GET YOUR GAME ON! GAMING AT THE LIBRARY Presented by Beth Gallaway for ARLA October 2008 http://informationgoddess.info

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

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

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 Build developmental assets Are literary Reinforce new literacies Bring in new users FUN!

Are just like books, they are just another new format

Are the medium of choice for the millennial generation

Build developmental assets

Are literary

Reinforce new literacies

Bring in new users

FUN!

GAMES ARE LIKE BOOKS... THEY ARE JUST A NEW FORMAT

GAMING IS THE MEDIUM OF CHOICE FOR THE MILLENNIAL GENERATION WHAT IS THE BIRTH YEAR SPAN OF MILLENNIALS? A. 1968-1982 B. 1975-1990 C. 1982-2000 D. 1996-PRESENT

WHAT % OF YOUTH AGE 12-17 PLAY VIDEOGAMES? * Pew Internet & American Life Project. “Teens Video Games & Civics.” September 2008. http://pewinternet.org/PPF/r/263/report_display.asp 97%

WHAT % OF GAMERS ARE FEMALE? * Entertainment Software Association. Top 10 Facts. http://www.theesa.com/facts/top_10_facts.php 40%

GAMING MEETS DEVELOPMENTAL NEEDS OF YOUNG ADOLESCENTS Positive social interaction with adults & peers Structure and clear limits Physical activity Creative expression Competence and achievement Meaningful participation in families, school, communities Opportunities for self-definition NMSA. NMSA Research Summaries. Young Adolescents Developmental Needs (1996)

Positive social interaction with adults & peers

Structure and clear limits

Physical activity

Creative expression

Competence and achievement

Meaningful participation in families, school, communities

Opportunities for self-definition

WHAT DEVELOPMENTAL ASSETS ARE BEING BUILT?

GAMING = LITERACY Environmental print signage labels maps Reading about the game instructions walkthroughs Writing about the game forums websites Chat: “ WTS, Mageweave cloth, 15g”

Environmental print

signage

labels

maps

Reading about the game

instructions

walkthroughs

Writing about the game

forums

websites

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

Exposing knowledge

Employing information

Expressing ideas compellingly

Ethics on the Internet

1. EXPOSING KNOWLEDGE Find information Understand and explain found information regardless of its format Evaluate information Organize information

Find information

Understand and explain found information regardless of its format

Evaluate information

Organize information

2. EMPLOYING INFORMATION Computation Measurement Analysis Application

Computation

Measurement

Analysis

Application

3. EXPRESSING IDEAS COMPELLINGLY Mechanics matter Creativity & efficiency highly rated Text, images, audio, and video are used to express ideas in many digital formats

Mechanics matter

Creativity & efficiency highly rated

Text, images, audio, and video are used to express ideas in many digital formats

WAYS GAMERS EXPRESS IDEAS COMPELLINGLY Fan Fiction Machinima Web Comics Fan Forums Clan Websites

Fan Fiction

Machinima

Web Comics

Fan Forums

Clan Websites

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

Modding – recreating game content

FanFic – writing stories about characters created/owner by someone else

Machinima – films/videos created through recording video game play

HAVE YOU EVER PLAYED A GAME RATED “M” FOR MATURE? YES NO

YES

NO

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 YOUNG GAMERS? Connect games with “traditional” materials Think like a gamer Become a strategy guide Research video game culture Support gaming Create a gaming experience: Game collections Gaming programs Try some games!

Connect games with “traditional” materials

Think like a gamer

Become a strategy guide

Research video game culture

Support gaming

Create a gaming experience:

Game collections

Gaming programs

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?

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 Everything is in BETA Get a screen name It's all about YOU You can’t break it Fail early, fail often

Everything is in BETA

Get a screen name

It's all about YOU

You can’t break it

Fail early, fail often

BE A STRATEGY GUIDE... ...NOT A LEVEL BOSS! Show, don’t tell. Make it interactive. Have a free-for-all. Ask for a demo of expertise

Show, don’t tell.

Make it interactive.

Have a free-for-all.

