January 2008 Archives
The Caledon Library wishes to extend its heartfelt thanks to Her Grace of Carntaigh, Gabrielle Riel, for creating our Benefactors Group. I make so bold as to quote, from her inaugural post for the group
(Read the rest here)
Caledon has responded with a munificence, the, which, your humble narrator confesses, fair takes his breath away. Since Her Grace initiated the fund (with a large donation from herself, Miss Edwina Heron, and Mr Turing Weyland) the good folk of Caledon have contributed upwards of Five and Twenty Thousands of Lindens, bringing the total donations into the very near neighborhood of Fifty Thousands of Lindens...the which will do the library no end of good!
The Caledon Library is deeply sensible of the debt it owes to its supporters, the folk who reach into their pockets, their deep wells of talent, and the vast and fertile savannas of their intellects, to give us aid.
The Caledon Library has always garnered financial support in a number of ways. The institution was founded under the direct Patronage of Her Grace, CoyoteAngel Dimsum, Duchess of Caledon Primverness, Countess Lovelace, Speaker to Machines &c &c. As we have grown from a library to a library system, The Library Militant has taken up a portion of the burden of our Rents and Expenses, as have one or two generous private individuals, such as Mr Rudolpho Woodget, of Wellsian, who is the Patron and Angel of that sim's branch. And, from the beginning, select Caledonians have either donated directly, transferring funds to the library via YHN at events, or, it seems, making it a point to drop by the library and pitch the odd hundred or thousand Lindens into our donations box. To them, as to the curators and volunteers who cover from their own pockets the costs of Importing Visual Elements for their exhibits, collections, and sundry projects, we are eternally grateful.
But what we see here,with the institution of the Benefactors group, is, in the opinion of YHN, something new. This is the first instance, of which I am aware, of a community in Second Life (in any virtual community, for aught I know) banding together to support a library.
In all our RL communities, libraries struggle for the wherewithal to stay afloat, and the whole profession shifts and changes to try to keep up with the times, to find a place, a role, to serve our communities, now that the Keeping of Information is no longer the province of the Library as Institution. What Caledon has said, and that most Resoundingly, is the great experiment in Virtual World Librariosity (Libraritude?), the extended Conversation of Community and Culture we conduct, is worthwhile, is valued, and, most importantly, is found suitable to be a part of the heart, spirit, and mind of the Independent State of Caledon.
(YHN takes a deep breath and fans himself)
I will supply a word about the mechanics of donating to the Caledon Library, if I may:
To serve Caledon is our delight and our privilege, and to find that our efforts are so valued by our community is heartening beyond my wit to express it.
Gentlebeings, your servant, and Caledon's
JJ Drinkwater
"It's time for us to give back to the Library, in the form of financial support. Mr. Drinkwater has established an avatar (Provost Weatherwax) solely for processing donations so he can post the donations received by the Library publicly"
(Read the rest here)
Caledon has responded with a munificence, the, which, your humble narrator confesses, fair takes his breath away. Since Her Grace initiated the fund (with a large donation from herself, Miss Edwina Heron, and Mr Turing Weyland) the good folk of Caledon have contributed upwards of Five and Twenty Thousands of Lindens, bringing the total donations into the very near neighborhood of Fifty Thousands of Lindens...the which will do the library no end of good!
The Caledon Library is deeply sensible of the debt it owes to its supporters, the folk who reach into their pockets, their deep wells of talent, and the vast and fertile savannas of their intellects, to give us aid.
The Caledon Library has always garnered financial support in a number of ways. The institution was founded under the direct Patronage of Her Grace, CoyoteAngel Dimsum, Duchess of Caledon Primverness, Countess Lovelace, Speaker to Machines &c &c. As we have grown from a library to a library system, The Library Militant has taken up a portion of the burden of our Rents and Expenses, as have one or two generous private individuals, such as Mr Rudolpho Woodget, of Wellsian, who is the Patron and Angel of that sim's branch. And, from the beginning, select Caledonians have either donated directly, transferring funds to the library via YHN at events, or, it seems, making it a point to drop by the library and pitch the odd hundred or thousand Lindens into our donations box. To them, as to the curators and volunteers who cover from their own pockets the costs of Importing Visual Elements for their exhibits, collections, and sundry projects, we are eternally grateful.
But what we see here,with the institution of the Benefactors group, is, in the opinion of YHN, something new. This is the first instance, of which I am aware, of a community in Second Life (in any virtual community, for aught I know) banding together to support a library.
In all our RL communities, libraries struggle for the wherewithal to stay afloat, and the whole profession shifts and changes to try to keep up with the times, to find a place, a role, to serve our communities, now that the Keeping of Information is no longer the province of the Library as Institution. What Caledon has said, and that most Resoundingly, is the great experiment in Virtual World Librariosity (Libraritude?), the extended Conversation of Community and Culture we conduct, is worthwhile, is valued, and, most importantly, is found suitable to be a part of the heart, spirit, and mind of the Independent State of Caledon.
