Marbles The Brain Store and Barnes & Noble; Are they selling a new form of literacy?

March 23, 2010

I have been closely following the paradigm shift going on in the book industry. The rise of ebooks is having a rapid effect on book retailing as major players like Barnes & Noble and Borders look to alternative product categories like toys in order to maintain their bricks and mortar customer counts and revenues. That point was reinforced this week by the appointment of William Lynch to be Barne’s Noble’s new CEO. Why, because Lynch was, prior to this, running the company’s dot-com division.

One way Barnes & Noble reacted to the ebook phenomenon was its move last year to introduce what turned out to be highly successful adult game and puzzle sections. Why are they successful? I think it’s because gaming is another form of literacy. After all, reading, at least for me, is the acquisition of knowledge as well as mental and emotional experiences. Great games, even mediocre games, can do the same.

That is why I was pleased to be alerted by Mary Couzin of Discover Games to an article on a new Chicago based chain called Marbles: The Brain Store. The article, entitled “Mind-expanding retailer is expanding,” talks about, among other things, the retailer’s criteria in choosing products:

Each product stocked must fit into one of the store’s brain development categories, such as memory, coordination and critical thinking. The store is meticulous with product selection, sending buyers to toy fairs around the world and never selling anything not approved by its panel of scientists, which includes Joni Gatz-Bauman, an educator with a background in gerontology.

There is a vast potential for the toy industry in evolving its image from strictly children and towards all generations of players. 13 to 15% of our business currently comes form adult end users. Think what it will be when retailers like the mature but innovative Barnes & Noble and the new and also innovative Marbles: The Brian Store get finished.

Are toys a form of literacy? The American Library Association thinks so. They actively promote video and board game playing. I think this is a trend to which we all need to pay much closer attention.

Posted by Richard Gottlieb on March 23, 2010 | Comments (4)

March 24, 2010

In response to: Marbles The Brain Store and Barnes & Noble; Are they selling a new form of literacy?
Dale Lipschultz commented:

I'm very glad that Richard's still promoting libraries, literacy, and gaming. His comments about B and N made me think about books and toys. In fact, the connection between an actual, physical book and a game or toy is something that I've been struggling with for the last few years. Bear with me while I meander a bit. In the early 1970's -- when research on emergent literacy was in its early stages and not so much was known about brain development and the benefits of early literacy and reading -- Catherine Snow and Anat Ninio conducted a study on early storybook reading and what kids learn from being read to. Of course there are the obvious things. kids learn the social and emotional pleasures of being read to, they learn about the development of story first by following the pictures, then by learning that the story comes from the words on the page, they learn about using a 'reading voice', they learn about print -- sequencing, directionality, and permanence - and finally, according to Snow and Ninio, they learn that a book is NOT a toy. I used to be a firm believer, but now the last finding has me scratching my head. In many cases, books are toys/games -- with elements of play including batteries, microchips, pop-ups, fold outs, you name it. My sense is that kids don't see, use, or treat books the way they used to -- but then print isn't what it used to be -- certainly not as permanent. I'm curious if anyone's repeated the study with 21st century kids. It might be interesting. I'm going to see Catherine Snow at Annual. I'll see what she thinks about all of this. Maybe I'm the only one stuck in the 70s. Thanks for making me think and write.

March 23, 2010

In response to: Marbles The Brain Store and Barnes & Noble; Are they selling a new form of literacy?
Mary Couzin commented:

Thank you, Richard, for the mention. I am a long-time advocate of board games and literacy/learning and am part of the American Library Association's Games, Literacy and Libraries Committee and worked with Hasbro, Top Trumps and others on their donations to the ALA's gaming initiatives. In addition, we welcome manufacturers to add their games to the Game Finder as well as press releases for free to Games for Educators, www.G4Ed.com, a site we co-sponsor with Live Oak Games. There is research posted to support the use of games in literacy/learning.

March 23, 2010

In response to: Marbles The Brain Store and Barnes & Noble; Are they selling a new form of literacy?
Bridget commented:

Loved this blog! I went to Barnes and Noble and didnt find any Toys ...I ran across the street to the Borders and their educational toy section was huge. My kids were thrilled to get books and Toys for educational fun. I dont see this as a trend, it is a way of life that businesses are now capitalizing on the way humans learn!

March 23, 2010

In response to: Marbles The Brain Store and Barnes & Noble; Are they selling a new form of literacy?
Kim Vandenbroucke commented:

Richard - I agree with the ALA! For years people have been "working out their brain" by reading, doing crosswords, playing chess, etc. I love that outlets like B&N and Marbles show the public that there are great other ways to "exercise" our brains - and learning new games is kind of an exercise in itself. :)