Since so many teen librarians are making the case for social networking still, I thought this OCLC session on Library Mashups would be of interest. I noticed they were taping; the session will probably be online soon at http://www.oclc.org/.
“Mashups on web are on the verge of replacing the PC as the dominant computing platform”
~Andrew K. Pace, OCLC

Andrew K. Pace defined mashup as something remixed to improve functionality and innovation as response to change under circumstance “hacking!”‘  He stressed that change is inevitable, and quoted Darwin reminding us that the successful species are the most adaptable ones. Pace referenced the 10 Dangerous Ideas presentation from PLA presentation , and invited attendees to jot down on notecards provided, their greatest resource and greatest challenge as we continued our discussion of innovation. Read More →

Someone left a blue leather diary at the Beyond Game Tournaments session at 8AM in the Marriott this morning – get in touch with me if it’s yours! informationgoddess29 AT gmail DOT com

I came out to CA two days early, to teach a full day gaming workshop for the Black Gold Library System at the Santa Barbara Public Library. I’ve just landed in Anaheim, but can’t check into my hotel yet, so I’m taking advantage of the free WiFi and A/C at the Euclid branch of the Anaheim Public Library.

Here’s some of the stuff I’m looking forward to this year. I’m really excited that there are a number of gaming events – almost enough for a whole track! There are a couple vendor-sponsored events that I’m throwing in for informational purposes only, and shouldn’t be taken as an endorsement of product.
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Library Journal has posted a webcast of their June 10 panel discussion on Best Practices in Teen Library services. This was very informative!’  Michele Gorman discussed Developmental Assets and Teen Spaces, Jen Maneyand Christine Pearson showed model webpages that are library extensions (think online outreach!),’  many of which incorporate web 2.0 tools, and Scott Nicholson spoke about creating gaming experiences, and shared data from two research studies on gaming in libraries. Together, the panel provided an excellent overview to teen trends and how to relates to space, services & programs that is of use to new librarians, experienced librarians, and most especially, libraries seeking grant funding. Much of the information provided makes a strong case for serving underserved users in ways that appeal to them, best.

Check out the archived presentation. You do need to register, but it’s free! And, this may be a recurring event – watch http://www.libraryjournal.com

Games, Learning, & Libraries Symposium
Registration is still open for the Gaming, Learning & Libraries Symposium (GLLS08) in Oak Brook, IL from November 2-4, 2008. This Monday, June 15th, marks the deadline for proposals for GLLS08. Topics of particular interest include game design, the gaming industry, accessibility, and assessment and evaluation of gaming programs. The Call for Presenters on the ALA TechSource wiki has details, or you can complete a form on Zoho Creator. Presenters will be notified by August 1, 2008. Details are online at: http://gaming.techsource.ala.org/index.php.

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Teen Read Week is just 6 months away! Don’t wait until the last minute – start nibbling away at the planning process now.

I had the pleasure of presenting at the Vermont Library Association Conference about Teen Read Week and program planning (slides from the session are posted on Slideshare). After the overview, participants broke into small groups to plan a program for Teen Read Week that utilized the Books with Bite theme. The result? TEN programs! These bare bones programs, posted under TRW 08 on the YALSA wiki, still need a bit of fleshing out – I just asked the librarians to consider description, justification (what assets are being built), marketing and evaluation. Please feel free to set up a FREE account, log in, and add content!
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Forwarded from Jenny Levine:

Want to present at the second annual ALA TechSource Gaming, Learning, and Libraries Symposium taking place on November 2-4 in the Chicago area? Find out more about submitting a proposal at http://gaming.techsource.ala.org/index.php/Call_for_Presenters. The deadline is June 15, 2008.

Help us make GLLS2008 even better than last year’s event! Questions? Email Jenny Levine at jlevine@ala.org.

