Gaming

Success Stories

Charlotte (NC) Public Library hosts gaming night: Halo 2 for 18+ crowd

Tips

When making your case for collections, programs and services for gamers, connect gaming to:

• Library Roles - Lushington, Nolan and James M. Kusack. The Design and Evaluation of Public Library Buildings. Hamden, CT: Library Professional Publications, 1991.
• Customer Service Values
• Your Library's Mission Statement
• Statewide Standards, for example:
  • Massachusetts Library Association Statewide Standards for Library Service to Young Adults
  • Wisconsin Public Library Standards
• Search Institute's 40 Developmental Assets for Adolescents
• YALSA's Strategic Plan
• YALSA's Young Adults Deserve the Best: Competencies for Librarians Serving Youth
• YALSA's New Directions for Library Service for Young Adults

Resources:

Beck, John C and Mitchell Wade. Got Game: How the Gamer Generation is Reshaping Business Forever. Harvard Business School Press, 2004.

Cassell, Justine and Henry Jenkins. From Barbie to Mortal Kombat: Gender and Computer Games. MIT Press, 1998.

Gee, James Paul. What Video Games Have to Teach Us About Learning and Literacy. Palgrave McMillan, 2003.

MLS Gaming, Learning, and Libraries Conference - Conference Website - go here to register!

Blogs/Websites to Watch

• Game On: Games in Libraries by Beth Gallaway.
• LibGaming Group
• Ann Arbor District Library (AADL). AXIS AADL Blog. July 6, 2005.

Blog for AADL, which publicizes and tracks their video game tournaments for adults, teens and children.

• Bloomington Public Library Game Fest. July 9, 2005.

Site for BPL (in Illinois) which promotes their quarterly Game Fests for teens.

Specific Blog Posts/Articles to Check Out

• update on the TFML's first gaming night

• Scalzo, John. The Video Game Librarian: Book 'Em". Gaming Target, July 20, 2005.

Book review of gaming-related titles for library purchase