Library Game Lab of Syracuse

Tulipmania 1637 - Scott’s own board game

For the last few years, Scott has been working on a board game, and has gotten it published. It just came out in the UK, and will be working its way over here in the next few months. It’s not a light game; rather, it’s a game about being a manipulator in a bubble market situation, set in the Netherlands in 1637 during the Tulipmania bubble market.

If you’d like to learn about the game, you can see an episode of Board Games with Scott about it over at :
http://www.boardgameswithscott.com/?p=276

Play Along with Us - the Game of the Month Club

As an activity of the Games and Gaming Members Initiative Group, we are starting the Game of the Month club.

The idea is that each month, we will pick a game and have everyone play it, and then we’ll talk about it. We’ll talk about the game and how the game could be used in libraries. This is a chance for you to explore a wide variety of game types and have a place to discuss them after playing.

Want to join in? Come over to
http://connect.ala.org/forum/11567

Live Gaming in Libraries class session

Tuesday, 6/23, from 3-4pm EST, Scott is going to do a live Q&A session from his Gaming in Libraries course.

You can join in at
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/gaming-in-libraries

Gaming in Libraries Course has begun

Just a reminder - The free Gaming in Libraries course has begun. Join the hundreds of people watching the videos at
http://www.gamesinlibraries.org/course/

Free course in Gaming in Libraries

Free Gaming in Libraries Course via YouTube

Scott Nicholson, associate professor at Syracuse University’s School of Information Studies, will be teaching a video-based course on the basics of gaming in libraries. Every day during the month of June, participants will be able to view a new video exploring some concept of games or how libraries can integrate games into their programs. The class will cover games appropriate for all age groups in many types of library settings.

Throughout the month of June, Scott Nicholson will teach IST 600 Gaming in Libraries in three online spaces, two of which are freely available to anyone:

· The Syracuse University YouTube channel, where video lectures and guest speakers will be posted, and where students enrolled in the class will be required to post weekly video responses. (http://www.youtube.com/syracuse)

· American Library Association (ALA) Connect , a social networking site for the ALA that will host the discussion of students, speakers, librarians, and other participants from the general public. (http://connect.ala.org/forum/10310)

· The iSchool’s online learning management system, a private space for enrolled students to ask questions and submit their assignments.

Students and other participants in the class can expect to gain a solid understanding of the spectrum of types of games, know how libraries typically use games, and be able to select games for their own libraries based upon the goals of the program and the mission of the library. They will learn how to start a gaming program, how to facilitate the activity, how to assess the program, and how to tie the assessment back to the library’s mission.

Nicholson’s biggest goal for the course, however, is to bring together students, librarians, gamers, and representatives of the gaming industry for a month-long discussion about the roles that games can play in libraries. The course is being offered by the Syracuse iSchool to its students and students enrolled at partner schools through the Web-based Information Science Education (WISE) Consortium. The course is being funded by the Kauffman Enitiative Project at Syracuse University.

The primary Web site for the course is at http://gamesinlibraries.org/course .

Recent articles

Over the last few months, I’ve had a few articles come out in various publications. You can see preprints of these pieces online:

Nicholson, S. (2009). Why gaming? Digitale Bibliotheek 1(1), 17. Online preview available on Page 10 of http://www.digbib.nl/index.php?file=2_292583_DB0901-preview.pdf

Nicholson, S. (2009). Library gaming census report. American Libraries 40(1/2), 44. Preprint available at http://librarygamelab.org/CensusReport2007ALA.pdf

Nicholson, S. (2009). Go back to start: Gathering baseline data about gaming in libraries. Library Review 58(3), 203-214. Preprint available at http://librarygamelab.org/backtostart.pdf

All of the articles put out about from the work of the Game Lab can be found at
http://gamelab.syr.edu/publications/

Ten Libraries Receive Gaming and Literacy Grants

The LGL is going to be doing the assessment of these 10 projects.

