Librarian by Day » games

Hello Minnesota!

Bobbi Newman — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 00:54:48 +0000

I’m in Minnesota this week teaching Reference in the Digital Age at multiple locations and Get Your Game On: Using Video Games as Outreach at one location.

So far Minnesota is beautiful and everyone it super nice!

I’ll be resuming your regularly scheduled and opinionated blog posts next week. Similar Posts:

Akoha Starter packs – I have 19 decks to give away!

Bobbi Newman — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 15:27:28 +0000

Less than two weeks ago I blogged about an exciting new idea – Akoha. I was enthusiastic about the idea, in fact I love it. I love the idea of doing good and passing it forward, call me optimistic, call me naive, but I think this idea has merit. So I blogged about it, I was a little surprised when I was contacted, asking for my address so I’d have a pack of cards to hand out at my upcoming conference. But I was astonished yesterday morning when I arrived at work to discover not a just a set for me, but 20 sets, 19 to hand out!

Initially I stated – “If you’re wondering what this has to do with Libraries or the Social Web, my usual topics, the answer is nothing.” I was wrong. Oddly enough yesterday morning before I even got to work and discovered my cards, came across the Akoha Challenge and sent out a twitter message about it.

So I’m changing my statement – If you’re wondering what this has to do with libraries or the Social Web the answer is everything! Akoha is all about doing good, libraries are all about doing good. Hey most of us wouldn’t be working in one if we didn’t really believe in the good they do. A lot of libraries have now included gaming in their missions – Akoha is a game, even cooler it’s a big game and an online game. Oh wait, it get’s better, the Akoha Challenge -

After the Akoha community completes 25,000 missions, we will sponsor a Room to Read school in Nepal on behalf of our player community.

If you love the idea too and want to play along leave a comment, email me, talk to me at one of my upcoming conferences, I might just have your deck with me. ;)Similar Posts:

What’s Happening in IL Space

Bobbi Newman — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 14:26:44 +0000

This reception was at the Monterey Public Library on Sunday evening, there were a several speakers and a wine and cheese reception afterwards. I know, I know, how could I have forgotten to write about this yesterday? The Library was open with a lot of natural light and some great book displays, the staff was friendly and helpful to all of the strangers convening in their space.

There was a LOT of information presented in a very short time so forgive the briefness of my notes. It was a great teaser for the rest of the week.

Jeremy Kemp from San Jose State University School of Library & Information Science spoke about their virtual campus in Second Life and what the school and students are doing with Second Life. Very cool.

Lori Bell from Alliance Library System talked about what they are doing in Second Life – virtual exhibits, volunteers, networking and meetings, reference, etc.

Aaron Schmidt talked about games in Libraries. This was the third time I’d seen him talk about games in libraries and each version was as good as the last. (see earlier posts)

Amanda Etches-Johnson talked about OPACs and all the cool things Libraries are doing with them. I know she didn’t think it was fair she had to follow a presentation on Gaming but it was really exciting to see the different OPACs. I guess only a Librarian would say that! Similar Posts:

Games, Gaming and Libraries

Bobbi Newman — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 14:06:38 +0000

My Sunday morning pre-conference workshop was presented by Aaron Schmidt and Jenny Levine.

Jenny presented first, reminding us the wide scoop that “gaming” covers – board games, computer games, online computer games such as scrabble, cell phone games, pda game etc. The stereotype that gamers are 13 year old boys sitting in their basements alone, is wrong. Sure there are 13 year old boys sitting in their basements but the average online gamer is a woman over 40.

Aaron followed up with some great information about how to hold your own gaming programs. Dance, Dance Revolution and Guitar Hero are both really popular. You can do an open play or a tournament. Open Play is easier for the staff hosting it, but might lose the interest of the players faster. It’s a good way to introduce people to the games and good for people who haven’t played before. Tournaments are more time and work intensive for staff, but people really like these.

Carver’s Bay did a gaming t0 literacy program. They included games as a part of the new branch and patrons earned time to play the games based on how much reading they did.

Ann Arbor has a great gaming program

We looked at the screen for World of Warcraft and how much information on the screen that players need to process simuntaniously and fast!

Gamers – learn by doing, they are problem solvers, they expect rewards, and believe there is no one “right” way to find an answer or solve a problem, what are we doing to get and keep their attention?

I have this note and I’m not sure who said it Aaron or Jenny but I love it – People should be on committees based not their titles but on their skills

Some thoughts I had

Why isn’t my library renting video games? I think I’ll bring this up. We already have Teen gaming nights
We need to have more gaming nights – maybe a family gaming night?
If we had Friday night Guitar Hero tournament for 20 or 30 somethings would we attrack some people we’re missing now, those in that age range 18-35 without children, that libraries are notoriously missing?

At the end we got to play games both on the Wii and PS2, I sucked at both Guitar Hero and Dance, Dance Revolution. I’m considering getting Guitar Hero for my PS2 when I get home since it was so much fun. I think it will be hard to beat this session!Similar Posts: