Fair Game

#37: Get Your Game On at the Library
I was skeptical at first. I failed to see the correlation between gaming and libraries. But after hearing the enthusiasm in young gamers quoted in the articles, I can see the benefits. Clearly it would bring in kids that have never been to a library before. It would allow contact with lower income kids whose parents cannot afford a home game system. I can even visual the logical attraction to books that gaming may instill. Gamers may try graphic novels, which could lead to chapter books. It does require a whole new mindset by librarians and physical restructuring inside the library. This is probably the biggest hurdle to get over. I would definitely agree that games are a natural progression for libraries. Things can't stay the way they've always been with kids, rather than adults, knowing more about technology. Just as games will progress and morph, libraries as a game-station will also evolve.

What a fantastic concept to use video games to train not only students, but also librarians! This may be just what librarians need to lighten them up and break their "dowdy" image. The Carnegie games were not difficult at all. The hardest part was figuring out how to play, since it didn't seem to be well-explained.