(YHN takes a deep breath and fans himself)
I will supply a word about the mechanics of donating to the Caledon Library, if I may:
- The accounts kept by Provost Weatherwax will be posted, quarterly, on this website.
- By default, we will include donor names, as they appear on the accounting spreadsheets generated from the Second Life Bureau of Aetheric Accountancy (i.e. the "Transactions History" found in the general vicinity of secondlife.com/account/transactions )
- Those who wish to donate anonymously are welcome to request of Provost Weatherwax that their name be removed from the Public Record of our Accounts.
- HOWEVER, those who wish to donate anonymously are encouraged to contact myself, JJ Drinkwater, to arrange the private transfer of funds.
- We discourage the donation of first-born children, unless they already know how to read
To serve Caledon is our delight and our privilege, and to find that our efforts are so valued by our community is heartening beyond my wit to express it.
Gentlebeings, your servant, and Caledon's
JJ Drinkwater
The Complete Jane returns to the Whitehorn library!
The Library's own Dame Kghia Gherardi will be hosting a discussion of Jane Austen's Mansfield Park on January 28, following the airing of the film on PBS's Masterpiece Theater.
Radio Riel will be airing the Librivox recordings Sunday, January 27 & Monday, January 28, for your listening pleasure, along with programmes of music from Jane Austen's Era. See the Radio Riel blog for the complete schedule
Gentle readers we invite you to join in our exploration of Austen's delightful novel: read the book, watch the film, and listen to it on Radio Riel; then join us for the discussion at the Whitehorn Library
Mansfield Park Discussion
Monday, January 28th
6-8pm SLT
Jack & Elaine Whitehorn Memorial Library
Caledon VictoriaCity
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Caledon%20VictoriaCity/46/204/36
Gentlebeings, your servant
JJ Drinkwater
The Library's own Dame Kghia Gherardi will be hosting a discussion of Jane Austen's Mansfield Park on January 28, following the airing of the film on PBS's Masterpiece Theater.
Radio Riel will be airing the Librivox recordings Sunday, January 27 & Monday, January 28, for your listening pleasure, along with programmes of music from Jane Austen's Era. See the Radio Riel blog for the complete schedule
Gentle readers we invite you to join in our exploration of Austen's delightful novel: read the book, watch the film, and listen to it on Radio Riel; then join us for the discussion at the Whitehorn Library
Mansfield Park Discussion
Monday, January 28th
6-8pm SLT
Jack & Elaine Whitehorn Memorial Library
Caledon VictoriaCity
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Caledon%20VictoriaCity/46/204/36
Gentlebeings, your servant
JJ Drinkwater
The Caledon Library Book of the Month for January 2008 is The Mysteries of Udolpho
by Ann Radcliffe.
Published in 1794, Udolopho enjoyed considerable success in its day, but is better remembered for the satirical handling Jane Austen gave it in her Northanger Abbey. With its physically frail yet morally resolute heroine, scheming, brooding villain, gloomy castle and uncanny happenings,it is considered by some to be quite the quintessential Gothic Romance. Radcliffe's writing, too, is very much in the Gothic and Romantic modes, replete with overheated descriptive turns, and exuberant "word-paintings" of natural beauty, supernatural terror, and the reactions of the novel's canonical Sensitive Souls
Attendees are invited to come in their darkest and most dramatic dress. All Readers of 4-volume Novels, Dreamers, Persons of Exaggerated Sensibility, Gothicks, and Romanticks are invited to join us, as are likewise all Virtuous Maidens, Gloomy Evildoers, Dashing Younger Brothers, and Uncanny Phenomena, whether they have read the work or not.
The Discussion will be led by Alexx McLaglen, of Caledon. As a special treat, the Library's own Dame Kghia Gherardi will lead a Book Trivia Quiz (such as she is renowned for at the BookStacks book discussion group) on the Gothic Novel.
Our very good friends at Radio Riel are providing spine-tingling atmospheric music, leading up to and during the event. Tune in at http://music.radioriel.org and see their blog at http://radioriel.blogspot.com for the sublime and alarming details!
Published in 1794, Udolopho enjoyed considerable success in its day, but is better remembered for the satirical handling Jane Austen gave it in her Northanger Abbey. With its physically frail yet morally resolute heroine, scheming, brooding villain, gloomy castle and uncanny happenings,it is considered by some to be quite the quintessential Gothic Romance. Radcliffe's writing, too, is very much in the Gothic and Romantic modes, replete with overheated descriptive turns, and exuberant "word-paintings" of natural beauty, supernatural terror, and the reactions of the novel's canonical Sensitive Souls
Attendees are invited to come in their darkest and most dramatic dress. All Readers of 4-volume Novels, Dreamers, Persons of Exaggerated Sensibility, Gothicks, and Romanticks are invited to join us, as are likewise all Virtuous Maidens, Gloomy Evildoers, Dashing Younger Brothers, and Uncanny Phenomena, whether they have read the work or not.
