American Library Association Pushes For More Video Games In Libraries
from the someone-alert-Nebraska dept
Just last week, we wrote about how officials in Nebraska were coming down hard on a library for buying a PS2 and the game Rock Band as an educational tool and a way to bring more kids to the library. The officials there (and many in our comments) seemed to think that there was no redeeming value for the library to do so. Yet, as reader Tyler Hipwell points out, the American Library Association is now pushing new gaming in libraries initiatives, including an online toolkit for building up gaming resources at the library. Someone should alert officials in Nebraska.Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
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Filed Under: libraries, video games
Companies: american library association
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Getting your funding cut will make people change their tune pretty quickly.
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I didn't know this wasn't already some sort of common practice
Heck, last time I was there (voting) I could have sworn they even offered short term video game rentals!
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Surround the gaming area with books that appeal to younger readers of all sorts and books on music. That is all you have to do. Who knows, when they are waiting for their turn to play maybe they'll pick up a book or one will catch their eye and they'll take it home.
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What is a Libary's Mission?
But if you're going to say that libraries should provide entertainment then you should include other forms of entertainment as well. I mean, libraries aren't just for kids, are they? How about adult entertainment? I once knew of a strip club that was even named "The Library". The interior had ornate wooden bookshelves lining the walls with real books and the strippers came out dressed as conservatively dressed librarians before stripping off their clothes on stage and then going around to the tables to do lap dances.
So for you librarians who think that a library's mission is to provide recreation and entertainment, go ahead, but don't forget to install that stripper pole. Because if I'm paying taxes to support you and you're supposed to entertain me, then entertain me. And if you don't look good with your clothes off, then maybe it's time for you to get out of the business.
Or maybe libraries should just stick to their traditional mission of providing literature and information rather than "recreation and entertainment".
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Re: What is a Libary's Mission?
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Re: Re: What is a Libary's Mission?
Nah, just hire better looking librarians and have the librarians do the stripping.
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Re: What is a Libary's Mission?
I suppose that is ultimately up to the library's owner, but according to the American Library Association at http://www.librarygamingtoolkit.org/, it includes providing "cultural, recreational, and entertaining materials". So yeah, I guess if you include provision of recreation and entertainment as part of their mission and include "activities" as "materials", then video gaming would be covered.
But if you're going to say that libraries should provide entertainment then you should include other forms of entertainment as well. I mean, libraries aren't just for kids, are they? How about adult entertainment? I once knew of a strip club that was even named "The Library". The interior had ornate wooden bookshelves lining the walls with real books and the strippers came out dressed as conservatively dressed librarians before stripping off their clothes on stage and then going around to the tables to do lap dances.
So for you librarians who think that a library's mission is to provide recreation and entertainment, go ahead, but don't forget to install that stripper pole. Because if I'm paying taxes to support you and you're supposed to entertain me, then entertain me. And if you don't look good with your clothes off, then maybe it's time for you to get out of the business.
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Has anyone ever seen a librarian who was younger than 50 and looked older than 75? Now, about maintaining the status quo...
V
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Re: What is a Libary's Mission?
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bob
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Book purists, get off your high horse. Dead trees do not intrinsically have more value to society. And this comes from someone who plans to make a living off said trees (and, what's more, endeavours to make them Art).
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Re: Re: What is a Libary's Mission?
If you consult the dictionary at your local library, you will see that the correct spelling is "library" not "libary." On the upside as a librarian, I am impressed at your ability to spell both "stripper" and "massage" correctly. (Reprimand added to validate the traditional librarian stereotype for fun.)
Food for thought -
What if expanding gaming into libraries prompted vendors to improve gaming products shifting from strictly entertainment - of the pole dancing caliber - to entertaining educational games created to expand learning opportunities for a wide variety of library users in the public sector?
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Re: Re: Re: What is a Libary's Mission?
One might think that you would have taken a clue from the correct spelling in the rest of the comment that "libary" was a typographical error. But apparently, you are rather clueless.
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Re: Re: Re: What is a Libary's Mission?
Before you cast your lofty derisive insults down your snooty nose, you should have noticed that "libary" was used once. The rest of the time it was spelled correctly. Alas, you as the ALA kool-aid drinker, missed the point.
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However, some games truly don't have much educational value though, and unlike fiction books don't have the redeeming quality of at least getting people to read something
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I agree, however there is room for improvement and growth.
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video games in libraries
In all of my library classes my professors go on and on about video games being the down fall of the library. But video games and DVD's have brought patrons back to the library and made the library relevant to a new generation. Librarians need to look past their own bias and begin to see that in order for the library to thrive we must adapt to the next generations needs. This next generation learns through facebook, youtube, and video games.
Strongly consider retiring if you cannot understand this you are no longer relevant to the library cause.
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