slide Viewer with pics: "4experiences," slide 4 of 8
[10:49] Theophania Luminos: and less mess
[10:50] Plautia Corvale: Yes, it is nice to have less thing to throw away
[10:50] Plautia Corvale: :)
[10:50] Plautia Corvale: You can also purchase 'experiences'
[10:50] Daisyblue Hefferman: oooh, a massage! I'll go for one of those
[10:50] Ariell Enoch: me too : )
[10:50] Plautia Corvale: For example, Massages, local tourist locations, gift cards for fun places
[10:50] Kestrel Kytori: :-)
[10:50] Plautia Corvale: such as bowling, restaurants
[10:51] Ariell Enoch: movies
[10:51] Plautia Corvale: These gifts only require a piece of paper! :)
[10:51] Plautia Corvale: Very sustainable, and memorable, too!!
[10:51] Slide Viewer with pics: "5othertips," slide 5 of 8
[10:51] Daisyblue Hefferman: sigh
[10:52] Plautia Corvale: You can also purchase local gifts, such as items from a local art co-op
[10:52] Plautia Corvale: For wrapping presents, you can use paper items that you have around the house
[10:52] Ashland Carter: Is this on Amazon?
[10:52] Ariell Enoch: someone I knew used the Sunday comics
[10:52] Plautia Corvale: Sorry, is what on Amazon?
[10:53] Ashland Carter: Buying an "experience"
[10:53] Ashland Carter: Or is this an idea you just gave us? Sorry
[10:53] Plautia Corvale: Oh, Ashland, they can be anything that you want...
[10:53] Plautia Corvale: For instance, I am purchasing tickets to our local Durango Train ride for some of my relatives
[10:53] Ashland Carter: I get it now...
[10:53] Plautia Corvale: :)
[10:54] Plautia Corvale: If you are using paper to wrap, you can use old maps
[10:54] Plautia Corvale: Or, if you are using a newspaper, Make it more personal and relevant by matching the gift to the section. For example, you could wrap a cookbook with the food section or a children's game with the comics.
[10:54] Ariell Enoch: good idea
[10:54] Ariell Enoch: I like that
[10:54] Kestrel Kytori: That's a neat idea
[10:54] Bonnie Tomorrow: I love the maps idea!
[10:55] Plautia Corvale: Another thing that I do is recycle old Holiday cards from previous years,
[10:55] Theophania Luminos: save holiday shopping bags which have seaonal themes and use them as gift bags. Cover the logo
[10:55] Shoshana Cardalines: I have a credit card which gives me points. I can then use those points to purchase gift certificates at restaurants, etc. such as Starbucks - I often give these as gifts and you can't beat the price ;0)
[10:55] Plautia Corvale: I cut them up, and use the cut-outs to address presents
[10:56] Ariell Enoch: or buy 99 cent bags from the groucery and fill with local organic food items etc
[10:56] Plautia Corvale: Theo and Shoshana, those are terrific ideas!
[10:56] Ariell Enoch: grocery
[10:56] Shoshana Cardalines: I have used national geographic maps for wrapping.
[10:56] Theophania Luminos: "Wrap" gifts in unusual things - a scarf or piece of fabric, a special container
[10:56] Ashland Carter: That's a cool idea Ariell
[10:56] Plautia Corvale: Fabric is a great one - it can be used again and again.
[10:56] Theophania Luminos: "Give" a card, but hide the gift somewehre
[10:56] Plautia Corvale: Quilters would love that, too
[10:56] Ariell Enoch: the Japanese use fabric
[10:57] Theophania Luminos: Costumers love the fabric too
[10:57] Plautia Corvale: E-Cards are another way to cut down on paper use
[10:57] Ariell Enoch: Little silk bags from China
[10:57] Slide Viewer with pics: "6grocerybagwrapping," slide 6 of 8
[10:57] Bonnie Tomorrow: I got a package from India and it was wrapped in fabic and it was just really more special
[10:57] Bonnie Tomorrow: The silk was gorgeous too!