Read More →

Last minute ways to celebrate:

  • Host an improptu drop-in board game event – dig out checkers, chess, monopoly – set it up and leave it out for kids to play.
  • Pull together a short webliography of cheat code sites. Leave copies by your Internet computers, and post the links to your website.
  • Create a book display themed around video games – either titles based on or connected to games (Read the Book? Play the Game!) or focused on a specific title or series (If you like [game] you may enjoy these books).
  • Play Ticket to Ride‘  – your local toy or game store may have a copy!
  • Send photos of gaming events to the gaming@your library Flickr pool.
  • Listen to Episode 1 of the Games in Libraries podcast. An ALA member Initiative Group (MIG)’  for Games & Gaming in Libraries was approved at Midwinter and one of the organizers and charter members, Scott Nicholson, (Associate Professor at the Syracuse University School of Information Studies and program director for their LIS program), launched a podcast this week about Games in Libraries. It’s a monthly podcast where experts in different aspects of gaming and libraries present segments about different programs, gaming products, and other news from the gaming industry relevant to libraries.’  Voices include school and public libraries. New contributors are welcome. Listen to the latest episode or subscribe at http://gamesinlibraries.org. Episode discussion is taking place at http://gaming.ala.org/news

We are one week into ALA’s online voting, and polls close April 24, 2008. On the ballots are changes to bylaws, as well as names for selecting our next slate of councilors, board members, and folks to serve on a variety of committees. YALSA members get a special YALSA ballot – you can see our slate of candidates for YALSA offices

Last week, my ALA membership # and a unique password were emailed to me with simple instructions. I went to https://www.alavote.org/2008/ and logged in easily.

On each ballot, candidate names had a button next to them, labeled “bio,” Clicking the button made a new window open, showing individual credentials: resume, publications, committee work, accomplishments, and often, a personal statement. Even the bylaw changes had bios that included the original language, the proposed change, and the board’s current stance on the issue. So, even if you feel you haven’t done your homework, you can become an informed voter on the spot.

I am a member of several roundtables and divisions, so I had 5 ballots to complete. It took me about 30 minutes to complete all of my ballots, and I did my voting in two chunks, because it was easy to save as I went along.

I got an email confirmation for each ballot, after submitting my votes (the email said 2007 election, incidentally!)

As I was reading candidate bios, I paid special attention to candidates who are children’s and young adult librarians and library teachers. The following list is not an endorsement and provided for informational purposes; I leave it up to all of you to consider the implications of having the interests of youth serving librarians–members of AASL, ALSC and YALSA–brought to the Big ALA table–or not.

J. Linda Williams (ALA President)
Stephen L. Matthews (councilor-at-large)
Thomas W. Brogan (councilor-at-large)
Christine McIntosh (councilor-at-large)

Toni Negro (councilor-at-large)
Dolores (Dee) Gwaltney (councilor-at-large)
Lisa Von Drasek (councilor-at-large)
Christopher G. Harris (councilor-at-large)
Linda J. Underwood (councilor-at-large)
Bonnie L. Kunzel (councilor-at-large)
Linda Friel (councilor-at-large)
Ida Williams Thompson (councilor-at-large)
Barbara K. Stripling (councilor-at-large)

Jo Ellen Misakian (councilor-at-large)
Alison Ernst (councilor-at-large)
Margaret L. Kirkpatrick (councilor-at-large)

I was sad to see fewer candidates this year for councilor-at-large. Nominating committees are putting their heads together for the next slate of candidates nearly as soon as the elections are over – maybe YOUR name will be here next year!

I visited two libraries last week, to celebrate Teen Tech Week with Video Game Free Play, and the resulting evaluations from the two sessions were vastly different. What made the evaluations from the two programs such polar opposites? The room size was about the same in both facilities. There were more boys than girls in both programs. The age of the participants was similar. The games were the same. Both groups were given the identical behavior guidelines, and encouraged to be honest in giving feedback but to please cite specific ways to improve the program. The lighting was very different. Does one more console make that much of a difference? A comparison, with selected teen comments, follows.

It should be noted that Library B has an active TAB, and the librarian from a nearby charter school helped to chaperone the event. I’m not sure what impact the teens themselves had in planning the programs; is it possible that the teens guiding the program made for a more successful session?

The feedback for session A, though mostly negative, can be viewed as constructive in nature. Even the most well-intentioned librarians must bear in mind that meaningful youth participation means not just asking teens for their opinion (what console, what games?) but following through with their recommendations, and then engaging them in everything from publicity to evaluations.

