INFO ISLAND -  Are they entering the “terrible twos?”  It is much more likely that it will be the “terrific twos” as Second Life’s Library celebrates its second birthday.

The Alliance Library System (ALS) began in SL in April 2006. The first library began inside a rented house.  Volunteer librarians offered their services and the library has grown.  Today there are 40 library, university, non-profit, and education islands which make up the Info Island Archipelago including over 50 libraries and over 75 educational groups.

A ceremony was held today to commemorate this birthday with 36 people in attendance.  Guest speakers included Claudia Linden, Puglet Dancer and Kitty Phillip.  

Claudia Linden mentioned “The ICT Library has been a tremendous resource for the education community in Second Life, offering free and low cost tools to help newcomers get off to a great beginning.  I’m a science fiction fan from childhood (no wonder I’m so at home here in Second Life).  I love to visit the Sci Fi and Fantasy Portal on Info Island.  I would also like to acknowledge your role in the teen library – Eye4You Alliance – one of my favorite locations in Teen Second Life.  I’ve attended many inspiring events there from college fairs to shuttle launches.  Thanks for all you contribute to the richness of Second Life and may you continue to lead the way.”

Kitty Phillip (Kitty Pope in real life) is the Executive Director of the Alliance Library System.  Phillip called the group “trail blazers” and expressed pleasure and surprise that they had gone from merely a theory to the successful information source they have become.  “It has been an amazing adventure and we look forward to many more years of community building,” Phillip said.

Puglet Dancer was last of the scheduled speakers to address the gathering.  Dancer is Director of the Library at Bradley University and Chairman of the ALS Board. “I remember Lori Bell (Lorelei Junot in SL) describing this fantastical place that I couldn’t wrap my mind around. I joined SL in August 2006 and haven’t looked back. I have truly enjoyed getting to know all of you and working with you on the many projects we have done here.  I’d like to give special thanks to Kitty Pope who supported this idea from the beginning.  And my special thanks go to Lori Bell. Without her vision, we wouldn’t be here today.”

Oberon Octagon, Web Developer for the ITTS dept of the American Library Association (ALA), made a special presentation to Lori Bell.