[10:57] Plautia Corvale: You can also purchase cloth 'grocery' bags and use them to wrap presents
[10:57] Ariell Enoch: yes
[10:57] Slide Viewer with pics: "7Decorating," slide 7 of 8
[10:58] Plautia Corvale: Decorating:
[10:58] Theophania Luminos: Or just collect them from your next conference
[10:58] Plautia Corvale: This picture shows a fun craft idea that I found on the internet
[10:58] Ariell Enoch: yes : )
[10:58] Plautia Corvale: The creator used a piece of cardboard cut in a circle
[10:58] Bonnie Tomorrow: yes, and we will be having the terrific grocery bags again this coming year.
[10:58] Plautia Corvale: She wrapped it in a satin ribbon, and then glued on old buttons!
[10:59] Bonnie Tomorrow: Cute
[10:59] Theophania Luminos: A use for the packaging you do get with things. . .
[10:59] Plautia Corvale: For greater energy efficiency, you can purchase LED lights, Energy Star products, solar powered lights
[10:59] Plautia Corvale: You can just do a search on Google, and many items will come up
[10:59] Daisyblue Hefferman: my cats would rather play with packaging than toys.
[11:00] Plautia Corvale: Some local electric co-operatives are also selling energy efficient lights
[11:00] Theophania Luminos: Sometimes I would rather play with the packaging than the toys
[11:00] Plautia Corvale: My boys, too, Daisy.
[11:00] Plautia Corvale: That's always the way!
[11:01] Plautia Corvale: Holdiay trees are also a killer on the environment
[11:01] Kestrel Kytori: Ugh, yes.
[11:01] Plautia Corvale: The plastic tress can be made out of toxic materials
[11:01] Plautia Corvale: And when thrown away, take years and years to decompose in a land fill
[11:02] Plautia Corvale: A live tree, of course, means cutting down a perfectly healthy tree
[11:02] Theophania Luminos: They do last a long time. Ours is going on 20 plus years
[11:02] Plautia Corvale: (unless you are Charlie Brown!)
[11:02] Plautia Corvale: A great solution is to use a potted tree
[11:02] Plautia Corvale: You have an instant stand -
[11:02] Plautia Corvale: And then when spring comes, you can plant it for future growth
[11:03] Plautia Corvale: We have an example of this in the library
[11:03] Plautia Corvale: We created a tree using potted poinsettias
[11:03] Slide Viewer with pics: "8Food," slide 8 of 8
[11:03] Shoshana Cardalines: One of my favorite gift ideas, which uses no packaging, is to give to a charity in honor of the person I want to gift. Many charities make this very easy on-line. Heifer International and Kiva are two of my favorites.
[11:03] Plautia Corvale: And what would the Holidays be without Food???!!!!
[11:03] Bonnie Tomorrow: yay Food!!!!
[11:04] Plautia Corvale: Shoshana, great... I love Kiva, which is an online micro-lending website
[11:04] Plautia Corvale: They make loans to businesses in third world countries
[11:04] Plautia Corvale: A wonderful concept
[11:04] Shoshana Cardalines: Sorry I went back to an old subject but I have to leave and I wanted to mention that. Thanks for the presentation and tour - I look forward to working on this project.
[11:05] Kestrel Kytori: Thanks for elaborating on that- I didn't know what micro-lending meant.
[11:05] Plautia Corvale: The best way to be 'green' with holiday food is to purchase organic and local food
[11:05] Daisyblue Hefferman: Kiva is in sl, too.
[11:06] Plautia Corvale: Shoshana, thank you for coming!
[11:06] Theophania Luminos: brokenly
[11:06] Ariell Enoch: Bye Shosana
[11:06] Plautia Corvale: We will let everyone know when our next meeting is
[11:06] Ariell Enoch: I would like to suggest if possible to keep the meeting the same day and time