——————–

NEWS
For Immediate Release,
April 28, 2009
Contact: Dale Lipschultz
Literacy Officer
ALA Office for Literacy and Outreach Services
(312) 280-3275
Ten Libraries Receive Gaming and Literacy Grants

CHICAGO – Ten libraries in 10 states from New York to Alaska will receive $5,000 grants as part of the American Library Association’s (ALA) Libraries, Literacy and Gaming initiative, funded by the Verizon Foundation.
The winners, representing a broad spectrum of libraries – seven public, two school and one academic – will use the funds to develop and implement gaming and literacy programs that provide innovative gaming experiences for youths 10-18 years of age. The 10 libraries were selected out of 390 that applied for the grant.
The following libraries were chosen:
• Anderson Public Library, Anderson, IN
• Brewster Ladies Library, Brewster, MA
• Cascade Middle School, Cascade, WA
• Henshaw Middle School Library, Anchorage School District, Anchorage, AK
• Indian Trails Public Library, Wheeling, IL
• Manhattanville College Library, Purchase, NY
• San Pablo Library, San Pablo, CA
• Sewickley Public Library, Sewickley, PA
• Wayne Country Public Library, Goldsboro, NC
• Weber Country Library System, Ogden, UT
“These library gaming programs will help tweens and teens build 21st-Century literacy and learning skills,” said Dale Lipschultz, literacy officer with the ALA’s Office for Literacy and Outreach Services.
The Libraries, Literacy and Gaming initiative is generously funded by the Verizon Foundation and managed by ALA’s Office for Literacy and Outreach Services. Dr. Scott Nicholson, an associate professor in the School of Information Studies, Syracuse University, is the evaluation specialist.

# # #

A little more about each of the projects…

Anderson Public Library, Anderson, IN
“Techie Tuesdays” emphasizes technology and information literacy through gaming. Held over a period of six months, the program is divided into three, six-week courses engaging students by making a video game, a board game, and a book trailer.

Brewster Ladies Library, Brewster, MA
Geocaching: YOU are the Search Engine:The library will use GPS technology to create an adventure game that requires reading, research, critical thinking, problem solving, teamwork, and aligns closely with technology standards established by the International Society for Technology in Education.Geocaching, “Hi-Tech Hide and Seek,” provides the perfect blend of simplicity and complexity needed to design a successful gaming and literacy project. The library will create themed gaming events by devising a search promoting an understanding and appreciation for Brewster’s historic places and regional history and utilizing a book featured on the summer reading list (such as The Graveyard Book) as source material for a hunt could require students to do genealogical research at the library and visit a local cemetery to locate a cache.

Cascade Middle School, Cascade, WA
CMS Gaming Zone: The library’s Gaming Zone initiative will develop two afterschool programs a week, encompassing board and video game creation workshops, tournaments, developing a gaming council, hint book/cheat sheet development and more.

Henshaw Middle School Library, Anchorage School District, Anchorage, AK
Game on in Alaska!: With purchase of additional equipment, the library will make Dance Dance Revolution available to all middle schools in the district, host a lunchtime gaming group using PC games such as Spore & Civilization, offer gaming as an incentive to specific classes, host family game nights, and extend gaming year during a summer Internet Camp.

Indian Trails Public Library, Wheeling, IL
Operation Game Creation: Participants will learn about four categories of gaming from gaming experts: computer animation games, card games, board games, and role-playing games, then work in teams to create games. Then, they will participate in a Game Fair using the Science Fair model, and compete in the Chicago Toy and Game Fair Young Inventor Challenge.

Manhattanville College Library, Purchase, NY
At Manhattanville College, a small liberal arts college dedicated to educating its students to become ethically and socially responsible leaders for the global community, students will design games for middle school students on how to use the library to find a book, use a general database, ask for reference help, navigate the library website, and develop a time management plan.

San Pablo Library, San Pablo, CA
Make Music at the San Pablo Library: Youth will track their participation in a variety of music-literacy
related activities via a ‘Musical Scavenger Hunt’ big game. Activities include • Music enrichment assemblies, creative writing workshop featuring a song writing contest, musical Jeopardy, performances by local teen musicians, music composition workshop featuring hands on experimentation with music composition software, music video games like Wii Music and Rock Band, an “Iron Musician” competition, a build your own musical instrument contest, and more.

