Found!
Someone left a blue leather diary at the Beyond Game Tournaments session at 8AM in the Marriott this morning - get in touch with me if it’s yours! informationgoddess29 AT gmail DOT com
Someone left a blue leather diary at the Beyond Game Tournaments session at 8AM in the Marriott this morning - get in touch with me if it’s yours! informationgoddess29 AT gmail DOT com
There is a debate on the LibGaming discussion group about ways gamers are learning to be creative and innovative, and what skills they gain from gameplay. John Scalzo, the Video Game Librarian, says, “I don’t think tomorrow’s Bill Gates is going to find much inspiration from playing World of Warcraft today.”
Certainly, there are skills relevant to the business world and technology field that can be learned from gameplay. The transference of skills is touted in everything from Beck & Wade’s book Got Game to articles in Harvard Business Review to a IBM study for IBM by the software company Seriousity.
What if it’s not enough to just drop tools and access to resources in patrons laps? Is our role as librarians not simply to facilitate gaming programs, but to facilitate learning how to design games?
On a related note, this month’s American Libraries features an article by Brian Myers titled “Minds At Play,” about a library offering game design workshops that utilize Scratch, a free program with a drag and drop, graphical interface.
MIT, where Scratch was created, will be hosting a 3 day symposium this fall for educators, researchers and developers about using Scratch. Both lecture and hands-on sessions will be offered. Registration is $250, details are online at http://scratch.mit.edu/conference/index.html
I’m not sure if this is ripple effect from Gaming @ your library day or school vacation week… or fallout from the debut of MarioKart for theWii and Grand Theft Auto IV this week… or simply that gaming is snowballing, and becoming commonplace; there have been some great stories in the news this week about gaming events and programs.
The following articles and links may give you programming ideas or quotes you can use in making the case for gaming @ your library.
Gaming is a drop in program twice a week at the Dover (MA) Town Library; librarian Bonnie Peirce is anticipating participation in AADL’s national leaderboards.
The Gearhart (OR) Elementary School has incorporated Wii Sports as a recess activity; librarian Marian Rose notes the social interactions between the students are helpful.
The Springville (UT) Public Library is hosting a monthly gaming night that runs the gamit of everything from Blokus to Dance Dance Revolution. Shelley Maag, senior clerk at the library, looks forward to serving this historically underserved age group.
Mario Kart and Super Smash Bros. tournaments on the GameCube still reign supreme at the St. Joseph (MO) Public Library. Naruto may be on the agenda for next month’s tournament.
Public libraries in Virginia are offering a variety of programs, activities and services connected to gaming, including Guitar Hero programs and circulating collections of videogames.
Rock Band has come to the Corvallis-Benton County (OR) Public Library, along with Halo 3 and Guitar Hero. Librarian Andrew Cherbas facilitiates programs at multiple locations, tailoring the events to each library and the teens. The library’s blog features immpressive video footage of teen gamers that has been posted to YouTube.
The Allegany County (MD) Library System (MD) will be hosting “Gaming Wiik” (clever title!) as part of the summer reading program.
Speaking of reading, at the Chardron (NB) Public Library, circulation of teen materials has increased in the last year, from 20-30 items per month to 300 items per month, since the introduction of their gaming program that includes in-house use of a PlayStation and Madden ‘08, Major League Baseball ‘08, and the racing game Gran Turismo 4. Library Director Scott Kinney says, of serving the gamer niche, “We’re no longer a warehouse of books… we’re a community center, a social setting for everyone.”
Share your gaming success story in the comments below!
”Libraries are about providing public access to resources, in whatever format,” [Loriene Roy] said. “It goes back to what people want.”
The article covers example of gaming in Los Angeles county, but may serve as a resource for those seeking ways to convince their staff, administrators or community that gaming has a valid place in today’s libraries.
Link: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-libraries17apr17,1,298077,full.story
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