project update

I am posting a copy of the email we came up with for our author, Jim Hoy. I am going to start spending some time getting our exhibits ready. Let me know if you have the time and inclination to help!

Dear Dr. Hoy.
Not long ago you received correspondence from Roy Bird at the KansasCenter for the Book inquiring about the possibility of yourparticipation in a unique Kansas-inspired presentation. We arecontacting you to follow up on that inquiry.
"We" are Bill Sowers, Kansas Documents Librarian at the State Libraryof Kansas, Diana Sowers, Acquisitions, Topeka-Shawnee County PublicLibrary and Lorie Hyten, Reference Librarian and Second Life projectCoordinator, Olathe Public Library, Olathe, Ks.
At present, we represent the only Kansas libraries with a presence inthe virtual reality world of Second Life. We are hoping tocollaborate on projects that will highlight Kansas and educate thenational and international residents of Second Life regarding Kansas'unique history, resources and culture.
We are asking you to consider speaking at a program inside SecondLife. The program would be sponsored by our three institutions as wellas the Kansas Center for the Book. We envision related exhibits at ourSecond Life libraries emphasizing aspects of Kansas natural andcultural history Your expertise in the history of Kansas and yourspecial knowledge of the Flint Hills and its cowboy culture would bean ideal topic for SL residents who come from all over the world aswell as the American Midwest. The presentation may also be shown in"real life" (via a projector hooked up to the Internet) in Olathe.
This entire project may sound outlandish to you! Please be assuredthere is a vital and active library community in Second Life, andauthor presentations are common. Kurt Vonnegut is among many who havestepped inside the virtual world to make new friends and fans. Otherauthors include Howard Rheingold and Cory Doctorow.
Such programs involve setting the speaker up with an "avatar" and amicrophone for speaking and responding to questions. You would notneed prior experience with Second Life to participate. We would bepleased to take care of all the details to make this as easy andenjoyable for you as possible. In fact, you may participate seated inyour own office! One of would also be willing to come down to Emporiaduring your presentation to trouble shoot if any technical problemsarose.We would be happy to come to Emporia to give you a brief introductionto Second Life and its various wonders! We hope you will seriouslyconsider this invitation to join us in a celebration of the state thisSeptember.
Thank you,Lorie HytenBill SowersDiana Sowers