Monday, September 28, 2009
Comp 4: RSS Feed
I added the RSS feed for Games in Libraries, a blog/podcast devoted to talking about video games, gamers and the like in libraries. As my interest is in exactly those subjects, it seems only obvious that it is a good choice of feeds for my blog.
Database Search
Topic: video games in libraries
Search term: video gam* librar* (kw) - 62
I then limited to dates after 2005 and got 20 results.
Using Video Games to Teach Game Design: A Gaming Collection for Libraries
Author: Mastel, Kristen; Huston, Dave Source: Computers in Libraries v29 n3 p41-44 Mar 2009 (4 pages) Doc. Type: Article (EJ) Accession No: EJ831241 Libraries Worldwide: 2394 In your library TEXAS WOMAN'S UNIV LIBR.
Then I switched to WorldCat.
video gam* librar* (kw) - 1458
After limited to dates after 2005, 492 results.
Then I limited to dates after 2005, books in English and got 85 results, including this one.
Gamers-- in the library?! : the why, what, and how of videogame tournaments for all ages /
Author: Neiburger, Eli. Publication: Chicago : American Library Association, 2007
Document: English : Book
Libraries Worldwide: 687 In your library TEXAS WOMAN'S UNIV LIBR
Search term: video gam* librar* (kw) - 62
I then limited to dates after 2005 and got 20 results.
Using Video Games to Teach Game Design: A Gaming Collection for Libraries
Author: Mastel, Kristen; Huston, Dave Source: Computers in Libraries v29 n3 p41-44 Mar 2009 (4 pages) Doc. Type: Article (EJ) Accession No: EJ831241 Libraries Worldwide: 2394 In your library TEXAS WOMAN'S UNIV LIBR.
Then I switched to WorldCat.
video gam* librar* (kw) - 1458
After limited to dates after 2005, 492 results.
Then I limited to dates after 2005, books in English and got 85 results, including this one.
Gamers-- in the library?! : the why, what, and how of videogame tournaments for all ages /
Author: Neiburger, Eli. Publication: Chicago : American Library Association, 2007
Document: English : Book
Libraries Worldwide: 687 In your library TEXAS WOMAN'S UNIV LIBR
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Games in Libraries Podcast - Comp 3: Podcast
I found a podcast from a wonderful series of podcasts called Games in Libraries. I found it via a regular ol' Google search and a bit of rifling through the results. The most interesting part I found was the beginning of the podcast, where they talk about aspects of video games and virtual worlds in an academic library.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Blog Posting a - Comp 2: Related Blog
I went on a search for a blog relevant to my interests and was very worried I wouldn't be able to find anything I really liked. It took a fair bit of searching, either way. I used Google for the result I finally was satisfied with. I was trying very hard to find a connection on a blog between a library and video games or something of the sort. I found a few, but none of them have been updated in at least a year, and one (and actual library video game blog that I was terribly excited about) in over 4. Instead, I found Library Garden. Its a very nice and quite ongoing group blog from a group of Librarians in New Jersey. And on of the entries was from a young librarian talking about video games, and having them available in his library. I was intrigues and excited, because it was exactly what I was looking for. There's even a 'gaming' tag and a bunch of other relevant entries that I'm in the process of reading through. And here's the original entry I found in all its glory.
5 Reasons why you should be gaming in your Library
This past month, my library (Cape May County Library) was named the first place winner of the New Jersey State Library’s video contest “Solving Life’s Problems.” The video follows a timid young boy named Trevor whose family cannot afford to buy him the latest video game system. Instead, his family takes him to his local library where he quickly becomes a fan of the weekly game night program. In turn, Trevor and his family become regulars at the library. (So regular that Trevor now gets high fives from the librarians!)
Needless to say, I’m super proud of our staff (Lisa Alderfer, Technology Librarian and Mike Trout, Technology Assistant) for putting this video together. It clearly shows the many ways a library can be there for its patrons if we just take that extra step. But video games…in the library? I always get quizzed about how odd this idea seems by friends, family, and library patrons. I tell them that the answer is simple…we’re a public library and the public wants video games so…we give them video games! In 2008, video games sales topped $21 billion dollars(http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28682836). Now I’m no expert with money, but that seems like a lot. Enough that we librarians should take notice.
If you’re on the fence about video game programs or circulating video game collections in your library, here are five reasons why you should just go for it.
