The extent of my gaming is Tetris and Pacman when I stop by Dave & Buster’s, but whenever there is an initiative to get people to read or at least to go to the library, well I’m game (apologies in advance for the bad pun). On Saturday, Nov. 15, libraries across the United States will showcase gaming programs and services in support of National Gaming Day @ your library (NGD), according to the American Library Association. The event is designed to encourage library patrons to share their expertise with each other as well as to develop new gaming. leaning strategies.
“Gaming formats have become a valuable tool for libraries,” ALA President Jim Rettig said in an article published by Gamers Daily News. “Not only has this new format increased library usage from hard to reach users such as teens, we also have found that video games attract a variety of users and are a great vehicle to teach basic technology skills.”
Western New York Library technology specialist Brian Mayer wrote on his blog, Library Gamer, “Now, as librarians who grew up playing games are coming into the profession, they are bringing with them a respect and understanding of gaming. And the games themselves are drawing attention with a depth of storyline, once available mainly in RPG’s, which can now be found in nearly every genre of electronic gaming,” Mayer wrote in an August post titled Why Games Belong in Libraries. The story quality in video games has drawn in such Hollywood talent as Samuel L. Jackson, Patrick Stewart and Michael Ironside.
Please visit http://www.ilovelibraries.org/gaming/ for more information on National Gaming Day @ your library.
