Why Games?

Liz Danforth says that far beyond scoring points and moving to the next level, gaming has the potential to improve literacy skills as well as enhance community and connectivity…so that’s why! » » »

Gaming Basics: Systems Showdown

“Selecting the right gaming consoles for your collection can be a daunting undertaking, one further complicated by considerations of cost, popularity, and audience” says Shawn McCann. To help simplify the choice, he puts the big three—Nintendo Wii, Microsoft Xbox 360, and Sony PlayStation 3—through a head-to-head smackdown. » » »

Gamers Are Readers

Capitalize on the popularity of video games

Libraries across the country are jumping on the gaming bandwagon, and some librarians are thrilled with this revolution. We grew up playing video games. Although these games were not nearly as impressive as the ones available today, we still spent countless hours playing the original Super Mario Brothers—and we still grew up to be librarians. Video games did not rot our brains. But that begs the question: What do video games have to do with libraries? Video games offer traditional and new forms of literacy, and we can connect with patrons of all ages in our community by offering gaming programs. In fact, they are one of the only library programs that attract so many teens.    … more

Why gaming belongs in libraries

Sue Scott has some straightforward and succinct points to make about why libraries and gaming go together like peanut butter and chocolate. … here

Scratch software taken up by libraries

“Scratch http://scratch.mit.edu/ is a free software tool that allows anyone to create animation, interactive stories, computer game projects and more. It was designed and developed by the Lifelong Kindergarten Lab at MIT, and has a strong international community of followers. The Scratch website has hundreds of thousands of projects uploaded, any of which can be downloaded, remixed and uploaded. The site has discussion forums and lots of support for novice users.

Libraries have started to use Scratch as the basis for technology programming for youth. In the Minneapolis area, Hennepin County Library has been using it for almost three years with much success; Hennepin County Library is implementing an IMLS Nation of Leaders Demonstration grant that brings the project to a set of five national partners. Now, libraries around the globe have an opportunity to become involved in the Scratch-in-Libraries movement! Scratch isn’t just for youth – Hennepin County Library has had success with Scratch with adults as well as with children as young as eight years old.”

Info from ALA News about Games and Gaming Blog http://gaming.ala.org/news/2009/02/23/celebrate-scratch-day-may-16-2009/

Gaming the Way to Literacy

Carvers Bay (South Carolina) Branch Library

http://www.webjunction.org/688/articles/content/443418

“If asked which US library is pushing the envelope on introducing interactive computer gaming in public libraries, how many would look to the most rural, poor, and isolated corner of a county in South Carolina? And if informed that this corner of the library world has a 30% illiteracy rate, a 15% unemployment rate, a poverty level exceeding 30% with up to 90% of school kids eligible for free or reduced-rate lunches, and a meager 2% rate for library card registration, what odds would you give that it can even keep its doors open?…”

Get Your Game On

Both video game pros, and those players who favor the more traditional board game style, can get in on the fun with the American Library Association’s first annual National Gaming Day, set for November 15.

 

A national tournament for the digital set will allow gamers to watch how they’re faring among competitors around the country throughout the day. At the time, librarians are hoping they can set a record for getting the most people to play a board game simultaneously—enlisting patrons to play Hasbro’s Pictureka, a memory game that bills itself as a visual hide-and-seek. The toy manufacturer is donating a copy of the game to every public library in the United States, and branches that want to participate can register online to ensure they receive a copy in time for the big day. read more…