1. Welcome to the 21st Century!
Video games are part of the new media. Corporations are using video games for product placement. Movie stars are starring in their own video games. That old cliche of video games making kids lazy and unsocial can be thrown out in the trash. Video games help people learn how to solve problems, develop hand/eye coordination, and now with games such as Wii Fit, provide exercise. Please check out all of your excuses at the door thank you very much.
Welcome to the 21st Century, where video games are a relevant source of information and media. If you choose not to have any kind of video games in your library, you’re living in the past.
2. Gaming builds community.
Since my library (Cape May County Library) initiated our Game Night program in January 2008, we have seen around 20-30 teens attending our weekly Game Night program. Looking at this crowd, you see a wide range of personalities; the hardcore gamers, the metalheads, the anime teens, and many more. Over the past year, I’ve watched all these personalities mix, mingle, and become good friends. Teens have told me that because of our Game Night program they now have more friends at school. This is what the 21st century library is all about…building community. The public library of the 21st century should bring together all sorts of people and provide them with the stuff they want.
3. You will see all sorts of new people in your library.
My desk is situated about 30 feet from our entrance. I get to see a number of folks stopping in the library on a daily basis. They’re usually the same people, but since we got our circulating video game collection things have changed. I see a lot of new faces coming in every few days to get a new game. Once they find out I’m the one buying the games, I become sort of a pseudo celebrity. The cool thing about this story? These are people I’ve NEVER seen in the library before. Just think of all the patrons that are out there that are not interested in books. This is one way to reach them.
4. You couldn’t ask for an easier way to get teens interested in the library.
I call video games the “gateway drug for getting reluctant teens interested in the library.” It almost seems too easy. Have video games and they will come. That’s it. As I said in #2 above, every week I see a wide range of personalities mixing it up for two hours over Rock Band. These teens started out just coming to our game nights. I casually introduced them to our other teen programs and all the teen books and graphic novels we had. I didn’t beat them over the head with this other stuff…instead I just said “Hey, take a look at this other cool stuff.” Slowly but surely the teens were coming into the library on non game nights. They were checking out books. They were coming up to my desk and requesting new books. As a matter a fact, they helped initiate a new collection of video game strategy guides in our teen room.
Now, our teen circulation is through the roof. All of our teen programs are very well attended. And it all started with video games in the library.
5. The initial cost may be high, but the return investment is priceless.
Wow. That was such a cliche line. I’m sort of proud of myself for writing it. Anyway, video games cost a lot of money. Playstation 3 games regularly go for $59.99. Ouch. Especially in a time when so many libraries are getting budget cuts. Here’s something to think about though; You’re not plopping down all this money for nothing. You are creating life long library users. These patrons will see that and they’ll become supporters for your library. They’ll be the ones to fight for you in the future if you face budget cuts.
Are you also gaming in your library? If so, comment below and share what is working best for your library.
Feel free to contact me if you have any questions:
Twitter: http://twitter.com/justinlibrarian
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/justinhoenke
Hoenke, Justin. "5 Reasons why you should be gaming in your Library." Library Garden. August 27, 2009. September 15, 2009. (http://librarygarden.net/2009/08/27/5-reasons-why-you-should-be-gaming-in-your-library/)
5 Reasons why you should be gaming in your Library
This past month, my library (Cape May County Library) was named the first place winner of the New Jersey State Library’s video contest “Solving Life’s Problems.” The video follows a timid young boy named Trevor whose family cannot afford to buy him the latest video game system. Instead, his family takes him to his local library where he quickly becomes a fan of the weekly game night program. In turn, Trevor and his family become regulars at the library. (So regular that Trevor now gets high fives from the librarians!)
Needless to say, I’m super proud of our staff (Lisa Alderfer, Technology Librarian and Mike Trout, Technology Assistant) for putting this video together. It clearly shows the many ways a library can be there for its patrons if we just take that extra step. But video games…in the library? I always get quizzed about how odd this idea seems by friends, family, and library patrons. I tell them that the answer is simple…we’re a public library and the public wants video games so…we give them video games! In 2008, video games sales topped $21 billion dollars(http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28682836). Now I’m no expert with money, but that seems like a lot. Enough that we librarians should take notice.
If you’re on the fence about video game programs or circulating video game collections in your library, here are five reasons why you should just go for it.
