[Baynet] Infopeople's "Gaming @ the Library" workshop

[Linda Rodenspiel]

Since some people who may be interested in attending might not receive this 
notice directly, we would appreciate it if you would print and post or 
route this announcement to staff and colleagues. Thanks!


Title:  Gaming @ the Library

Dates and locations:

Friday, January 26, San Francisco Public Library
Monday, January 29, San Jose - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library
Wednesday, January 31, Arcade Library (Sacramento)
Wednesday, March 7, San Diego County Library Headquarters
Thursday, March 8, Norwalk Library
Friday, March 9, Los Angeles Public Library

To register for this workshop:  Use the online registration form at
http://infopeople.org/workshop/307

Fee:  There is a $75.00 fee for this workshop.


We've all heard that video games are violent, expensive, inappropriate for 
their target age group, and addictive. But just like books, video games can 
also be literary, educational, socially relevant, identity forming, and 
challenging. And video games are a medium of choice for the millennial 
generation.

--Are you concerned that young people aren't reading anymore, because of 
screen addiction?
--Are your library's computers being taken over by Runescape?

In this course you will discover the benefits of harnessing this format to 
attract new library users and relate to your next-gen staff.

--Are you already embracing gaming, and ready to start a video game 
collection?
--Do you need some help convincing the "powers that be" that gaming is a 
worthwhile investment?

We'll also explore how to integrate video games effectively in a 
traditional library environment.


Workshop Description: This all-day workshop will help participants 
understand and articulate the benefits of video games in the library. The 
instructor will provide an overview of best practices in gaming programs, 
as well as practical ways libraries can support gamers through services, 
collections, and facilities. Through interactive exercises, students will 
also explore how the millennial generation thinks, acts, learns, and plays 
differently from other generations. We will examine gaming magazines as 
selection tools and discuss collection development policies, procedures, 
and issues specific to video games. Participants will receive a 
webliography of games to try, a gaming glossary, sample core collections, 
and proven program how-to's.

Finally, this session is not just hands-on; it's feet-on, too! The 
afternoon will conclude with testing a variety of games on several major 
gaming consoles such as Nintendo, Playstation and/or Xbox.

Preliminary Course Outline

Defining the Gamer
--Demographics: who plays may surprise you!
--Characteristics of the Gamer® generation
--Meeting developmental needs, building developmental assets

Serving the Gamer
--Six things libraries can do to serve this unique population
--How to use games in reader's advisory

Developing Game Collections
--Evaluating games
--Purchasing, storing, maintaining game collections

Getting Active with Games
--Model programs
--Hands-on, feet-on practice: try it yourself!

Instructor:  Beth Gallaway.  Beth, a Library Journal Mover & Shaker (2006), 
is the trainer/consultant for youth services at the Metrowest MA Regional 
Library System. She has been playing video games since she was five and is 
currently playing Katamari Damacy, Donkey Konga and Dance Dance Revolution 
(not all at the same time). Beth is the founder of the LibGaming listserv, 
co-chair of the YALSA Teen Gaming Interest Group and author of Get Your 
Game On: Video Games and Libraries. (Neal Schuman, 2007).

Who Should Attend: Anyone from the California library community with an 
interest in how the explosion of video games into pop culture affects their 
library will benefit from this workshop. This course is particularly 
relevant to those who serve ages 12-30, but all ages play games—even 
seniors! Supervisors and seasoned colleagues of younger employees will also 
find the insights into how the millennial generation works, acts, and 
thinks invaluable.

Prerequisites: Wear comfortable clothes and clean socks and get ready to 
get YOUR game on!

Other Logistics:

*On-site check-in is from 8:30-9:00 AM;  instruction is from 9:00 AM-4:30 PM.

*Maps, directions, and parking information are available on the Infopeople 
Web site at http://infopeople.org/WS/workshop/Directions.  Infopeople does 
not validate or pay for parking.

*Infopeople does not provide refreshments or lunch.  Since some training 
locations do not have in-house or convenient food service, Infopeople 
recommends that participants bring a sack lunch.

To view a complete list of Infopeople workshops and for general information 
about Infopeople training opportunities, go to the main Infopeople 
Workshops page at http://infopeople.org/WS/workshop

If you have questions about registration or scheduling of workshops, please 
contact Linda Rodenspiel, the Infopeople Project Assistant, at 
assist at infopeople.org or by phone at 650-578-9685.