The document discusses ways that libraries can serve gamers. It provides statistics on gamer demographics such as age and gender breakdowns. It also outlines some best practices libraries can adopt such as hosting gaming programs and circulating video game collections. The document advocates that libraries should view games as just another format and find ways to connect with gamers and support gaming culture.

1. GAMERS IN THE STACKS: A BRIEF LOOK AT WHO THE GAMERS ARE, & WAYS LIBRARIES CAN SERVE THEM Presented for MLA by Beth Gallaway, http://informationgoddess.info May 2008

2. CONTACT, SLIDES & LINKS Beth Gallaway 603.247.3196 informationgoddess29 @gmail.com http://informationgoddess. info http://del.icio.us/informationgoddess29

3. 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

4. DO YOU PLAY GAMES OF ANY KIND? YES NO

5. 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

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

7. GAMING IS THE MEDIUM OF CHOICE FOR THE MILLENNIAL GENERATION

8. WHAT IS THE AVERAGE AGE OF A GAMER? * Entertainment Software Association. Top 10 Facts. http://www.theesa.com/facts/top_10_facts.php 33

9. WHAT PERCENT OF PEOPLE OVER 50 PLAY GAMES?* * Entertainment Software Association. Top 10 Facts. http://www.theesa.com/facts/top_10_facts.php 24%

10. 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)

11. WHAT DEVELOPMENTAL NEEDS ARE BEING MET?

12. WHAT % OF GAMERS ARE FEMALE? * Entertainment Software Association. Top 10 Facts. http://www.theesa.com/facts/top_10_facts.php 38%

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

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

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

16. 2. EMPLOYING INFORMATION Computation Measurement Analysis Application

17. HOW MANY BILLIONS DID COMPUTER & VIDEO GAME SALES GROSS IN THE US IN 2006?* $7.4 * Entertainment Software Association. Top 10 Facts. http://www.theesa.com/facts/top_10_facts.php

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

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

20. 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

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

22. 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%

23. HOW CAN LIBRARIES SERVE 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!

24. 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?

25. 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

26. 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

27. 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

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

29. DOES YOUR LIBRARY ALLOW PATRONS TO PLAY GAMES ON LIBRARY COMPUTERS? YES NO

30. 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.

31. AND … CREATE A GAMING EXPERIENCE Programs Collections

32. 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.

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 A GAME THAT IS... 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/top_10_facts.php 32 % 32%

37. 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

38. 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

39. “ 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”

40. 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

41. 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.

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

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

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

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

46. 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

47. IN CONCLUSION… Libraries are about access to stories, and access to information – in any format. We have to stop being format snobs!

48. THANK YOU! Beth Galla CONTACT: 603.247.3196 informationgoddess29 @gmail.com LINKS: http ://del.icio.us/informationgoddess29 SLIDES: http://informationgoddess.info