1. THE POWER OF GAMING
A Brief Why, What, and How of Video Games in Libraries
Maggie Hommel
Park Ridge Public Library
mhommel@prpl.org
http://www.slideshare.net/magpie984

2. About Me
 Currently: Reader Services Manager
 Previously: Young Adult Librarian
 In Between: Grant funded program at U of I to study
learning and literacy applications of technology (aka
video games)

3. Definitions
 Digital Games
 Complex Games
 What Makes a Game
 Fun
 Chance (outcome is unpredictable)
 Goal
 Competition
 Rules / Structure
 Active

4. Why Gaming?
 72% of American households play video
games
 Average game player is 37
 In 2011, 29% of gamers older than 50
 55% of gamers play on their phone or
handheld device
Source: 2011 Sales, Demographic and Usage Data.
Entertainment Software Association

6. Why Gaming?

7. Why Gaming?

8. Super Better – Jane McGonigal

9. www.gamesforchange.org

10. Why Video Games?

11. Why Video Games?

12. Educational Benefits

13. But What About…
 Violence
 Addiction
 Inactivity
 Social Development

14. What’s new in Gaming – PS Vita

15. What’s new in Gaming – PS Vita
http://youtu.be/SKCZJIQBVLE

16. What’s New in Gaming – PS Vita

17. What’s New in Gaming - Movement

18. What’s New in Gaming – Wii U

19. Mobile Gaming

20. Mobile Gaming - Apps

21. Mobile Gaming - Facebook

22. Mobile Gaming

23. Minecraft

24. Other Trends Worth Mentioning
 3-D
 Augmented Reality
 Multi-functional devices and consoles
 User-created content

25. Video Game Collections
Coming Summer 2012 – ALA Editions

26. Starting a Collection
 Challenges:
 Convincing Stakeholders
 Establishing Policy
 Deciding on Consoles
 Selecting Titles
 Vendors
 Budget
 Security
Skokie Public Library’s Collection

27. Convincing Stakeholders
 Will book circulation go down?
 Will it bring in new users?
 Will it serve underserved populations
(males 18-34)?
 What about violence?
 Surveys, circ stats, reports

28. Establishing Policy
 Ratings
 Loan period/renewals
 Late fines
 Lost Instruction Booklets
 Limits
 Interlibrary loan

29. Establishing Policy: Ratings
http://esrb.com

30. Establishing Policies: Loaning Games
 Loan Period
 Limits on borrowing
 Use DVD or CD checkout policies
 Consider number of items, flow of materials
 Loan equipment with games?
Materials Restrictions Loan Renew Reserve Overdue Maximum
Period Charge
Video Registered patron 2 Yes (1 Yes $1.00 per $25.00 (but
Games of the Park Ridge weeks time only) day not to
Public Library; exceed
limit 5 per person retail cost)

31. Consoles

32. Consoles

33. Selecting Titles
 Online: www.gamespot.com, www.amazon.com,
www.metacritic.com,
www.commonsensemedia.org
 Magazines: Electronic Gaming Monthly, Game
Informer
 Ask your patrons – informally or formally!
 Some traditional review journals

34. Budget
 Figure around $49.99 – $59.99 for new games
 $19.99 -$39.99 for handhelds
 Replacement – Discs do get damaged; figure in
about 5%+ theft/non-return

35. Security
 Security cases – fit in DVD cases
 Keep discs behind the counter?
 Fines
 Limits on number of checkouts
 Check ID?

36. Video Game Programming: Tournaments

37. Video Game Programming: Open Play
 Works best with social games
 Ask what people want to play
 Good for After School Crowd
Waupaca, WI Public Library

38. Tips for Video Game Programming
 Listen to Your Users
 What are they playing
 What are they asking for?

39. Listen to Your Users
 Yu Gi Oh Tournaments
 dhudec@prpl.org
 Angry Birds Live
 Runescape Tournament
 Minecraft Tournament

40. Programming
 Minecraft Competition
 http://www.librarified.net/2011/06/16/a-minecraft-
building-competition-at-my-library/

41. Tips for Video Game Programming
 Use what is unique to the
Library
 Shared space
 Social Interaction
 Larger Scale
 Chance to meet and interact
with new friends
 Competition

42. Tips for Video Game Programming
 Video Game equipment and games are
expensive, so use what you have:
 Teens
 Gamer husbands
 Gamer friends
 Their equipment
 Their expertise

43. Provide Opportunities for All Ages

44. Gaming Programs for Adults
Library Pub Quiz
Wii
Intergenerational
Fantasy Sports

45. Passive Programming
 Make games and game design accessible
on your computers
 Provide WiFi
 Gamers Lounge

46. Game Design in Libraries

47. What does Game Design Teach?
PROBLEM-SOLVING AND PROJECT-DESIGN SKILLS
 logical reasoning
 debugging (problem solving)
 developing ideas from initial conception to
completed project
 sustained focus and perseverance

48. What does Game Design Teach?
MATHEMATICS
 Random Numbers
 Variables
 Cartesian Coordinate System
 Conditional statements
 Graphing / spatial relationships

49. What does Game Design Teach?
DESIGN PROCESS
 Idea generation
 Project creation
 Assessment and revision
 New idea
 Project creation
 Etc.

50. Video Game Design
Free Programs
 Scratch http://scratch.mit.edu
 Alice http://www.alice.org
 Robocode http://robocode.sourceforge.net/
 Greenfoot http://www.greenfoot.org
 Unity 3D http://unity3d.com/
 Gamemaker
http://www.yoyogames.com/make

51. Teaching Game Design
 http://scratched.media.mit.edu/

52. Teaching Game Design

53. Game Design Club
 Provide software, resources
 Students learn, play, program independently
 Help each other
http://www.gamemakeracademy.org/

54. Thank You!!
Maggie Hommel
Park Ridge Public Library
mhommel@prpl.org
http://www.slideshare.net/magpie984