1. Welcome to the 21st Century!
Video games are part of the new media. Corporations are using video games for product placement. Movie stars are starring in their own video games. That old cliche of video games making kids lazy and unsocial can be thrown out in the trash. Video games help people learn how to solve problems, develop hand/eye coordination, and now with games such as Wii Fit, provide exercise. Please check out all of your excuses at the door thank you very much.
Welcome to the 21st Century, where video games are a relevant source of information and media. If you choose not to have any kind of video games in your library, you’re living in the past.
2. Gaming builds community.
Since my library (Cape May County Library) initiated our Game Night program in January 2008, we have seen around 20-30 teens attending our weekly Game Night program. Looking at this crowd, you see a wide range of personalities; the hardcore gamers, the metalheads, the anime teens, and many more. Over the past year, I’ve watched all these personalities mix, mingle, and become good friends. Teens have told me that because of our Game Night program they now have more friends at school. This is what the 21st century library is all about…building community. The public library of the 21st century should bring together all sorts of people and provide them with the stuff they want.
3. You will see all sorts of new people in your library.
My desk is situated about 30 feet from our entrance. I get to see a number of folks stopping in the library on a daily basis. They’re usually the same people, but since we got our circulating video game collection things have changed. I see a lot of new faces coming in every few days to get a new game. Once they find out I’m the one buying the games, I become sort of a pseudo celebrity. The cool thing about this story? These are people I’ve NEVER seen in the library before. Just think of all the patrons that are out there that are not interested in books. This is one way to reach them.
4. You couldn’t ask for an easier way to get teens interested in the library.
I call video games the “gateway drug for getting reluctant teens interested in the library.” It almost seems too easy. Have video games and they will come. That’s it. As I said in #2 above, every week I see a wide range of personalities mixing it up for two hours over Rock Band. These teens started out just coming to our game nights. I casually introduced them to our other teen programs and all the teen books and graphic novels we had. I didn’t beat them over the head with this other stuff…instead I just said “Hey, take a look at this other cool stuff.” Slowly but surely the teens were coming into the library on non game nights. They were checking out books. They were coming up to my desk and requesting new books. As a matter a fact, they helped initiate a new collection of video game strategy guides in our teen room.
Now, our teen circulation is through the roof. All of our teen programs are very well attended. And it all started with video games in the library.
5. The initial cost may be high, but the return investment is priceless.
Wow. That was such a cliche line. I’m sort of proud of myself for writing it. Anyway, video games cost a lot of money. Playstation 3 games regularly go for $59.99. Ouch. Especially in a time when so many libraries are getting budget cuts. Here’s something to think about though; You’re not plopping down all this money for nothing. You are creating life long library users. These patrons will see that and they’ll become supporters for your library. They’ll be the ones to fight for you in the future if you face budget cuts.
Are you also gaming in your library? If so, comment below and share what is working best for your library.
Feel free to contact me if you have any questions:
Twitter: http://twitter.com/justinlibrarian
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/justinhoenke
Hoenke, Justin. "5 Reasons why you should be gaming in your Library." Library Garden. August 27, 2009. September 15, 2009. (http://librarygarden.net/2009/08/27/5-reasons-why-you-should-be-gaming-in-your-library/)
Friday, September 4, 2009
Introductory Post - Comp 1: Blog Creation
Hello fellow students. Here we have one more blog to add onto the growing list for the Information Storage and Retrieval class at TWU. Blogs in general are personal places on the web to share information. Whether that information be funny pictures, recipes, reviews, social commentary, a personal diary of sorts or any number of other things, each blog's purpose is to share information with the masses.
I have my own personal blog and follow a significant number of other personal blogs as well as what might be termed 'group blogs' on LiveJournal, another blogging site. This particular blog will be limited to items focused on the ISAR class and other Library Science subjects.
Because I am a first semester student at TWU, I'm not entirely sure what my area of focus will be in the Library Science school. At the moment, I'm aiming to get into an academic library, preferably a religion library. My dream library would be Perkins at SMU in Dallas.
I have my own personal blog and follow a significant number of other personal blogs as well as what might be termed 'group blogs' on LiveJournal, another blogging site. This particular blog will be limited to items focused on the ISAR class and other Library Science subjects.
Because I am a first semester student at TWU, I'm not entirely sure what my area of focus will be in the Library Science school. At the moment, I'm aiming to get into an academic library, preferably a religion library. My dream library would be Perkins at SMU in Dallas.
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