Gaming In Libraries March2009

Gaming & Libraries

Sonja P. Morgan, LibrarianComputers In Libraries 2009

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PAPER

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We cut them out, talked about them to others, played alone and in small groups and probably remember them fondly.

"Online gaming is a technology rather than a genre; a mechanism for connecting players together rather than a particular pattern of gameplay." An online game is a game played over some forms of computer network.

At the present, this almost always means the Internet or equivalent technology; but games have always used whatever technology was current.”

~Wikipediahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Online_gaming

TO

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OLL PA

LAC

E Create dolls, share stories, play…

The Doll Palace: where cartoon dolls live

•43,059,353 dolls made so far

•3,312,278 user accounts

•Membership is free but a premium account costs

TH

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OLL PA

LAC

E Our library created a presence in the Doll Palace in 2007. The original intent was to engage patrons and staff on an online social network and to reach a population of patrons that we did not feel we were serving.

What do kids do in the Doll Palace?

•Chat with friends•Trade dolls and cards•Write & share stories, poems, jokes, journal•Join clubs or groups•Add friends•Play dress up & games•Add their favorite songs•Discuss books•Seek homework help

The Doll Palace Library Page• Librarians play a role in encouraging users to write• Book reviews and suggestions shared with users• It is reader’s advisory & outreach• Connecting patrons globally and to each other• Learning what patrons want to read• Young adults volunteer for the library• Live chat reference

• Members add friends to chat, share files, upload pictures, create dolls, add “diary” entries (blog), can search databases, and email

Webkinz Have Online Tournaments & Games And…

Webkinz Foundation—Charitable Giving Trading Cards—Collections

Stores—Collaborate With Local StoresStuffed animals—Another Collection

Webkinz Night at the Library

Trading Cards

Nintendo Wii & Playstation Portable

Whyville…

Inside Whyville

Whyville

• Members create avatar• Established in 1999

• Play games• Buy objects

•Interact with each other—Social Network

“We have to meet our users where they are with the tools they can [use] and are comfortable using.” ~Anonymous

Pirates of the Caribbean

Considerations:• Software development causes

hardware to be obsolete very quickly

•Limited library resources—time limits restrict user experience

•Not all users in the community believe gaming is a worthwhile use of library.

•Costs

References

Webkinz World by Ganzhttp://www.webkinz.com/us_en/

The Doll Palacehttp://www.thedollpalace.com/

Sonja Plummer-Morgan, MLISMark & Emily Turner Memorial Library39 Second StreetPresque Isle, Maine 04769(207) 764-2571www.presqueisle.lib.me.ussonjaplummer@presqueisle.lib.me.us

Presentation available by email or on Slideshare

Whyvillehttp://www.whyville.net/smmk/nice