Sewickley Public Library, Sewickley, PA
Teen Gaming Initiative: This afterschool gaming partnership with the local school districtstresses programs & projects “based on constituents interest.” Middle school youth will plan and facilitate gaming events for younger students, which will then be held at the public library. Participants will document their efforts by producing a video of the steps they followed, to be showcased at the local school and serve as a marketing device for the next program session.

Wayne Country Public Library, Goldsboro, NC
Play Me a Story: This narrative focused experience includes a variety of creative and competitive events to give the youth in the community a place of their own that caters to their interests while fulfilling their needs for intellectual growth. The current gaming program will be expanded to include an ongoing Dungeons and Dragons game wherein participants will develop back stories for their characters and create detailed synopses of the adventures they encounter, tabletop games such as Warhammer or Settlers of Catan, and created content will be made available for public viewing, a fan-fiction contest where young people will write original stories about their favorite video game characters and create stories incorporating characters they create in games, a workshop where young people create their own board game and/or concept for a video game, with emphasis on character and narrative development, LiveJournal groups dedicated to role-playing and world-building, creation and publication of machinima and a group project where several authors contribute to an ongoing narrative.

Weber Country Library System, Ogden, UT
Get Into Gaming: Move tween/teens beyond merely playing games and to immerse them in a physical, creative, visual, and written game creation process to foster artistic, literary, and media literacy. Activities include a board game modification program, classes to teach teens to develop and write game storylines and to design their own professional-grade video games, an interactive Choose Your Own Adventure (CYOA) program for participants to write and construct CYOA novels and have the opportunity to play a live-action CYOA game, each tween choosing his or her own path, console RPGs gaming as research, a hands-on workshop to teach teens the fundamentals of designing and building gaming PCs, podcasting workshops will teach teens to write, produce, and post podcasts featuring book and video game reviews and an interactive Alternate Reality Game that will use the real world to immerse players in a fictionalized narrative quest involving geocaching. In addition, the library will develop a collection of 50 gaming novels to be used in a traveling display for GIG events, complimented by bookmarks, book lists, and booktalks will be developed to market this circulating collection of novels

Games and Simulations in Libraries Conference CFP

PLEASE REDISTRIBUTE:

Call for Participation (due June 1)

Play with a Purpose 2009: Games and Simulations in Libraries

Dates: Sept. 30 - Oct. 2
Location: Strong National Museum of Play, Rochester, New York

Co-sponsors:
Syracuse University School of Information Studies
Genesee Valley BOCES in Western NY
Strong National Museum of Play

The goal of Play with a Purpose 2009: Games and Simulations in Libraries is to bring together practitioners and researchers working with games or simulations in library settings to share their experiences, present research, and learn best practices. The conference theme includes both electronic and non-electronic games and simulations. The conference will have several opportunities for participation:

1 - Peer-Reviewed Research Papers. One track of the conference will be dedicated to peer-reviewed examination of previously unpublished research. Researchers, librarians, and students are invited to submit extended abstracts of no more than 1,000 words by June 1, 2009. If accepted, full papers between 2,500-7,000 words are due by September 1, 2009. Papers should adhere to the format used for the American Journal of Play, found at http://www.americanjournalofplay.org/authors.htm .

Selected presenters will be invited to submit papers for a special issue subject to peer review in the American Journal of Play. The American Journal of Play, published by Strong National Museum of Play, aims to increase awareness and understanding of the role of play in learning and human development and the way in which play illuminates cultural history.

2 - Workshops. The second track of the conference will be made up of workshops designed to help library staff interested in learning about implementing games in their libraries. If possible, workshops should include some type of hands-on exploration. Workshop descriptions of no more than 1,000 words are due by June 1, 2009.

3 – Poster and Demonstration Session. Both researchers and practitioners are invited to participate in a poster & demonstration session. Poster and demonstration proposals of no more than 500 words are due by June 1, 2009.

During the conference, there will be a number of demonstrations of different types of games so that both researchers and practitioners can engage with each other to learn about new types of games. There will also be time for special tours of the Strong National Museum of Play.

Come out and play with us as we explore the past, present, and future of games in libraries!

