ImaginOn: The Joe and Joan Martin Center

Studio iTeen Loft

The Importance of Gaming

"Games of every type play an important role in developing fundamental competencies for life. They require players to learn and follow complex sets of rules, make strategic and tactical decisions, and, increasingly, collaborate with teammates and others: all things they will have to do in college and in the workforce."

Jim RettigALA President, 2008-2009Boatright Memorial LibraryUniveristy of RichmondRichmond, VA

The Importance of Gaming

• Allows the development of relationship among patrons and library staff (especially if staff join in on the fun)

• Can be a foundation of life-long library service.

• Very successful at getting young men to participate within library activities and programming.

• Has a lot to do with literacy

PLCMC System-Wide Gaming

LSTA grant (2006) that purchased video and board gaming equipment and circulates to branches.

Teen Summer Video Gaming Tournament

Other PLCMC Programming

Teen Tech WeekTeen Read Week

Twilight EventOnline gaming

Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) / Candlewick Press: Light the Way: Outreach to the Underserved

Funagain Games: Monthly Game Grants

Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS)

Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) (varies by state)

Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA): Teen Tech Week Mini Grants

Grants For Gaming Libraries

No Grants? No Problem.

Here are some practical ways to develop a gaming program with little

to no money.

Use what you got!

So you are here at this workshop. You must be interested in gaming. I bet that you might have some gaming equipment yourself. BRING IT IN! Better yet, let the patrons bring it in as well!

Monopoly? Cards? PlayStation 3?

Board Games for Your Library

• Blokus• Aye, Dark Overlord!• Power Grid• Settlers of Catan• Zombie Town

For more information, check out:Board Game Geek (boardgamegeek.com)

or Board Games with Scott (www.boardgameswithscott.com/)

Build Relationships Another great way to launch your gaming program is to build relationships with those who have the equipment and would be willing to share.

Game shops, for example are prime places to start. They have a vested interest in exposing people to their games.

Another way is to search the Internet for groups that play consistently. For example, I had several people come and run 3 games of Dungeons and Dragons for free, just because they wanted people to play with. Just check out www.meetup.com and search for whatever game you want to host. You’ll probably find it!

Why play someone else’s game when you can make your own!

Scratch interface

Partnerships to teach

Game Maker

Other FREE Game Making Software

• GameStar Mechanic www.gamestarmechanic.com/

• GameMaker www.yoyogames.com/make

• Multimedia Fusion (fee based)

http://tinyurl.com/yee83ua

Some other options…

• Ask patrons to donate old board games. Or even old video games!

• Use the Internet’s resources. There are many free games available such as

Runescape: www.runescape.com Free Realms www.freerealms.com

You would need to talk to your systems IT to make sure that your patrons can access these games.

Partnerships with School Libraries

-Festivals at the school

-Part of an after school club

-Invite teachers from any discipline

Integrate board gaming with the curriculum:

http://tinyurl.com/dxrtze

Contact Information

Kelly Czarnecki

Technology Education Librarian

ImaginOn

300 E 7th St Charlotte, NC 28202

704-416-4672 phone

kczarnecki@plcmc.org

Seth ErvinTeen SpecialistThe Loft at ImaginOn300 East 7th StreetCharlotte, NC 28202(704) 416-4663servin@plcmc.org