The document discusses how libraries can incorporate video games into their services and programs. It notes that games are a popular medium for teens and meet their developmental needs. The document provides examples of successful gaming programs in libraries and recommendations for developing gaming collections and hosting game-related events and programs. It also presents statistics on gaming participation and library gaming services.

1. HELP! MY LIBRARY IS TURNING INTO AN ARCADE Presented by Beth Gallaway for ALSC N a tional Institute September 2008 Salt Lake City UT http://informationgoddess.info

2. 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

3. Game design slides courtesy of Chris Castaldi http://www.echoshard.com

4. GOALS What the Player wants to achieve Main goals Winning! Sub-Goals Shiny things Goals Fit the GAME Game design slides courtesy of Chris Castaldi http://www.echoshard.com

5. OBSTACLES Impeding the player’s progress Impeding the player’s path Feeling of Accomplishment Challenging the player Game design slides courtesy of Chris Castaldi http://www.echoshard.com

6. TOOLS Tools are what the player use to get to its goal A Sword A Spell A Jump Players need to use them properly Game design slides courtesy of Chris Castaldi http://www.echoshard.com

7. SECOND CHANCES The Player’s ability to fail and try again Only once Chance in reality Try again Extra Lives Health Bar Quest for perfection Game design slides courtesy of Chris Castaldi http://www.echoshard.com

8. LEARNING Player’s Skill and Mastery of the tools they use. Player learns the rules of the game and how to rise above them. Spikes = Death Fire Creatures are immune to fire. Increasing Difficulty Levels become harder and more complicated. Game design slides courtesy of Chris Castaldi http://www.echoshard.com

9. 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

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

11. 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

12. 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%

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

14. 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)

15. WHAT DEVELOPMENTAL NEEDS ARE BEING MET?

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

17. GAMING REINFORCES NEW LITERACIES Exposing knowledge Employing information Expressing ideas compellingly Ethics on the Internet Warlick, David. ”The New Literacies.” Scholastic Administrator. Mar-Apr2005

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

19. 2. EMPLOYING INFORMATION Computation Measurement Analysis Application

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

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

22. 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

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

24. 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%

25. 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!

26. 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?

27. 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

28. 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

29. 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

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

31. 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.

32. AND … CREATE A GAMING EXPERIENCE Programs Collections

33. 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.

34. WHAT MAKES A SUCCESSFUL GAMING PROGRAM? Do your homework Provide variety Open up to the community Spread the word Play

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

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

37. HANDHELD PROGRAM Cell phone clinic PSP Gamefest Nintendo DS Gamefest

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

39. 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

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

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

42. 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

43. “ 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”

44. 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.

45. GAMING COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT Magazines Strategy guides Nonfiction about gaming Fiction with gaming as a plot or subplot

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

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

48. COLLECTION MANAGEMENT Storage depends on: format staff space budget Theft start with programs start small Issues replacement/repair resistance

49. 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

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