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Week 11: Libraries: it's time put on your game face!
Since I've been a long time gamer (in spite of not having the time or money to play so much in recent years), I was quite eager to get into this topic, especially because all of my years of gaming seemed to create a pretty black-and-white notion that gaming and libraries don't mix (at least in a practical way). I'm happy to say that this week's readings really got me out of that mindset, though I am still cautious about mixing gaming and libraries.
As was illusrated in the readings for this week, there are a great many practical uses for gaming in education. Not only can various types of games be used to develop the mind at a young age, but more advanced learning can take place thanks to historical simulators (or, more fun stuff, alternate reality simulators!). In spite of the fact that I come from a history and gaming background, I hadn't really linked the two before. I certainly appreciated the historical accuracy of many of these titles, but I didn't see them as educational tools.
For this use, I can see games as being helpful collections for libraries. This is especially beneficial to lower-income people who may want to enjoy these hobbies but cannot afford to pay the expenses associated with the hobby. To be sure, I will never argue against anything that gets "bums in seats" at libraries.
On the other hand, as with social networking sites, I think libraries must be aware of the actual usefulness of implementing gaming into their collections and programs. Unless users are actually interested in and want gaming to be represented in their library, there is little point in developing a large collection or focusing efforts on gaming. It is important to remember that gaming collections, unlike social networking, is an expensive affair, especially for online gaming. More powerful computers (or dedicated gaming consoles) and a high-bandwidth connection is a must be most modern games.
I also see it as a potential pitfall if libraries use gaming as an attempt to appear "cool" to their users or to use virtual worlds where the practical need doesn't exist. For example, is there really any greater benefit to using a virtual world for reference services than in using MSN or Facebook? Personally, I feel as though the cost/benefit analysis for virtual world-based reference seems a little thin, though it's likely a more practical service to offer in a very technologically-forward library setting (for example, in a library at a school which has a large focus on technology and perhaps even gaming). Although it would be ideal to have every possible service available to clients, there does come a point where the librarian must say "the cost of this service does not equate to the benefits we gain from it", especially in the case of nonessential or redundant services.
In spite of these challenges, I do think gaming and libraries are something that can--and should--go together if user interest exists. Games are not only an excellent socialization tool today, but they develop mental/motor skills (and even light physical skills as the Nintendo Wii demonstrates) and can educate players about various topics. Perhaps most importantly, games have the capacity to teach people information literacy. What better way to teach clients about "boring old information literacy" than to make them think they're having fun in the process.
I definitely see gaming and libraries converging more and more in the coming years (especially for libraries where gaming-related content is relevant: academic, public and school libraries notably), and, as an aside, it would be an absolute joy and dream for me to work in a library where games are serious business!
We can all dream, right?
PS: I created a Second Life character, though I'm not sure how much I'll play (I generally have a short attention span these days!): Slade Osterham (look me up!).
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Hi Brent,
I agree (as a gamer myself) that the idea of libraries expanding collections to include games sounds like a great idea - the ability alone to provide materials to those who cannot access them due to extenuating circumstances (in most cases $$$) - is so right up the library's alley. But the pragmatist in me also sees the fact that libraries have to be $$$ conscious as well....and with a resource as fragile as games and systems that cost so much to replace, it probably won't happen soon or in any widespread fashion.
I guess it's a good thing there are so many free tools available for libraries to use in the meantime.
Thanks for the post!
As someone who works in a Children's library, yes, the temptation to throw down the gauntlet and dive right into the gaming pool is hard to ignore, but I think it is better to ease our way into this area. We have tried some gaming programs for the teens, and some have been well attended, while others have not been. The key, like when introducing other new services in a public library setting, is to have someone on staff who is passionate about gaming and is willing to see the implementation through to fruition, even if early returns are not promising. We are lucky to have an avid gamer on staff who the teens seem to relate to well, and hopefully, this gaming aspect will help to put the provernially butts in the seats at our library. Gaming seems to be here to stay, so this is definitely an area that libraries should not choose to ignore.
I like your point, Brent, about the usefulness of games for lower-income users. But, as you also remind us, games are expensive. I've purchased more than my share of them for our boys, and I can attest to that!
Rebecca points out something else that I had not thought about. Many games are fragile. The discs can get scratched. Librarians should take these practical considerations into account when thinking of purchasing them.
Thanks Brent, for your careful evaluation of using games in libraries. You brought up many things I hadn't thought of, and some I had. I also never would have thought of using computer or other games in libraries, though I guess if it will get "bums in seats" as you say, it might be worth a try. Another concern with these kinds of games might be licensing - I know computer games come with installation keys - I wonder if there are special site licenses that could be negotiated for a library to circulate and use these games?
I would love to see more games used in educational ways - I used to love the math games we played at school - and would love to see librarians getting more involved to improve information literacy sessions.
Hi Brent,
Great point about ensuring that users actually want gaming represented in their library - as with so many of the other tools we've discussed, gaming has to be relevant and valuable to the particular library and their community. Otherwise, as you point out, it might not be worth the cost of exploring and implementing games/virtual worlds.
hi Brent, I wanted to let you know that I agree with your evaluation of the possibilities of gaming in libraries. I wanted to add a bit of editorial comment about this sentence in the 3rd last paragraph. You wrote: "What better way to teach clients about "boring old information literacy" than to make them think they're having fun in the process".
I would suggest that they ARE actually having fun with the process.
After trying some of the games in the case studies I know that I actually got into the game and my competitive spirit came out. That's what games are for, right? Fun!
Thanks everyone for your kind comments!
I would definitely agree that the fragility of discs and the nature of licenses when installing games are other important concerns for libraries who want to be involved with gaming.
In response to your point, Katrina, I totally agree. I guess I should have been a little more clear there: what I meant to imply was basically that users might be having fun instead of thinking that they were working or learning. Apologies for the lack of clarity there! :D
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