Speaking of teen input, don’t forget that YALSA wants to know how the teens at YOUR library use technology! The survey continues through March 31

Library A: ~35 teens, mostly middle school
Setup:
system #1: Rock Band for PS2 with LCD projector with built-in speakers and pull down screen
system #2: Nintendo Wii Sports (1 hr 15 min) / N-64 Mario Kart (1 hr 15 min) on 20″ flat screen tube TV

system #3: DDR (45 min) / Guitar Hero III (1 hr 45 min) for PS2, with LCD projector with external speakers and stand alone screen
Card games provided (Uno, Set Game, Quiddler, Nanofictionary, Man Bites Dog) none played
Snacks not provided
Door prizes not provided
bright lights in first 1/3 of room (where board games & parents were) dim lighting in second 1/3 of room (where 2 video games were), dark in last 1/3 of room (where teens hung out and played with their cell phones)
3 chaperones, ~5 parents in vicinity
no teens or parents stayed to help clean up

Comments:
Gaming at the library was…

* ok u could have less people come, or narrow the age limit
* sick nasty
* so boring
* crowded

* outragiously retarded ps: now i know not to come next time,unless they had more tv’s and FOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! lot and lots of food.
* a library is only good for books, nnnnnnnnnnnoooooooooooooo
tttttttttttttttttttttttttttt
vvvvvvvvviiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
ddddddddddddeeeeeeeeeeeeooooooo GGGGGGGGAAAAAAAMMMMMEEEEEEEEEEEEE
EEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
SSSSSSSSS.
* it was freaking cool, not
* it was cool

* i liked it
* totally awsome
* not enough room , need a 360
* separate rooms for older kids; a tournament challenge, food, great idea though
* tournament challange, more systems, better sound when playing games, niew systems to play
* dark, too dark,not enough tv’s crappy systems

* Very boring!! Need more systems!
* was kinda boring, but I had fun
* kinda cool but a little crowdwd
* it was fun but i think it needed more systems
* it was kinda boring and good, needs xbox 360
* WAS AWSOME NEXT TIME NEEDS HALO 3 AND A XBOX 360 AND MABY SOME MORE GAMES

* it was ok there was to many people more games would help
* it was not that fun but ok
* It wasvawesme, but the Wii should go on one of the two pull down screens.
* AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
* to many people at first, but then got better at the end. Definatly do this again
* so much fun this was AWSOME!!! they should do this every weekend i would defenetly come!!!!!

Library B : ~36 teens, mostly middle school
Set up:
system #1: DDR (1 hr 15 min) / American Idol Karaoke (45 min) on a 42″ flat screen tube TV
system #2: Guitar Hero III (2 hrs) for Wii, with LCD projector with built-in speakers, projected on a shade
system #3: Nintendo Wii Sports (2 hours) with no sound, projected on a stand alone screen
system #4: Rock Band for PS2 (2 hours) with LCD projector with external speakers and projected on a shade
Card games provided (Uno, Set Game, Quiddler, Nanofictionary, Man Bites Dog) teens played Man Bites Dog and Uno
Snacks provided

Door prizes provided
dim lighting near game screens, lighting near card games & refreshments
5 chaperones, ~10 parents in vicinity (read in another part of library, occasionally watched game play)
several teens and parents stayed to help clean up

Comments: Gaming at the Library …

* -Was fun, I got to be with my friends and have a good time playing good ole “Uno”.

* -Was sick (In a good way!)
* -I had a lot of fun playing games with my friends!
* -the games were sweet!
* -We enjoyed learning how to play new and exciting games.
* -I improved my gaming skills! Now I can beat all my friends.
* -GOOD TIMES A’ROLLIN’!!!!

* -THE GAMES ARE SO COOL IF I HAD A LOT OF MONEY I WOULD BY THEM ALL.
* FUN AND AWSOME
* It was so much fun!!!
* FUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
* IT WAS TEH 1337
* I LOVED IT, PLEASE DO IT AGAIN!

* The games were off the wall. <3
* It was fun hanging with friends.
* Really Cool!
* It was very fun!
* It was so awesome, my head might just explode :3
* I’d have come earlier if I knew it was going to be this fun! Do it again!

* …it was a good night…the games were good too…
* I LOVE GAME NIGHT! <3>
* I had a lot of fun.
* I thought that it was very fun and we should do It more often