A part of the Community Virtual Library, The Seanchai ("Storyteller" in Irish) celebrates the Celtic tradition of stories told around the hearth or in the pub to friends, family, and welcomed strangers. The Seanchai Library brings stories of all kinds to life, in Second Life.
The WOI Storytellers ring in the New Year with spontaneous story sessions at various venues around the WOI Estate. Some stories may be New Year's themed, and some may just be classics . . . no one knows. They will be a SURPRISE!
Look for notices in the 15 minutes before the readings begin. Notices and notecards will go out to the WOI Library Group, Beautiful Minds, and Wild Irish Women. IMs will go out to Bookstacks, Caledon Library, Librarians of Second Life, and the Storytelling Guild. When you see them, don't hesitate! Like the "BOO!" sessions in October, these spontaneous sessions will only last 30 minutes or so. Come on along!
Now is the winter of our discontent ... and winter poetry often reflects our fears and anxieties about this bleak season, a time of reflection, introspection, sometimes loneliness ... but also of seeing the deep structure of things, enjoying the beauty of snow, ice and bare branches, and preparing for the new Spring to come.
Join me tonight at 7pm for a reading in voice, chat in voice or text ... I have poems chosen from a variety of my favorite poets, including Mary Oliver, Billy Collins, Galway Kinnell, e.e. cummings, Lisel Mueller, Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill and others ... come hear about winter!
Kate DiCamillo's new book about a boy and and Elephant and a seemingly impossible dream. From the award-winning author of THE TALES OF DESPERAUX comes as story about trusting the unexpected - and making the extraordinary come true.
Read live in Voice.
Find out more about Ms. DiCamillo and her work (including a delightful essay on how she started out as an author) at http://www.katedicamillo.com/
Time to ring out the old year and embrace the promise of the new one: Join the West of Ireland Storytellers this week for stories to enlighten and entertain.
All read live in Voice. All times SLT.
Monday, December 28 @ 7pm -Part I: The Magicians Elephant with Caledonia Skytower
Look out for Surprise Stories on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day!
Other Story Events Presented by WOI Storytellers around the Grid to benefitProject Children:
Tuesday, December 29 @ 5:30pm - Holiday Storieswith Caledonia Skytower in Magicland.
Stories all read Live in VOICE. IM the Storytellers for Landmarks to readings not taking place at the WOI Library, OR at the Library click on the Celtic Cross Window Ornament or the Large Green Leather Book by the Librarian's desk for a notecard with this schedule and embedded landmarks.
Derry McMahon, Caledonia and other WOI Storytellers convene again at the Frosty Fruit Island build to share stories of frost and cold and life in the winter.
For Landmark, look for notices in-world or IM Cale or Derry that afternoon. Stories will be read in Voice and donations will be accepted for Project Children.
L. Frank Baum's 1902 novel The Life and Adventures of Santa Claushow he became the Children's Saint, the first Christmas Tree, and how Santa came to make toys. Sound familiar? It should . . . Rankin & Bass has based a special on this novel, and there's a new adaptation due out for next year's Christmas Season.
Come hear selected chapters from The Life and Adventures of Santa Clausfrom the revered author who created the magical land of Oz.
This was a popular evening last holiday season, and we're happy to bring it back: The Classic Clement Clarke Moore poem and many adaptations are presented, along with other St. Nick related stories and poems. Got a version that is fun or a favorite, BRING IT ALONG and pass it off to one of the storytellers in a notecard OR share it yourself! Presents under the tree, refreshments, good company. Come along and laugh and enjoy!
Need a little extra Holiday cheer? Well, that pesky Caledonia Skytower kicks into storytelling overdrive during the holidays (she's just that way!). Read in Voice to benefit Project Children.
