Gaming
February Meeting
Place: Willimantic Library Service Center
Date: February 9th
Time: 10 am
Meeting Topic:
Summer Reading:
program ideas, prizes (or prize alternatives), great books, and good movies to show.
~ Jennifer
Chess Club
Yesterday I had a great surprise. I looked up from my desk and was surrounded by 5 teens who had gotten together and decided they wanted to have a meeting of our Chess Club. I was the last to know, but I set up and had the program anyway.
I started the chess club back in January after a few requests and we are still establishing a set schedule, although we are trying to meet twice a month. At the first meeting I invited the leader of the UCONN Chess Club, Tom, to facilitate and go over the rules. I am not a very good chess player, much to the delight of the members who enjoying beating me in as few moves as possible. Tom stayed for about an hour and brought with him a 16 year old chess master who played four of the members at the same time (making one move and then moving on to the next player and board). He beat them all in close to 5 minutes.
Since then, I just set out chess boards and let the group play. I have a few different members each time, but usually about 4. They enjoy challenging trying to replicate the Chess Masters game and just playing against each other—rotating their partner after each game. At our most recent meeting (despite not knowing what day it would be) I had printed out several Chess Puzzles and the group worked through them, solving all but one.
This is a fairly easy program, especially since I have an interested group. I am super impressed with their desire to learn about and get better at the game.
-Kristi from Booth & Dimock
Gaming at Booth & Dimock
Since we didn’t have much time to talk about Gaming last Friday, I though I would mention the Gaming Club here. I inherited the program this year and have had two meetings so far, both of which went really well. I had 7 teens each time (some of them different) and they were very excited. They asked me to have meetings more frequently and are happy to suggest new games. It seems that one new one every so often keeps them excited about coming. I also let them bring games in from home as long as they are E or T rated and I do watch those to see what happens in them.
What I really like about the program is the way different ages interact. I have a 6th grader who is teaching the 2 high school kids about a new game. I have also found that PC games are just as popular (if not more so) than the Wii and PS2.
Below is the list of resources that Lauri used to win the grant, most of them are from 2007 and older. If anyone wants any other information I would be happy to pass that on.
Braun, Linda W. “Reading–It’s Not Just About Books.” Young Adult Library Services. 5:4 (38-40), 2007.
Braun, Linda W. Teens, technology, and literacy, or, Why bad grammar isn’t always bad. Westport, CT: Greenwood Publishing, 2007.
“Case Studies: public libraries.” (Chapter 6). Library Technology Reports 42.5 (Sept-Oct 2006): p45(11). Student Edition. Gale.
“Conclusion: what librarians can learn from gamers.” (Chapter 8). Library Technology Reports 42.5 (Sept-Oct 2006): p60(3). Student Edition. Gale.
Czarnecki, Kelly. “A Revolution in Library Service: Gaming is more than just a lure into the library.” School Library Journal. (May 2007), p34(2).
Doshi, Ameet. “How gaming could improve information literacy.” Computers in Libraries. (May 2006). P15(3).
Gee, James Paul. What Video Games Have To Teach Us About Learning And Literacy. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2003.
Johnson, Steven. Everything Bad Is Good For You. New York: Riverhead Books, 2005.
Johnson, Steven. “This is your brain on video games.” Discover Magazine. (July 2007): http://discovermagazine.com/2007/brain/video-games.
Ward-Crixell, Kit. “Gaming Advocacy: New ways librarians can support learning and literacy.” School Library Journal. (Sept 2007): p.36(3).
Prensky, Marc. Don’t Bother Me Mom I’m Learning. St. Paul, MN: Paragon House, 2006.
“The Gaming Generation.” (Chapter 2). Library Technology Reports 42.5 (Sept-Oct 2006): p18(6). Student Edition. Gale.
Squire, Kurt and Constance Steinkuehler. “Meet the gamers: They research, teach, learn, and collaborate. So far, without libraries.” Library Journal. (April 2005).
“Video games can reshape education: U.S. scientists.” CBc News. Oct. 19, 2006. www. cbc.ca/technology/story/2006/10/19/videogames-education.html?ref=rss
“Why Gaming? (Chapter 1). Library Technology Reports 42.5 (Sept-Oct 2006): p10(8). Student Edition. Gale.
Books for Booth & Dimock’s Gaming Program
Here is a link to the books I bought to correlate to the gaming grant I received. I feel like I missed some of them, but this is at least most of them.
http://bdim-verso.auto-graphics.com/agent/zsearch.aspx?myses=104989&w=a&k=&cuid=bdim&cusrvr=acidalia
Minutes – Belatedly!
The Eastern Connecticut Young Adult Roundtable met on Friday September 12, 2008 from 1p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Willimantic Library Service Center. The meeting focused on some of the more recent trends in the computer world today such as iGoogle, Twitter, RSS Feeds and Blogging.
