The document discusses how libraries can incorporate gaming to better serve patrons. It provides examples of successful gaming programs hosted at various libraries, including game nights, tournaments for games like Super Smash Bros. and Dance Dance Revolution. The document advocates that libraries should view games as just another format like books and find ways to support gaming culture and connect games to other materials.

1. GET YOUR GAME ON! GAMING AT THE LIBRARY Presented for NHLA by Beth Gallaway, http://informationgoddess.info May 2008

2. SLIDES & LINKS will be posted on my BLOG: http://infogdss.wordpress.com Beth Gallaway CONTACT: 603.247.3196 [email_address] 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. HOW CAN LIBRARIES SERVE GAMERS? Connect games with “traditional” materials Think like a gamer Become a strategy guide Research video game culture Support gaming Try some games! Create a gaming experience: Gaming programs Game collections

22. 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?

23. IF YOU LIKE CITY OF HEROES

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

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

26. 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

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

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

29. 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.

30. AND … CREATE A GAMING EXPERIENCE Programs Collections

31. 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.

32. 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.

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

34. 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

35. WHAT % OF GAMERS PLAY ON HANDHELDS? * Entertainment Software Association. Top 10 Facts. http://www.theesa.com/facts/top_10_facts.php 32 % 32%

36. EASY, FREE PROGRAMS! Cell phone clinic PSP Gamefest Nintendo DS Gamefest 32 %

37. RUNESCAPE DISCUSSION GROUP, LACKMAN BRANCH LIBRARY JOHNSON COUNTY, KS Runescape discussion group after hours 14 attendees Discussion focused on character levels, quests completed, items obtained, play style, enemies defeated Group more excited about individual challenges than tournament or competitive play Program concluded with playing Runescape SITE: http://www.ckls.org/gaming/runelackman.html

38. GAME NIGHT, NORTH HUNTERDON HIGH SCHOOL NORTH HUNTERDON, NJ Student-run game night in the cafeteria Fundraiser

39. DANCE DANCE REVOLUTION, HAVERHILL PUBLIC LIBRARY HAVERHILL, MA One PS2 console ($130) 2 dance pads ($160) 1 DDR game ($40) 1 LCD projector and screen/white wall OR TV TOTAL: $330.00

40. AFTER SCHOOL ZONE, BENICIA PUBLIC LIBRARY BENICIA, CA Hanging out, snacks and playing games encouraged 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 Wii Everyone must agree to the gaming policy before playing

41. SUPER SMASH/DOUBLE DASH TOURNAMENT, ANN ARBOR DISTRICT LIBRARY ANN ARBOR, MI Tournaments for all ages Regular programs Online community SITE: http://www.aadl.org/gt

42. “ 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”

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

44. THANK YOU! Beth Galla CONTACT: 603.247.3196 [email_address] LINKS: http://del.icio.us/informationgoddess29 SLIDES: http://infogdss.wordpress.com