Wednesday, December 23rd at 6pm . . . Caledonia will be at the Steelhead Public Library joining other SL Storytellers for Holiday Storytelling. . . . I SEE SANTA EVERYWHERE and other holiday stories
Thursday, December 24th @ 4pm . . . THE LIFE AND
ADVENTURES OF SANTA CLAUS by L.Frank Baum (selected Chapters) Read in Voice at WOI Library. http://slurl.com/secondlife/West%20of%20Ireland/43/174/25
Thursday, December 24th @ 6pm . . . THE POLAR EXPRESS and other holiday stories. Read in Voice at Magicland Park http://slurl.com/secondlife/Bracket/175/38/35
Saturday, December 26th @ 5:30pm . . . AUNTIE CLAUS and other holiday stories. Read in Voice at Magicland Park http://slurl.com/secondlife/Bracket/175/38/35
Sunday, December 27th @ 5pm . . . I SEE SANTA EVERYWHERE and other holiday stories. Read in Voice at Magicland Park http://slurl.com/secondlife/Bracket/175/38/35
Monday, December 28th @ 7pm . . . Part I: THE MAGICIAN'S ELEPHANT Read in Voice at WOI Library. http://slurl.com/secondlife/West%20of%20Ireland/43/174/25
Tuesday, December 29th @ 5:30pm . . . New Years and other holiday stories. Read in Voice at Magicland Park http://slurl.com/secondlife/Bracket/175/38/35
The readings at Magicland Park will be taking place adjacent to their scheduled Holiday Parade . . . . if you haven't seen it, it is delightful fun. Happy Holly Daze. . . feel free to bring a friend (either in world or out) and listen in. And may the New Year being friends, family, and many blessings to you and yours.
Tonight at 7:00 pm SLT, meet me at the library with your favorite winter holiday poems, (very) short stories, or excerpts from longer pieces ... It's your turn to shine like a string of glittering lights!
I will happily turn the mic over to you, read poetry and prose you pass me on notecards, or try to find special requests. Presenting in voice, chat in voice or text ... and since the Christmas Carol set is still up, feel free to come in your best holiday garb and use Dicken's London as the backdrop for your holiday photo.
All are welcome, with holiday greetings for all :)
A final series of chapters from Steven Hornby's first-time novel about the Tree-Dweller's world (the character ornaments of the family Christmas Tree come to life!) . . . you'll never look at your ornaments and lights in quite the same way again.
**SPOILER ALERT**Okay, we have to do a wee semi-spoiler here . . . so if you plan on getting the book and experiencing it with your own family or friends and don't want to know DON'T READ ANY FARTHER! Larry, Debbie, and Splint finally find the Christmas Box in the garage and they find out what happened to Terrence. They race back to the tree to tell the Tree-Lord of a desperate and looming threat to the Tree-Dwellers way of life before they all get packed back in that same box for another "Long Sleep." But dark and sinister forces are at work, and not everything is as it seems. Find out what happens in the exciting final chapters of Secrets of a Christmas Box.
“The Library’s policies regarding Copyright Law are designed to accommodate the tradition of oral storytelling of both Traditional and Contemporary literary works in a manner that upholds the rights of authors.
“Library presentations are a means of advancing knowledge. We believe education and entertainment go hand in hand in the literary realm. To this end The Library encourages Storytellers and presenters to provide information and objects related to the presentation to guests to enhance their experience.”
--from the newly adopted WOI Library Copyrighted Works Policy
(Release Version 01 – 12.20.2009)
The subject of Intellectual Property Rights in Second Life (SL) has been a topic of passionate advocacy and heated debate over the last several months. Everything from “copybotting” (a bot placed in a location which steals objects created by one to be taken and sold by another who did not create them) to the presentation of copyrighted works has been subject to scrutiny and question.How does that affect the West of Ireland (WOI) Library and CulturalCenter?
The purpose of a library, real world or virtual, is to promote literary works and to act as a community resource.We usually think of this as involving a large collection of books, periodicals, varied media (music, movies) and computers for online research.
It might interest you to know that the WOI Library there is actually a “collection” which is contained in the bookshelves near the Library entrance.Four of the bookcases contain specific genres of literature in notecard form: Women’s Literature, Science Fiction-Fantasy, Shakespeare, etc.The fifth bookcase (which has a totem pole standing on top of it) contains a wide variety of notecard books and wearable books from The Library’s presentations starting in March of 2008.All of the Library’s “collection” are in works in the public domain.
At the West of Ireland Library our purpose is more specific than a public library's in real life might be, much as a legal or medical library has a specified focus. Our purpose is to honor the Celtic tradition of oral storytelling by the presentation in live voice of a wide variety of works of literature including those of Celtic origin.The objective is to promote exploration of genres and authors, encompassing works across the spectrum of traditional and contemporary literature.The Library uses Second Life to do what libraries have done since time immemorial. The method, in this case, is oral presentation in a communal environment.At no time are presented works passed off as creations of anyone other than the original authors, and there is no admission fee charged.
