Online learning, whether at a distance or within a classroom,
is a catalyst for change, as schools are using Web 2.0
technologies to engage students and enhance collaboration
in new ways. For example, collaboration between the Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg
County and local schools in North Carolina is resulting in a project designed to create a teen library
in the Second Life virtual world environment. Teen Second Life, a subset of the popular virtual
world Second Life, is separate from the adult world and is only accessible to those ages 13-17.
Students and educators from around the world are involved in creating a library that includes a
wide assortment of content including streamed audio and video of authors, politicians, or other
teen-related speakers; building, scripting, and designing classes taught by teens and adults; book