Ask for a demo of expertise

RESEARCH VIDEO GAME CULTURE Watch Red Vs. Blue Read Penny Acade or PvP Skim gaming magazines Link to gaming sites Pay attention to gaming around you Attend GLLS2008 Join the LibGaming Google group: http://groups.google.com/group/ libgaming

Watch Red Vs. Blue

Read Penny Acade or PvP

Skim gaming magazines

Link to gaming sites

Pay attention to gaming around you

Attend GLLS2008

Join the LibGaming Google group: http://groups.google.com/group/ libgaming

TRY SOME GAMES Set Game Penguin Baseball Bejeweled Chicktionary Bob the Blob Club Penguin Runescape Diner Dash Snood http://del.icio.us/informationgoddess29/games

Set Game

Penguin Baseball

Bejeweled

Chicktionary

Bob the Blob

Club Penguin

Runescape

Diner Dash

Snood

http://del.icio.us/informationgoddess29/games

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.

AND … CREATE A GAMING EXPERIENCE Programs Collections

Programs

Collections

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? Do your homework Provide variety Open up to the community Spread the word Play

Do your homework

Provide variety

Open up to the community

Spread the word

Play

FOR PROGRAMS, CHOOSE GAMES THAT ARE: Multiplayer Short rounds Rated E or T Easy to learn Challenging to master Appealing to a wide demographic

Multiplayer

Short rounds

Rated E or T

Easy to learn

Challenging to master

Appealing to a wide demographic

WHAT % OF GAMERS PLAY ON HANDHELDS? * Entertainment Software Association. Top 10 Facts. http://www.theesa.com/facts/index.asp 32 % 36%

HANDHELD PROGRAM Cell phone clinic PSP Gamefest Nintendo DS Gamefest

Cell phone clinic

PSP Gamefest

Nintendo DS Gamefest

MODEL GAMING PROGRAMS Velma Teague Branch, Glendale Public Library R u nescape LAN party 2 sessions 6-12 teens

Velma Teague Branch, Glendale Public Library R u nescape LAN party

2 sessions

6-12 teens

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

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

MODEL GAMING PROGRAMS Ann Arbor District Library (MI) Mario Kart, Super Smash Bros, & DDR Tournaments for all ages Regular programs Online community

Ann Arbor District Library (MI) Mario Kart, Super Smash Bros, & DDR

Tournaments for all ages

Regular programs

Online community

MODEL GAMING PROGRAMS North Hunterdon High School NJ 25 Projectors + white walls Fundraiser

North Hunterdon High School NJ

25 Projectors + white walls

Fundraiser

G A ME DESIGN! Ben 10 Alien Force Game Creator http://gamecreator.cartoonnetwork.com/

Ben 10 Alien Force Game Creator

http://gamecreator.cartoonnetwork.com/

DDR RECIPE FOR SUCCESS One console ( $80-$600) 2-4 dance pads ( $20-$300 each) 1 game ( $25-$60) 1 LCD projector ($600-1000) or TV ($100-$2K) 1 one large screen or white wall Activity for waiters Water

One console ( $80-$600)

2-4 dance pads ( $20-$300 each)

1 game ( $25-$60)

1 LCD projector ($600-1000) or TV ($100-$2K)

1 one large screen or white wall

Activity for waiters

Water

“ 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 liked this because there’s too few of the DDR community around. This is a good opportunity to meet people with like interests.” “ I LOVED DDR”

“ Awesome cuz everyone gets along with each other, there’s no waiting in line or nething. Plus guitar hero is a wicked rad game.”

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 Magazines Strategy guides Nonfiction about gaming Fiction with gaming as a plot or subplot

Magazines

Strategy guides

Nonfiction about gaming

Fiction with gaming as a plot or subplot

PRIMA STRATEGY GUIDES eGuides in PDF format 504 titles $12.99 each

eGuides in PDF format

504 titles

$12.99 each

COLLECTION POLICY CONSIDERATIONS Formats Console PC Internet Subscription Breadth & Depth Genres Styles Age ranges Budget

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

Storage depends on:

format

staff

space

budget

Theft

start with programs

start small

Issues

replacement/repair

resistance

BEST PRACTICES: COLLECTIONS Rockridge 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

Rockridge

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

THANK YOU! BETH GALLAWAY INFORMATION GODDESS CONSULTANT Links: http://www.delicious.com/informationgoddess29/alsc Email: [email_address] Website: http://informationgoddess.info Phone: 603.247.3196

Links: http://www.delicious.com/informationgoddess29/alsc

Email: [email_address]

Website: http://informationgoddess.info

Phone: 603.247.3196