Could the WOI Library simply present nothing but works in the public domain?Certainly, there is a large body of works available that are in the public domain.Would this really serve our audiences? To focus exclusively on works written prior to 1923? Such uses as the WOI Library makes of copyrighted non-dramatic works are covered by Title 17 of the United States Code, which covers copyright statutes.As the WOI Charity Estate in SL has it’s organizational basis in the United States, it is subject to its laws.Of specific interest is Section 110: Limitations on exclusive rights: Exemption of certain performances and displays.
“It is the intention of copyright law to stimulate creativity for the enrichment of the general public. It attempts to do this by prohibiting use of another’s original works for personal profit. Such use would be defined as derivative and prohibited by copyright law. The West of Ireland Library (The Library) views the presentation of literary works as transformative rather than derivative. Such presentations feature works in a new way to persons that may not have previously accessed or encountered these works.”
For conversations on “transformative” versus “derivative” use of copyrighted materials:
The entire text of the WOI Library's new policy is available at the library by clicking on the copyright poster over the Librarian's Desk. If you have any questions or information to share, feel free to contact Librarian Derry McMahon by notecard on the SL grid.
AN ENCORE PRESENTATION! The West of Ireland Library (WOI) Storytellers will reprise their holiday presentation, for a second year, of Charles Dicken’s A Christmas Carol in live voice on Sunday, December 20 at 1pm at the West of Ireland Library and Cultural Center with donations benefiting the real life charity Project Children.
Visit the Posting for the December 14th presentation for more details and for helpful links to more information on Charles Dicken's, A Christmas Carol, and Dickensian London.
All will be read live in voice. All the performers are volunteers and donations are accepted to support Project Children, a real world non-profit positively affecting the lives of children in Northern Ireland: Second Life activity, with meaningful Real Life results.
Join the West of Ireland Storytellers for a visit with Santa!! Santa will be here, so bring your list, and be ready to tell him what you want for Christmas. We'll also have great stories of Christmas, as well as a story of the winter solstice from our friend storyteller Rosslyn Guardian. A good holiday time is planned!
John Keane's stories were such a hit last week, I agreed to come back and read more tonight. Writing of Irish Christmas events in the small towns and villages of a time now fading, full of warmth, humor, character, and a little sadness, Keane always remembers we are all human, and need each other more than we care to admit.
Join me for stories read in voice ... chat in voice or text ... all are welcome!
The West of Ireland Library (WOI) Storytellers will reprise their holiday presentation, for a second year, of Charles Dicken’s A Christmas Carol in live voice on Monday, December 14 at 7pm and Sunday, December 20 at 1pm at the West of Ireland Library and Cultural Center with donations benefiting the real life charity Project Children.
The 2009 presentation of the Dicken’s Classic will feature an all new “immersive” setting: A London street scene created by Aoife Lorefield complete with gas street lamps, glowing shop windows, and Scrooge & Marley’s counting house. “Last December we learned so much about how to do these group presentations, and this seems like a natural evolution as we explore immersive storytelling,” said Lorefield, who adapted the Dicken’s novel and is the creative force majeur behind the production. Lorefield’s vision of A Christmas Carol is of a metaphorical carol sung by the entire community, cast and audience alike. To that end, after each presentation the audience will be invited to join the cast “on stage” for a post-performance reception – a great opportunity to catch a fun holiday snapshot with Scrooge or Bob Cratchit!
The performance will feature a mix of familiar WOI voices, guests, and friends from the WOI community. WOI Seanchai (Chief Storyteller) Shandon Loring will reprise his role as “Ebeneezer Scrooge”, the cold-hearted, tight fisted, greedy man, who despises all things which promote happiness. Elder Priestman will once more lend his warmth to the story as “Bob Cratchit,” Scrooge’s underpaid clerk and father of Tiny Tim. The rest of the ensemble includes popular WOI DJ Spyot Demina as Scrooge’s nephew Fred; storyteller and well known eccentric “dragoness” Elegia Underwood as the Ghost of Christmas Past; the role of the Ghost of Christmas Present will be shared by SL Poet Corwyn Allen, and popular musician Duncan Bagley (each doing a single performance); Aoife Lorefield will voice Marley’s Ghost. Underwood will also narrate the section of the story involving the silent Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come. WOI Librarian Derry McMahon and Storyteller Caledonia Skytower will provide additional narration and play multiple small roles throughout.