The Discussion will be led by Alexx McLaglen, of Caledon. As a special treat, the Library's own Dame Kghia Gherardi will lead a Book Trivia Quiz (such as she is renowned for at the BookStacks book discussion group) on the Gothic Novel.
Our very good friends at Radio Riel are providing spine-tingling atmospheric music, leading up to and during the event. Tune in at http://music.radioriel.org and see their blog at http://radioriel.blogspot.com for the sublime and alarming details!
Book Discussion : The Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe
January 26th, 2008
12-2 PM SLT
Jack & Elaine Whitehorn Memorial Library, Caledon VictoriaCity
http://slurl.com/secondlife
The Library's own Dame Kghia Gherardi will be hosting a discussion of Jane Austen's Northanger Abeey on January 21, following the airing of the film on PBS's
Masterpiece Theater.
Radio Riel will be airing the Librivox recordings Saturday, January 20 & Monday, January 21, for your listening pleasure
Gentle readers we invite you to join in our exploration of Austen's Satirical Romp: read the book, watch the film, and listen to it on Radio Riel. And join us for the discussion at the Whitehorn Library
Northanger Abbey Discussion
Monday, January 21st
6-8pm SLT
Jack & Elaine Whitehorn Memorial Library
Caledon VictoriaCity
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Caledon%20VictoriaCity/46/204/36
Gentlebeings, your servant
JJ Drinkwater
Radio Riel will be airing the Librivox recordings Saturday, January 20 & Monday, January 21, for your listening pleasure
Gentle readers we invite you to join in our exploration of Austen's Satirical Romp: read the book, watch the film, and listen to it on Radio Riel. And join us for the discussion at the Whitehorn Library
Northanger Abbey Discussion
Monday, January 21st
6-8pm SLT
Jack & Elaine Whitehorn Memorial Library
Caledon VictoriaCity
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Caledon%20VictoriaCity/46/204/36
Gentlebeings, your servant
JJ Drinkwater
Radio Riel continually, as it is said in the vernacular, blows my mind.
First, they played the Librivox recordings of Alice in Wonderland and
Through the Looking Glass before the Library's Mad Tea Party (aka Book of
the Month discussion for November of 2007). We had a record turnout for the
event and such delightful frolics leading up to it. I loved, moreover, the way
they added their own stamp by playing music that could be associated with the
books (Juice Newton's "Queen of Hearts" will forever speak to me of Alice in
Wonderland now). The folks at Radio Riel quite steam-charged the Library's
consideration of Alice -- from a simple book discussion, they made it a
Caledon Event.
Once again Radio Riel and its DJs are showing exuberant and talented support for the Caledon Library. I will be hosting a discussion of Jane Austen's Persuasion on January 14, following the airing of the film on PBS's Masterpiece. Radio Riel will be airing the Librivox recordings Saturday, January 12 through Monday, January 14. I adjure you, gentle readers: read the book, watch the film, and listen to it on Radio Riel. And I hope, join in the discussion.
On a personal note, I'd like to thank Her Grace, Gabrielle Riel, and all the people who work with her for all their work and their efforts on behalf the the library. It means a great deal to me to see the Library receive that kind of support from the community.
Once again Radio Riel and its DJs are showing exuberant and talented support for the Caledon Library. I will be hosting a discussion of Jane Austen's Persuasion on January 14, following the airing of the film on PBS's Masterpiece. Radio Riel will be airing the Librivox recordings Saturday, January 12 through Monday, January 14. I adjure you, gentle readers: read the book, watch the film, and listen to it on Radio Riel. And I hope, join in the discussion.
On a personal note, I'd like to thank Her Grace, Gabrielle Riel, and all the people who work with her for all their work and their efforts on behalf the the library. It means a great deal to me to see the Library receive that kind of support from the community.
All Lovers of Literature and its Adaptations are most Cordially invited to Attend!!!!