[11:07] Plautia Corvale: Host a sustainable dinner party or healthy "pot luck" over the holidays with organic recipes and locally grown food.
[11:07] Ashland Carter: Yes, this was a good time for me too
[11:07] Plautia Corvale: There is a great listing of recipes here:
[11:07] Plautia Corvale: http://www.sustainabletable.org/kitchen/recipes/
[11:07] Slide Viewer with pics: "1GreenHolidaysIntro," slide 1 of 8
[11:08] Plautia Corvale: That's it! :)
[11:08] Ariell Enoch: Plautia that was great
[11:08] Theophania Luminos: thank you
[11:08] Ariell Enoch: Thank you
[11:08] Plautia Corvale: Thank you, if was fun to put together
[11:08] Daisyblue Hefferman: TY, Plautia, that was terrific!
[11:08] Bonnie Tomorrow: This was so much fun!!!
[11:08] Plautia Corvale: *it
[11:08] Ashland Carter: I enjoyed it too.
[11:08] Kestrel Kytori: Those were great suggestions
[11:08] Plautia Corvale: Thank you :)
[11:08] Ariell Enoch: yes
[11:08] Bonnie Tomorrow: Thank you so much Plautia
[11:08] Ariell Enoch: This was a great meeting
[11:08] Plautia Corvale: These are the types of things that we can do for other programs
[11:08] Bonnie Tomorrow: and Ariell
[11:09] Plautia Corvale: Slide shows, even movies
[11:09] Kestrel Kytori: Was that www.sustainabletable.com?
[11:09] Theophania Luminos: Will you be archiving this presentation somewhere in SL so visitors can view it?
[11:09] Plautia Corvale: one moment!
[11:09] Plautia Corvale: http://www.sustainabletable.org/kitchen/recipes/
[11:09] Bonnie Tomorrow: so the next meeting is the first Saturday at 10?
[11:09] Kestrel Kytori: Thanks!
[11:09] Plautia Corvale: I will be putting it on our blog, http://sustainablelivinglibrary.blogspot.com/
[11:09] Ariell Enoch: Would that work for everyone
[11:09] Ariell Enoch: will
[11:09] Plautia Corvale: I will also try and make the slideshow available in the library,
[11:10] Plautia Corvale: Just have to figure that part out, so everyone can move the slideshow :)
[11:10] Bonnie Tomorrow: The time works for me
[11:10] Theophania Luminos: It will have to be either a saturday, or an eveing for me. I am not allowed to access SL or any social sites at work
[11:10] Plautia Corvale: Night is good for me as long as it is after 8 pm
[11:10] Plautia Corvale: (kiddos go down for bedtime:)
[11:10] Kestrel Kytori: I can't download anything at work, so SL is not possible
[11:11] Bonnie Tomorrow: I hate it when they think that SL is just social'-)
[11:11] Theophania Luminos: too much like fun
[11:11] Kestrel Kytori: But I did tell all my coworkers about your CAL presentation, and they were interested and impressed
[11:11] Plautia Corvale: I received a lot of email response that people would like to have met today at this time, but they had previous plans
[11:11] Bonnie Tomorrow: Well I guess that is true
[11:11] Plautia Corvale: Thank you, Kestrel
[11:11] Plautia Corvale: The CAL presentation is available on http://www.cal-webs.org/
[11:11] Plautia Corvale: If anyone would like to view it
[11:12] Bonnie Tomorrow: Plautia, Ariell, are you planning on presenting again this coming year?
[11:12] Ashland Carter: Yes, I would I know you and Ariell worked on it
[11:12] Theophania Luminos: I suggest going with the first Saturday this time, then solicit opinions for future meetings.
[11:12] Kestrel Kytori: I am just sorry I was late today and missed the tour. Stupid jet lag monster caught up with me I think
[11:12] Ariell Enoch: Works for me
[11:12] Plautia Corvale: Kestrel, we can give you a tour anytime :)
[11:13] Kestrel Kytori: :-)
[11:13] Plautia Corvale: Thanks for coming, everyone!
[11:13] Ariell Enoch: Thanks, this was a great meeting!