All will be read live in voice. All the performers are volunteers and donations are accepted to support Project Children, a real world non-profit positively affecting the lives of children in Northern Ireland: Second Life activity, with meaningful Real Life results.
Join the West of Ireland Storytellers and DJ Spyot Demina for a quiet, traditional service of readings and carols to celebrate the birth of Christ.
Caledonia Skytower, Elder Priestman, Spyot Demina, and Derry McMahon will share Scripture readings of the season, and Shandon Loring will provide the homily.
Bring a little Christ into your Christmas in Second Life. Look for notices and LMs before the service.
Join the West of Ireland Storytellers and DJ Spyot Demina for a quiet, traditional service of readings and carols to celebrate the birth of Christ.
Caledonia Skytower, Elder Priestman, Spyot Demina, and Derry McMahon will share Scripture readings of the season, and Shandon Loring will provide the homily.
Bring a little Christ into your Christmas in Second Life. Service will be repeated at 2pm on Sunday 13 Dec. Look for notices and LMs before the service.
Join us as we celebrate two major December holidays; Christmas and Hanukkah; with stories of goblins! (Where else but the West of Ireland would that happen?) "Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins" and "The Christmas Goblin" by Charles Dickens.
With snow blanketing much of the U.S. today, as well as many sims throughout Second Life, we're ready for some holiday cheer ... so join me in the West of Ireland Library this evening for Christmas stories from the wonderful John B. Keane. His tales of mirth and mayhem, roistering and redemption, are some of my favorite readings for this time of year.
A note: My ISP has been erratic, and SL is crashing me every other time I try to tp anywhere so, if I fail to materialize at my appointed time, the marvelous Caledonia Skytower has offered to read for you, The Nutcracker. Either way, bring your hot cocoa or mulled wine and join us at the library :)
Reading in voice, chat in voice or text ... all welcome!
Caledonia is back in the Library Monday at 7pm with selected chapters from a brand new novel by first-time author Steven Hornby.
Secrets of a Christmas Box takes you into the society of the "Tree Dwellers", the denizens who spend over eleven months of the year asleep in boxes only to come to life during the holidays when they are part of a decorated Christmas tree. Larry the Snowman has awakened from his annual "big sleep" and has found most everyone dear to him except his brother. Where is Terrence? Join Larry, his girlfriend Debbie, and a newcomer Splint as their search extends to the scary, dangerous world beyond the tree.
Caledonia will be reading more selected chapters from this book at Magicland Sunday night December 13, and then at the West of Ireland in December. All readings will be in Voice, and benefit Project Children.
For more about Secrets of a Christmas Box and author Steven Hornby, to read reviews, and find other useful links visit www.secretsofachristmasbox.com/
Time for stories of Winter, whether yours is white, wet, or sunny. As the Wheel of the Year rolls to the "dark side" look for tales of icy fun and adventures of the season. Join Derry McMahon, Gyro Muggins, and Caledonia Skytower . . . and bring something or someone warm to cuddle with.
If you have NOT been to the Icy Season build at Fig in the Fruit Islands, you are missing something unique and beautiful. Look for notices in-world with landmarks to get to the story session, and then save some time to explore: Bears, Deer, Wolves, Penguins, and Ice Castle and so much more!
Stories Presented in Voice and Benefiting Project Children.
Winter Solstice, by Lucy Costigan explores the agonies and the ecstasies of loving and living, and of a young woman's journey to Newgrange at the Winter Solstice, to find healing and rebirth.
Derry McMahon brings selected chapters of this novel to voice.
As the heroine explores the parallels between her journey, and the wheel of the year, you can explore these links to find out more about the author and her book:
Mist nets are the delicate, stretchy nets biologists use to study migrating birds and bats ... but on this morning, Hannah McBride finds something unusual in hers. How can she make sense of what she sees? And what will happen when the other grad students find out?
Tonight's tale is a celebration of spring, a reminder of what we're looking forward to after winter. Join me as I read this short story in voice, with chat in voice or text. All welcome!
The WOI Storytellers ring in the New Year with spontaneous story sessions at various venues around the WOI Estate. Some stories may be New Year's themed, and some may just be classics . . . no one knows. They will be a SURPRISE!
