GAMERS IN THE STACKS: A BRIEF LOOK AT WHO THE GAMERS ARE, AND WAYS PUBLIC LIBRARIES CAN SERVE THEM...
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Transcript of GAMERS IN THE STACKS: A BRIEF LOOK AT WHO THE GAMERS ARE, AND WAYS PUBLIC LIBRARIES CAN SERVE THEM...
GAMERS IN THE STACKS:A BRIEF LOOK AT WHO THE GAMERS ARE, AND WAYS PUBLIC LIBRARIES CAN SERVE THEM
Presented for the PLA Virtual Conferenceby Beth Gallaway, http://informationgoddess.info March 2008
CONTACT BETH:
Beth Gallaway
[email protected]://del.icio.us/informationgoddess29
http://informationgoddess.info
603.247.3196
WHAT IS A GAME?
GAME: activity engaged in for diversion or amusement; synonym: see FUN
VIDEO GAME: an electronic game played by means of images on a video screen and often emphasizing fast action
Merriam-Webster Online. http://www.m-w.com
WHY GAMES AT THE LIBRARY?BECAUSE GAMES …
Are just like books, they are just another new format
Are the medium of choice for the millennial generation
Meet developmental needs of teens Are literary Reinforce new literacies
POLL #2: WHAT IS THE AVERAGE AGE OF A
GAMER?
* Entertainment Software Association. Top 10 Facts. http://www.theesa.com/facts/top_10_facts.php
33
POLL #3: WHAT PERCENT OF PEOPLE OVER 50 PLAY GAMES?*
* Entertainment Software Association. Top 10 Facts. http://www.theesa.com/facts/top_10_facts.php
24%
GAMING MEETS DEVELOPMENTAL NEEDS
OF YOUNG ADOLESCENTS
o Positive social interaction with adults & peers
o Structure and clear limitso Physical activityo Creative expressiono Competence and achievemento Meaningful participation in families,
school, communitieso Opportunities for self-definition
NMSA. NMSA Research Summaries. Young Adolescents Developmental Needs (1996)
POLL #4:WHAT % OF GAMERS ARE FEMALE?
* Entertainment Software Association. Top 10 Facts. http://www.theesa.com/facts/top_10_facts.php
38%
GAMING = LITERACY Environmental print
signagelabelsmaps
Reading about the gameinstructionswalkthroughs
Writing about the gameforumswebsites
Chat: “WTS, Mageweave cloth, 15g”
GAMING REINFORCES NEW LITERACIES
Exposing knowledge
Employing information
Expressing ideas compellingly
Ethics on the Internet
Warlick, David. ”The New Literacies.” Scholastic Administrator. Mar-Apr2005
1. EXPOSING KNOWLEDGE
Find information
Understand and explain found information regardless of its format
Evaluate information
Organize information
POLL #5: HOW MANY BILLIONS DID
COMPUTER & VIDEO GAME SALES GROSS IN 2006?*
$7.4
* Entertainment Software Association. Top 10 Facts. http://www.theesa.com/facts/top_10_facts.php
3. EXPRESSING IDEAS COMPELLINGLY
Mechanics matter
Creativity & efficiency highly rated
Text, images, audio, and video are used to express ideas in many digital formats
ETHICS ON THE INTERNET
Modding – recreating game content
FanFic – writing stories about characters created/owner by someone else
Machinima – films/videos created through recording video game play
POLL #7:WHAT PERCENTAGE OF GAMES
SOLD IN 2006 WERE RATED M?*
* Entertainment Software Association. Top 10 Facts. http://www.theesa.com/facts/top_10_facts.php
15%
HOW CAN LIBRARIES SERVE GAMERS?
o Connect games with “traditional” materialso Think like a gamero Become a strategy guideo Research video game cultureo Support gaming o Create a gaming experience:
o Game collectionso Gaming programs
o Try some games!
USE GAMES IN READER'S ADVISORY
INSTEAD OF: What authors do you like to read? What are the last 3 books you read? What did you like about them?
ASK: What movies do you like? What TV shows do you watch? What games do you play?
