Stories from the Web is a Library and Information Commission funded
project and is a partnership between the children's libraries of
Bristol
City Libraries, Leeds City Libraries, Birmingham City Libraries and
the UK
Office for Library and Information Networking (UKOLN). The project
is
exploring how public libraries can develop online resources which
will
encourage children to enjoy reading, interact with stories and
develop
both traditional and electronic literacy skills. The project's
website can be found at

http://hosted.ukoln.ac.uk/stories/

Stories from the Web will regularly be sending out e-mail updates
about its work
and the latest additions to the website.  If you wish to receive
these updates please send an e-mail to

[log in to unmask]

and leave the subject line blank. In the body of the message you
need to type

subscribe stories-info

The full text of first e-mail update can be found below. These
updates are aimed primarily at the children who use the site but
there is a dull adult stuff section in each update ;)

Sarah Ormes
Public Library Networking Research Officer
UKOLN, University of Bath, Bath, BA2 7AY

Visit 'Stories from the Web' at  http://hosted.ukoln.ac.uk/stories/

Tel. 01225 826711
Fax. 01225 826838

Stories from the Web is pleased to present its first e-mail update.
This
update has information about

1) the launch of the gallery section - where you can find your work
2) reviews of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
3) designing your very own wizard or witch
4) what's coming up soon
5) library clubs
6) dull stuff for adults about the project
7) what to do if you no longer want to get these e-mail updates

1) The Gallery section

We've been busy over the last few weeks hanging up in the Gallery
all the
reviews and comments and stories that you've been sending us. We've
had
reviews from kids (and adults) from all over the world telling us
about
what books they like and why, creepy stories from all over the place
and
loads of people entering our Mad Millennium Law. Why not visit the
Gallery
and see what people have been up to and get involved yourself? You
can get
into the gallery at

http://hosted.ukoln.ac.uk/stories/gallery

2) Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Yes it's finally here - Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban was
published in the UK this month and to celebrate Stories from the Web
have
got loads of fun Harry Potter stuff for you to do.  Have you read
Harry
Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban? If you have why not write
Stories from
the Web a review about it? If want to find out whether it is as good
as
the first two read the reviews other people have sent in.

You can find all the Harry Potter activities at

http://hosted.ukoln.ac.uk/stories/stories/rowling/potter/index.htm

3) Design a wizard or witch Can you make up a wizard or witch? Why
not
have a go at Stories from the Web - we'll publish the best ones we
get on
the website. Tell us about your wizard or witch's history, their
favourite
spells and what their hobbies are - we're waiting to hear from you
at

http://hosted.ukoln.ac.uk/stories/stories/rowling/potter/witches/

4) What's coming up soon

We're working really hard on your behalf on all sorts of new
exciting
stories and activities. We're planning some more competitions,
quizzes and
games and getting more authors involved and putting more stories
online
for you. If you have any ideas about other things you want Stories
from
the Web to do let us know by sending us an e-mail at

[log in to unmask]

5) Library Clubs

If you live in Birmingham, Bristol or Leeds (in the UK) you might
be able to join a Stories from the Web club and meet other kids who
are into stories and computers. To find out more information about
the
clubs have a look at

http://hosted.ukoln.ac.uk/stories/libclubs/index.htm


6) Dull adult stuff

Yeah this is all really dull information but your parents or other
adults
might be interested.

Stories from the Web is a Library and Information Commission funded
project and is a partnership between the children's libraries of
Bristol
City Libraries, Leeds City Libraries, Birmingham City Libraries and
the UK
Office for Library and Information Networking (UKOLN). The project
is
exploring how public libraries can develop online resources which
will
encourage children to enjoy reading, interact with stories and
develop
both traditional and electronic literacy skills. The project is also
exploring how libraries, publishers, authors and illustrators can
work
together using the new electronic media that the Internet makes
available.

Since launching the website a few months ago the project has been a
Yahooligans site of the week, and has been identified as a
'National Grid for Learning'  Learning Resource. Reaction to the
website
has been extremely positive both from the library and education
communities and has been well reviewed in a number of journals and
magazines.

Within the last few weeks library clubs have been launched in
specific libraries in Bristol, Leeds and Birmingham. In these clubs
children are working through a programme of activities based around
the website which will help develop their traditional and
electronic literacy skills. These clubs have been well attended and
we are
already learning a lot about how children use the web, what they
want from it and how public libraries can exploit it to encourage
children to read more and interact with stories more imaginatively.

Further Information about the history of the project and its aims
can be found at

http://hosted.ukoln.ac.uk/stories/adultinf/

and specific questions can be answered by Lydia Matheson, the
project co-ordinator, who can be contacted via e-mail at

[log in to unmask]

7) Getting off this list

If you do not wish to receive any further e-mail updates  from
Stories from the Web please send an e-mail message to

[log in to unmask]

and leave the subject line blank. In the body of the message type

unsubscribe stories-info

8) That's all for now

That's it for this e-mail update - make sure that you tell all your
friends about Stories from the Web and come and visit us at

http://hosted.ukoln.ac.uk/stories/


The Stories from the Web Team

E-mail [log in to unmask]

http://hosted.ukoln.ac.uk/stories/

Tel 0121 303 3365




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