October 19, 2010

Note to self:
Check out:
- gamelab.syr.edu
- library gaming toolkit
- Beth Gallaway’s: http://informationgoddess.info
- Gallaway’s Game on!

Met Beth Gallaway at NELA this week. She was a great resource for gaming in the library – she wrote a book called Game on!  She gave me several suggestions of websites to check out.

October 24, 2010

This past week I attended the New England Library Association (NELA) Conference in Boxborough, MA. The reason that I am blogging about it on my Research Diary is because I learned a few things about video games and libraries as well as Young Adult programs.

One of the programs that I went to was an open discussion entitled, “Bringing them in (YA).” There were a few different ideas that were brought up during this program that enriched my understanding of the relationship between young adults and gaming. The presenters brought up the seven developmental needs of young adults: competence & achievement, self-exploration & definition, positive interactions, physical activity, meaningful participation in school & community, structure & clear limits, diversity.

Gaming feeds into some of the developmental needs of teens, working together, learning to play, positive interaction, participating in community, etc. Gaming also fits in with the Standards for Public Library Service to YA in Massachusetts.

YA program ideas gained from “Bringing them in”:
-    Game Design programs (i.e. Scratch – a free program from MIT)
-    One librarian said they received a grant for gaming. They don’t have the same level of problems  
     that they do with DVDs. When purchasing games he goes to Game Stop and talks to the people    
     there. Usually buys PlayStation, Nintendo, Sony, Wii
-    Gaming works, but need to be clear on goals of the library – it doesn’t work for every library

I took the opportunity to also ask the group (the program was well attended) who there circulated video games. I think about three or four people raised their hands (not too many).

November 1, 2010

After going to the NELA Conference it made me look at some of the Standards that had been mentioned even more in depth. Some interesting points from the YA Standards formulated by the Massachusetts Library Association (MLA):

“Young adults become lifelong library users and supporters when they are enthusiastically engaged in planning and decision-making. They play a key role in attracting their peers to the library” (pp.3).

This idea alone will be helpful to remember when developing my research that
involving teens in the process can only help to bring in more teens to the library. Involving them in the process of gaming in the library may help to bring teens into the library. The Newton Teen Advisory Board may be a good resource when considering teen involvement.

“Since adolescents are not generally advocates on their own behalf, it is important that the library director, staff, and trustees understand their responsibility to give equal consideration to the needs of young adults in planning and implementing library and information services” (pp.3).

Another point of contention here – library staff need to make sure they are providing services to the YA community because they may not be demanding services in the way that other patrons are.