Linda Williams showed us some explanatory videos of Twitter and RSS Feed and allowed us to view step by step instructions on how to make a blog for our libraries.
This was a definite hands on meeting so being in attendance was most beneficial. However, for those unable to attend the meeting, Linda has listed great resources for people that are just getting started.
Some useful questions to ask yourself that were posed at the meeting are as follows: What is your goal in creating a blog? Why do you want to create a blog? What do you have to do to create a blog and complete it? What type of blog are you looking to create? Twitter is a resource set strictly for micro-blogging. WordPress and Blogger are resources for longer, more informational blogs. Are you willing to commit yourself to maintaining a blog?
One of the most important points to be taken from this meeting is that creating a blog is just for starters. Maintaining the blog is the key. Blogging for your library should be seen as a commitment and time appointed to your blog should be incorporated into your schedule. Once a week may seem too demanding but at least try for every two weeks. Remember, you are the one creating it. You need to take care of it as well!
Are you still unsure what to do and how to get started? Learn more about some of these features at these W:!
Blogs & Micro Blogs – October 3, 2008 from 1:00-3:30 with NELINET. $15
WordPress Websites – November 20, 2008 from 9:00-4:00 with Polly Farrington. $30
Google Reader is a great way to keep you posted on the latest news and posts happening on your favorite blogs.
Our next meeting will be on December 12th at 10:00 a.m. in Coventry. Lauri will talk about her LSTA Grant for teens gaming at the library. The focus will be on gaming.
Until Then…….Happy Fall Everyone …….Claudette,
Claudette , Children’s Librarian Assistant, Killingly Public Library
Great Site for Gaming Info
I’m looking for possible presenters for an all-day seminar (only in the thinking stages!) on library gaming programs. And I found this super site. Thought I should share it with you:
4 Librarians! : A Source 4 Teen Collection Development & Programming Info Focusing on Gaming, Graphic Novels and Anime!
Linda
YALSA Programs at ALA Annual
Take a look at these two posts on the YALSA blog. They were programs held at ALA in Anaheim last week.
YALSA Teen Gaming Interest Group Meeting and Program: This interest group has started a page on the wiki8 for listing “great games (tabletop and videogames) for teen programming.” There was a program (“slides and handouts are forthcoming“) and several presenters gave ideas you can use in your library.
Another YALSA program was on “Teen Third Space.” This “session covered physical space, seating selection, and the electronic third space”.
L.Williams
YA Gaming Resources
Okay, everyone. Here are my suggestions on research for gaming in the library. Sorry this took so long. Many of these resources also cover other areas of technology, but gaming was my focus so I only skimmed those subjects. Most of my resources were found online (many from iCONN). Before you read this I would like to issue a warning. If anyone receives a YA grant because of these recourses you must share the wealth. Just kidding, but seriously, if you get one and I don’t you’d better go into hiding. Again, just a joke. Maybe.
Braun, Linda W. “Reading–It’s Not Just About Books.” Young Adult Library Services. 5:4 (38-40), 2007.
“Case Studies: public libraries.” (Chapter 6). Library Technology Reports 42.5 (Sept-Oct 2006): p45(11). Student Edition. Gale.
“Conclusion: what librarians can learn from gamers.” (Chapter 8). Library Technology Reports 42.5 (Sept-Oct 2006): p60(3). Student Edition. Gale.
Czarnecki, Kelly. “A Revolution in Library Service: Gaming is more than just a lure into the library.” School Library Journal. (May 2007), p34(2).
Doshi, Ameet. “How gaming could improve information literacy.” Computers in Libraries. (May 2006). P15(3).
Gee, James Paul. What Video Games Have To Teach Us About Learning And Literacy. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2003.
Johnson, Steven. Everything Bad Is Good For You. New York: Riverhead Books, 2005.
Johnson, Steven. “This is your brain on video games.” Discover Magazine. (July 2007): .
Ward-Crixell, Kit. “Gaming Advocacy: New ways librarians can support learning and literacy.” School Library Journal. (Sept 2007): p.36(3).
Prensky, Marc. Don’t Bother Me Mom I’m Learning. St. Paul, MN: Paragon House, 2006.
“The Gaming Generation.” (Chapter 2). Library Technology Reports 42.5 (Sept-Oct 2006): p18(6). Student Edition. Gale.
Squire, Kurt and Constance Steinkuehler. “Meet the gamers: They research, teach, learn, and collaborate. So far, without libraries.” Library Journal. (April 2005).
“Video games can reshape education: U.S. scientists.” CBc News. Oct. 19, 2006.
“Why Gaming? (Chapter 1). Library Technology Reports 42.5 (Sept-Oct 2006): p10(8). Student Edition. Gale.
Gaming in the Library Resources
The Library Success Wiki has a good page on Gaming in the library. I added the book that I mentioned at the meeting (in connection with writing YA grants) to the Gaming Resources page. I also added some other titles that looked interesting. Take a look! LW
ECYA Blog 