Libraries and Games: A report from the front lines

August 6, 2009

Mary Couzin, who runs Discover Games, recently exhibited in the Games Pavilion at the American Library Association’s Annual conference in Chicago. Mary sent us this report:

Richard, since you are an advocate for both games and libraries, I thought you might be interested in my report on the American Library Association’s Annual Conference.

The Chicago Toy and Game Group with our DiscoverGames.com exhibited in the growing Games Pavilion of this year’s ALA Conference in Chicago earlier this month. It was a great experience.

I thought that the librarians were excited about the Games Pavilion at last year’s Conference in Anaheim, but they were even more so this year. I heard over and over how hot games are becoming in the libraries – Games for circulation, Game groups, Game Nights and more.

Professor of Library Science Scott Nicholson wrote, “From our random sample study that we did in 2007, about 20% of public libraries circulate games, 40% have formal gaming programs, and 75% support games in the library in some way.” There is more detailed information at http://gamelab.syr.edu/publications

And that was back in 2007. It has grown since!

As you know I am very involved with the ALA on several levels. For one project, I put them and Hasbro together for the ALA’s National Game Day in the Library last year. Hasbro donated and shipped a Pictureka game to each of the 16,541 public libraries in the USA. Not an easy task since some of the labels had to be hand addressed to, for example, “The library around the corner from the grocery and behind the gas station”. Many librarians told me stories at the Conferences about patrons playing together that day and since.

More and more, libraries are becoming community activity centers and they are embracing traditional games as a part of that. It is very exciting to be a part of it!

Posted by Richard Gottlieb on August 6, 2009 | Comments (6)

November 25, 2011

In response to: Libraries and Games: A report from the front lines
Makalah commented:

This wbetise makes things hella easy.

August 7, 2009

In response to: Libraries and Games: A report from the front lines
Scott Nicholson commented:

If you want to learn more about gaming in libraries, I have a free 30-video course on YouTube. This was a one-credit course that I taught through the School of Information Studies of Syracuse University in June 2009, and have made all of the lectures available for free. There is a discussion about the content hosted by ALA. This will help you understand the perspectives of librarians toward gaming. If you already know games, I would suggest you start with Session #8 - the content before that is Gaming 101. You can check out the class at gamesinlibraries.org/course

August 7, 2009

In response to: Libraries and Games: A report from the front lines
Rob Bartel commented:

That's some very exciting work, Mary, and it's great to hear that it's paying off and getting more people playing games. Kudos, as well, to Hasbro for their very generous support - no doubt some of the best marketing dollars they've spent in a good long time. I'm curious as to what could be done for the smaller publishers for whom 16,541 copies would well exceed their entire print run. Perhaps an organized game drive where publishers (and perhaps the gaming public) could donate games in whatever amount they can. With a proper inter-library loan system, for instance, even a single copy of a game in every state could go a long way.

August 6, 2009

In response to: Libraries and Games: A report from the front lines
Mary Couzin commented:

Colleen, that's terrific, but I think you and Joyce should do an Inventor Signing at the Santa Barbara Public Library. Some of the librarians I spoke to at ALA Conference said they could love to have such events. Same with the retailers I spoke to at ASTRA. It generates buzz and traffic. If any retailer or librarian reads this, we'll find an inventor in your area willing to come in for a signing.

August 6, 2009

In response to: Libraries and Games: A report from the front lines
Colleen McCarthy-Evans - Toying with Gam commented:

Very cool, Mary and Richard! I am talking with both the UCSB Library and the Santa Barbara Public Library about 'enhancing their relationship with games." Dropping off a bunch of games tomorrow downtown at the Public Library - they like to have games on hand when kids are waiting to use the popular computers!

August 6, 2009

In response to: Libraries and Games: A report from the front lines
Mary Couzin commented:

Richard, I neglected to mention that Top Trumps was part of the Hasbro shipment. The libraries received 2 games for National Game Day last year! National Game Day was a huge success and they are working on it now for this year - November 14th, the week before the ChiTAG/TAGIE events.