Beginning January 13, PBS will air film versions of each of Miss Jane Austen's novels on Sundays through April. (For information, see http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/austen/ ) You are invited to join an informal discussion of the films and the novels, the Monday evenings following, at 6 p.m. SLT at The Whitehorn Library in Caledon. To know more, pray IM Kghia Gherardi, or reach her Aetherically at
Kghia.Gherardi@gmail.com
Jack & Elaine Whitehorn Memorial Library, Caledon VictoriaCity
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Caledon%20VictoriaCity/59/196
Jan. 13: Persuasion Broadcast
Jan. 14: Persuasion Discussion 6-8pm SLT
Jan. 20: Northanger Abbey Broadcast (NOTE: this work is a nice companion to The Mysteries of Udolpho, for those participating in this month's book discussion)
Jan. 21: Northanger Abbey Discussion 6-8pm SLT
Jan. 27: Mansfield Park Broadcast
Jan. 28:Mansfield Park Discussion 6-8pm SLT
Feb 10 though Feb 24 - Pride and Prejudice Broadcasts
Feb 25 Pride & Prejudice Discussion 6-8pm SLT
Mar 23 - Emma Broadcast
Mar 24 Emma Discussion 6-8pm SLT
Mar 30 and Apr 6 - Sense and Sensibility Broadcasts
April 7 Sense and Sensibility Discussion 6-8pm SLT
A copy of The Complete Jane may be had from the Library, and the Works of Miss Austen may be read with comfort and convenience in the Aether, courtesy of the University of Adelaide
gentlebeings, your servant
JJ Drinkwater
Beginning January 13, PBS will air film versions of each of Miss Jane Austen's novels on Sundays through April. (For information, see http://www.pbs.org/wgbh
Jack & Elaine Whitehorn Memorial Library, Caledon VictoriaCity
http://slurl.com/secondlife
Schedule
(to find when the broadcasts will be shown in your area, search on the PBS station-and-schedule finder at http://www.pbs.org/tvschedules)Jan. 13: Persuasion Broadcast
Jan. 14: Persuasion Discussion 6-8pm SLT
Jan. 20: Northanger Abbey Broadcast (NOTE: this work is a nice companion to The Mysteries of Udolpho, for those participating in this month's book discussion)
Jan. 21: Northanger Abbey Discussion 6-8pm SLT
Jan. 27: Mansfield Park Broadcast
Jan. 28:Mansfield Park Discussion 6-8pm SLT
Feb 10 though Feb 24 - Pride and Prejudice Broadcasts
Feb 25 Pride & Prejudice Discussion 6-8pm SLT
Mar 23 - Emma Broadcast
Mar 24 Emma Discussion 6-8pm SLT
Mar 30 and Apr 6 - Sense and Sensibility Broadcasts
A copy of The Complete Jane may be had from the Library, and the Works of Miss Austen may be read with comfort and convenience in the Aether, courtesy of the University of Adelaide
gentlebeings, your servant
JJ Drinkwater
The World Turned Upside Down: Tales of Reversal
Story Session at the Falling Anvil Pub
Caledon Tamrannoch
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Caledon%20Tamrannoch/233/113/23/
Monday, January the 7th
5-8 pm SLT
Up is Down
Black is White
Kings are Beggars
Day is Night
Many cultures around the world celebrate Festivals of Reversal, such as Twelfth Night or the Roman Saturnalia, where social status and roles are reversed: child popes are elected, kings go barefoot, men and women rifle each other's closets and satirize each other's ways, and the Lord of Misrule is sovereign over all.
The Clan of Seafarers and Storytellers, the Storytelling Guild of SL, and the Caledon Library invite you to a story session at the Falling Anvil Public House, in Caledon Tamrannoch. The theme of this month's session is reversals of all kinds. Anyone with a story to share of the topsy-turvy, backwards, upside down, and just plain contrary is invited to join in the telling. We'll welcome your stories of wild tomfoolery, the revelation of switching roles, the upsets of fortune, and of lessons learned when the shoe is suddenly found to be on the other foot.
And, as always, all lovers of tales are welcome to come listen and chime in with their gasps of amazement, tears, laughter, and thunderous applause.
Story Session at the Falling Anvil Pub
Caledon Tamrannoch
http://slurl.com/secondlife
Monday, January the 7th
5-8 pm SLT
Up is Down
Black is White
Kings are Beggars
Day is Night
Many cultures around the world celebrate Festivals of Reversal, such as Twelfth Night or the Roman Saturnalia, where social status and roles are reversed: child popes are elected, kings go barefoot, men and women rifle each other's closets and satirize each other's ways, and the Lord of Misrule is sovereign over all.
The Clan of Seafarers and Storytellers, the Storytelling Guild of SL, and the Caledon Library invite you to a story session at the Falling Anvil Public House, in Caledon Tamrannoch. The theme of this month's session is reversals of all kinds. Anyone with a story to share of the topsy-turvy, backwards, upside down, and just plain contrary is invited to join in the telling. We'll welcome your stories of wild tomfoolery, the revelation of switching roles, the upsets of fortune, and of lessons learned when the shoe is suddenly found to be on the other foot.
And, as always, all lovers of tales are welcome to come listen and chime in with their gasps of amazement, tears, laughter, and thunderous applause.