California Bay Area Moves Towards Green Transportation

2008-11-21T06:44:00.000-08:00

Wonderful news from California:

California officials unveil plans to turn San Francisco into electric car capital

• Arnold Schwarzenegger proposes move from traditional fuels
• At least $1 billion to be spent on improving green infrastructure

Read the full article here.

Sustainable Living Library Has Been Built!

2008-11-13T06:15:00.000-08:00

When CAL unanimously approved the formation of SLIG (Second Life Interest Group), who knew that our library would be built, open, and ready for business in just a few short days!

The Sustainable Living Library (SLL) is a replica of a green building, and will eventually house an exhibit describing the green features of the building. Other exhibits will focus on CAL Colorado Libraries, as well as other green topics. As in real life, the SLL will hold programs; at the beginning, we will focus on general Second Life information for Colorado librarians new to this virtual world; eventually we will integrate green programs for any Second Life resident interested in sustainability.

Our builder, Krull Aeon, has built several other projects for libraries and librarians thoughout Second Life. And not only does Krull build, but he also writes programs specifically for Second Life; these applications can be used in a variety of ways to enhance the way people experience Second Life. A popular application that he has built recently is the Virtual Book; an avatar walks into a "book", and is then surround by images, voice recordings, and even moving characters! We feel very lucky to have had this wonderful innovator for our builder.

CAL Becomes an Official Suporter

2008-11-09T12:23:00.000-08:00

We are proud to announce the formation of a new Colorado Association of Libraries (CAL) Interest Group, the Second Life Interest Group (SLIG).

SLIG was formed by unanimous vote at the November CAL Board meeting. The purpose of the group is to:

Explore new ways of doing digital outreach, networking and public relations in order to promote Colorado and its libraries (including but not limited to academic, public, special, and school) on the virtual world of Second Life

Build a Colorado Association of Libraries presence on Second Life through a new virtual library that will represent the combined efforts of the aforementioned Colorado libraries and their library staff.

This new library, "the Sustainable Living Library" on the sim Emerald City, will represent best practices for living an ecologically conscious life. Through virtual workshops, conferences, and links to "green websites", the community of Second Life as well as real life patrons will learn more about their environment and how to save it.

The "Sustainable Living Library" will make available to the community of Second Life the online public access catalogs of Colorado libraries associated with this new library and any programs or activities that promote Colorado, its libraries, or CAL.

The Mission Statement of the Sustainable Living Library:

The Sustainable Living Library of Second Life is committed to creating better and healthier lives for ourselves and our children through sustainable living practices. By developing workshops, exhibits and other resources, we strive to educate our visitors about green practices and other ways to sustain healthy lives and a healthy planet.

SLIG will be meeting soon in the virtual world of Second Life. Interest group members and all others are encouraged to attend this virtual meeting. In the meantime, if you'd like help opening a Second Life account and/or have any other related questions, please contact:

Victoria A. Petersen: petersen.victoria@gmail.com
Eileen Dumas: edumas8@gmail.com

Already In-World? Visit Emerald City and see its current development! http://slurl.com/secondlife/Emerald%20City/123/62/26

Further Reading:

Sustainable Living Library blog

Recent Press:

"Libraries go Green @ Emerald City", article in the national print and online magazine, RezLibris

"Mancos PL Builds Green", ALA Tech Source Blog Interview

We are looking forward to seeing many of you in-world, and to work together in the creation of CAL's Sustainable Living Library!

Emerald City in RezLibris Magazine

2008-11-03T14:15:00.001-08:00

The Sustainable Living Library is located on the Emerald City sim in Second Life. The E.C. sim had a wonderful write up in the new RezLibris Magazine (for Librarians in Second Life).

The article explains that the Emerald City sim will not only be a proponent of green and sustainable living, but would like to become a "trusted, unbiased resource for libraries, as well as for other organizations and individuals".

A fabulous article! Please take a few moments to read it. It is the second article down on the page.

Second Life Member Interest Group

2008-10-18T10:28:00.000-07:00

Currently, we are organizing and recruiting members for a Colorado Association of Libraries (CAL) Interest Group. To begin an interest group, a minimum of 8 people must sign a petition to show their interest. We now have at least the minimum number, and are ready to circulate the petition for signatures.

Eileen Dumas and Victoria Petersen will attend the November Board Meeting of CAL to present the petition and submit a proposal for a Second Life pilot project.

If you know of any more interested people, please have them get in touch with Victoria Petersen, at petersen.victoria (at) gmail.com.

Sustainable Sweepstakes for Kids

2008-10-05T07:47:00.000-07:00

Thanks to the Going Green @ Your Library blog - Simon and Schuster has a green sweepstakes going on now for ages 5 - 10. To enter the "I CAN SAVE THE EARTH!" sweepstakes, kids write in and tell how they are working to save the environment. Winners will receive eco-friendly books and have a tree planted in their name by EcoLibris.

Test Post

2008-09-21T23:23:00.000-07:00

Hey there... Welcome to the blog of the new Sustainable Living Library, located on Emerald City in Second Life.

The progress of our new library will be documented here.