Title: GAMERS IN THE STACKS: A BRIEF LOOK AT WHO THE GAMERS ARE, AND WAYS PUBLIC LIBRARIES CAN SERVE THEM
1GAMERS IN THE STACKSA 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
2CONTACT BETH
- Beth Gallaway
- informationgoddess29_at_gmail.com
- http//del.icio.us/informationgoddess29
- http//informationgoddess.info
- 603.247.3196
3WHAT 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
4POLL 1 DO YOU PLAY GAMES OF ANY KIND?
5WHY 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
6GAMES ARE LIKE BOOKS...
THEY ARE JUST A NEW FORMAT
7GAMING IS THE MEDIUM OF CHOICE FOR THE MILLENNIAL
GENERATION
8POLL 2 WHAT IS THE AVERAGE AGE OF A GAMER?
33
Entertainment Software Association. Top 10
Facts. http//www.theesa.com/facts/top_10_facts.ph
p
9POLL 3 WHAT PERCENT OF PEOPLE OVER 50 PLAY
GAMES?
24
Entertainment Software Association. Top 10
Facts. http//www.theesa.com/facts/top_10_facts.ph
p
10GAMING 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)
11WHAT DEVELOPMENTAL NEEDS ARE BEING MET?
12POLL 4 WHAT OF GAMERS ARE FEMALE?
38
Entertainment Software Association. Top 10
Facts. http//www.theesa.com/facts/top_10_facts.ph
p
13GAMING LITERACY
- Environmental print
- signage
- labels
- maps
- Reading about the game
- instructions
- walkthroughs
- Writing about the game
- forums
- websites
- Chat
- WTS, Mageweave cloth, 15g
14GAMING REINFORCES NEW LITERACIES
- Exposing knowledge
- Employing information
- Expressing ideas compellingly
- Ethics on the Internet
Warlick, David. The New Literacies. Scholastic
Administrator. Mar-Apr2005
151. EXPOSING KNOWLEDGE
- Find information
- Understand and explain found information
regardless of its format - Evaluate information
- Organize information
162. EMPLOYING INFORMATION
- Computation
- Measurement
- Analysis
- Application
17POLL 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.ph
p
183. EXPRESSING IDEAS COMPELLINGLY
- Mechanics matter
- Creativity efficiency highly rated
- Text, images, audio, and video are used to
express ideas in many digital formats
19WAYS GAMERS EXPRESS IDEAS COMPELLINGLY
- Fan Fiction
- Machinima
- Web Comics
- Fan Forums
- Clan Websites
20ETHICS 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
21POLL 6 HAVE YOU EVER PLAYED A GAME RATED
M FOR MATURE?
22POLL 7 WHAT PERCENTAGE OF GAMES SOLD IN 2006
WERE RATED M?
15
Entertainment Software Association. Top 10
Facts. http//www.theesa.com/facts/top_10_facts.ph
p
23HOW 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!
24USE 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?
25THINK LIKE A GAMER
- Everything is in BETA
- Get a screen name
- It's all about YOU
- You cant break it
- Fail early, fail often
26BE A STRATEGY GUIDE... ...NOT A LEVEL BOSS!
- Show, dont tell.
- Make it interactive.
- Have a free-for-all.
- Ask for a demo of expertise
27RESEARCH 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 grouphttp//groups.goo
gle.com/group/libgaming
28TRY SOME GAMES
- Set Game
- Penguin Baseball
- Bejeweled
- Chicktionary
- Bob the Blob
- Club Penguin
- Runescape
- Diner Dash
- Snood
- http//del.icio.us/informationgoddess29/games
29 POLL 8 DOES YOUR LIBRARY ALLOW PATRONS TO
PLAY GAMES ON PUBLIC COMPUTERS?
30 POLL 9WHAT OF PUBLIC LIBRARIES ALLOW
PATRONS TO PLAY COMPUTER GAMES?
Nicholson, Scott. (2007). The Role of Gaming in
Libraries Taking the Pulse. July 2007.
http//boardgameswithscott.com/pulse2007.pdf .
Accessed October 8, 2007.
31AND CREATE A GAMING EXPERIENCE
32POLL 10DOES YOUR LIBRARY HOST VIDEO GAME
PROGRAMS?
Nicholson, Scott. (2007). The Role of Gaming in
Libraries Taking the Pulse. July 2007.
http//boardgameswithscott.com/pulse2007.pdf .
Accessed October 8, 2007.
33POLL 11WHAT OF PUBLIC LIBRARIES HOST VIDEO
GAME PROGRAMS?
Nicholson, Scott. (2007). The Role of Gaming in
Libraries Taking the Pulse. July 2007.
http//boardgameswithscott.com/pulse2007.pdf .
Accessed October 8, 2007.
34WHAT MAKES A SUCCESSFUL GAMING PROGRAM?
- Do your homework
- Provide variety
- Open up to the community
- Spread the word
- Play
35FOR PROGRAMS, CHOOSE A GAME THAT IS...
- Multiplayer
- Short Rounds
- Rated E or T
- Easy to Learn
- Challenging to Master
- Appealing to a wide demographic
36MODEL 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
37POLL 12WHAT OF GAMERS PLAY ON HANDHELDS?
32
32
Entertainment Software Association. Top 10
Facts. http//www.theesa.com/facts/top_10_facts.ph
p
38MODEL 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
39DDRGUTIART HERO FUN
- Awesome cuz everyone gets along with each other,
theres no waiting in line or nething. Plus
guitar hero is a wicked rad game.
40I LOVED DDR
- I liked this because theres too few of the DDR
community around. This is a good opportunity to
meet people with like interests.
41POLL 13 DOES YOUR LIBRARY CIRCULATE VIDEO
GAMES?
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.
42POLL 14 WHAT OF PUBLIC LIBRARIES 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.
43GAMING COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT
- Magazines
- Strategy guides
- Nonfiction about gaming
- Fiction with gaming as a plot or subplot
44PRIMA STRATEGY GUIDES
- eGuides in PDF format
- 504 titles
- 12.99 each
45COLLECTION POLICY CONSIDERATIONS
- Formats
- Console
- PC
- Internet
- Subscription
- Breadth Depth
- Genres
- Styles
- Age ranges
- Budget
46COLLECTION MANAGEMENT
- Storage depends on
- format
- staff
- space
- budget
- Theft
- start with programs
- start small
- Issues
- replacement/repair
- resistance
47BEST 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 cost5/replacement fee
- Genres compilations, sports, racing games,
platformers, unique and quirky titles
48IN CONCLUSION
- Libraries are about access to stories, and access
to information in any format. - We have to stop being format snobs!
49THANK YOU!
- Beth Gallaway
- informationgoddess29_at_gmail.com
- http//del.icio.us/informationgoddess29
- http//informationgoddess.info
- 603.247.3196