THINK LIKE A GAMER
o Everything is in BETA
o Get a screen nameo It's all about YOUo You can’t break ito Fail early, fail often
BE A STRATEGY GUIDE... ...NOT A LEVEL BOSS!
o Show, don’t tell.o Make it interactive.o Have a free-for-all.o Ask for a demo of
expertise
RESEARCH VIDEO GAME CULTURE
o Watch Red Vs. Blueo Read Penny Acade or PvPo Skim gaming magazineso Link to gaming siteso Pay attention to gaming around youo Attend GLLS2008o Join the LibGaming Google group:
http://groups.google.com/group/libgaming
TRY SOME GAMESo Set Gameo Penguin Baseballo Bejeweledo Chicktionaryo Bob the Blobo Club Penguino Runescapeo Diner Dasho Snood
http://del.icio.us/informationgoddess29/games
POLL #9:WHAT % OF PUBLIC LIBRARIES ALLOW PATRONS TO PLAY COMPUTER GAMES?*
82%
*Nicholson, Scott. (2007). The Role of Gaming in Libraries: Taking the Pulse. July 2007. http://boardgameswithscott.com/pulse2007.pdf . Accessed October 8, 2007.
POLL #10:DOES YOUR LIBRARY HOST VIDEO GAME PROGRAMS?
YES
NO
*Nicholson, Scott. (2007). The Role of Gaming in Libraries: Taking the Pulse. July 2007. http://boardgameswithscott.com/pulse2007.pdf . Accessed October 8, 2007.
POLL #11:WHAT % OF PUBLIC LIBRARIES HOST VIDEO GAME PROGRAMS?*
13%
*Nicholson, Scott. (2007). The Role of Gaming in Libraries: Taking the Pulse. July 2007. http://boardgameswithscott.com/pulse2007.pdf . Accessed October 8, 2007.
WHAT MAKES A SUCCESSFUL GAMING PROGRAM?
1. Do your homework2. Provide variety3. Open up to the community4. Spread the word5. Play
FOR PROGRAMS, CHOOSE A GAME THAT IS...
Multiplayer Short Rounds Rated E or T Easy to Learn Challenging to Master Appealing to a wide demographic
MODEL GAMING PROGRAMS Santa Monica Public Library, CA
Counterstrike LAN party After hours program 50 teens lined up around the block to play
After School Zone, Benicia Public Library, CA Hanging out, snacks and playing games encourages Kids and teens who have gotten parental consent can
play Halo 2 and Ghost Recon on the XBox 360; Mario Kart and Super Smash Bros. Melee are popular
on Gamecube
POLL #12:WHAT % OF GAMERS PLAY ON HANDHELDS?
* Entertainment Software Association. Top 10 Facts. http://www.theesa.com/facts/top_10_facts.php
32 %32%
MODEL GAMING PROGRAMS
Ann Arbor District Library (MI) Mario Kart, Super Smash Bros, & DDR Tournaments for all ages Regular programs Online community
North Hunterdon High School (NJ) Student-run game night in the cafeteria
“DDR+GUTIART HERO= FUN”“Awesome cuz everyone gets along with
each other, there’s no waiting in line or nething. Plus guitar hero is a wicked rad game.”
“I LOVED DDR”
“I liked this because there’s too few of the DDR community around. This is a good opportunity to meet people with like interests.”
POLL #13: DOES YOUR LIBRARY CIRCULATE VIDEO GAMES?*
*Nicholson, Scott. (2007). The Role of Gaming in Libraries: Taking the Pulse. July 2007. http://boardgameswithscott.com/pulse2007.pdf . Accessed October 8, 2007.
YES
NO
POLL #14: WHAT % OF PUBLIC LIBRARIES CIRCULATE VIDEO GAMES?*
30%
*Nicholson, Scott. (2007). The Role of Gaming in Libraries: Taking the Pulse. July 2007. http://boardgameswithscott.com/pulse2007.pdf . Accessed October 8, 2007.
GAMING COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT
1. Magazines2. Strategy guides3. Nonfiction about gaming4. Fiction with gaming as a plot or subplot
COLLECTION POLICY CONSIDERATIONS
Formats Console PC Internet Subscription
Breadth & Depth Genres Styles Age ranges
Budget
COLLECTION MANAGEMENT Storage depends on:
format staff space budget
Theft start with programs start small
Issues replacement/repair resistance
BEST PRACTICES: COLLECTIONSRockridge Ages 13-18 year olds PS2 games 2 games/patron No holds/renewals 7 day free checkout $1/day late fee $50/replacement fee Genres: sports,
adventure, racing, fighting, and shooters.
Helen McGraw E, E10+ and T PS2 and PC games 14 day circ $.25/day late fee game
cost+$5/replacement fee
Genres: compilations, sports, racing games, platformers, unique and quirky titles
IN CONCLUSION…
Libraries are about access to stories, and access to information – in any format.
We have to stop being format snobs!
THANK YOU!
Beth Gallaway
[email protected]://del.icio.us/informationgoddess29
http://informationgoddess.info
603.247.3196