Proposals and questions can be directed to:

Scott Nicholson, Conference Co-Chair
srnichol@syr.edu
Syracuse University School of Information Studies
245 Hinds Hall
Syracuse, NY 13244
315-443-1640
http://gamelab.syr.edu

NYLA Game Lab workshops

NYLA is pleased to announce the newest Institute offering, “Games in
Libraries: A Playful Introduction.” Please see below for details and
registration information. Space is limited, so register soon to secure
your spot. More information at http://www.nyla.org/index.php?page_id=141

Games in Libraries: A Playful Introduction
Using Gaming Programs to Attract and Engage Users of All Ages

Thursday, April 16, 2009
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Rochester Regional Library Council - Fairport, NY

Monday, April 20, 2009
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Saratoga Springs Public Library - Saratoga Springs, NY

Tuesday, April 21, 2009
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Nassau Library System - Uniondale, NY

Thursday, May 7, 2009
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Baldwinsville Public Library - Baldwinsville, NY

Join Dr. Scott Nicholson, Associate Professor at the School of
Information Studies at Syracuse University, in this day-long workshop
about Gaming in Libraries. During this workshop, participants will
learn:
• How libraries across the country are introducing gaming and
policies that govern gaming
• What board, card, and video games might be appropriate for using in
their library
• How to present these games in gaming programs for different age
groups
• Ways to assess gaming programs
• How different types of games are played through hands-on activities
Schedule:
9:30 – 10:00 AM Registration
10:00 - 12:00 AM: Formal Program:
- What is Gaming? How and why are libraries integrating gaming?
- Different types of Gaming Experiences
- Presenting and Assessing Gaming Programs
12:00 - 1:00 PM: Lunch
1:00 – 3:00 PM: Orientation to the Library Game Lab of Syracuse and
Hands-On Gaming Experiences

About the Presenter:
Scott Nicholson is the Chief Scientist of the Library Game Lab of
Syracuse and hosts the Games in Libraries podcast. He has been
engaged with gaming for over 30 years and has designed several
published games. In addition, his research is focused on the
assessment of library services and has been working with the American
Library Association to develop assessment tools for gaming programs.
For the last three years, he has been the host of the video series
Board Games with Scott and is one of the co-host of the On Board Games
podcast. In addition, he is the founder of the Games and Gaming
Members Initiative Group for the American Library Association.

This full-day workshop is $85 for NYLA members and $120 for non-
members.

Contact the NYLA Office with questions about this program
1-800-252-6952 Ext. 102

Teaching games at the Hogeschool van Amsterdam

My week as an Amsterdam professor

A Week at the Hogeschool van Amsterdam (HvA)

In the Information Technology area of the HvA, there are minors in Game Design and Game Technology. These minors are done near the end of a more general degree, but point the students toward a specific type of employment. Last week was their International week, where 10 international scholars were flown in to lead groups of students in two projects. The project I was involved in was Games can Change, where a group of students had to create a game in 5 days.

I was told that I had 20 students and could select the project specifications that I desired, so I wanted the students to work with the Amsterdam Public Library (OBA) to create an Alternate Reality / Locative game to help players learn about all of the library. Ahead of time, we set up a tour for the students on the first day. There were 3 other classes of students all making games on different themes for different faculty members.

I met the students on Monday morning and gave them a lecture on Alternate Reality Games and Locative games to set the stage. We then went to the OBA for a tour in the afternoon, and then the students had some time to work as groups. The library is really great, in that they have embraced the concept of becoming a community center. It is open and airy, and the first few floors are computers, magazines, music, movies, and games. The books are on the next two floors, and there is a very nice café up top. Most of the students had not been to the OBA before, so many were surprised that libraries were much more than just “boring rows of books.”
The students asked if they could meet at the OBA rather than the school for the rest of the week, and the library accommodated this. The library staff were very helpful and certainly willing to work with the students as needed. The students then got to work.
On Tuesday, each group presented their basic ideas, where they were, and posed questions. We helped the groups if they were stuck and let them continue away.

On Wednesday, there was no class as students traditionally have internships on Wedensdays. So, on Wedensday, I went to another branch of the HvA and talked with some of the faculty in the media and library programs, and gave a lecture to one of the classes on youth and media about gaming.
Thursday, I met with the groups again and learned about their progress. Most of the groups had some kind of a mystery theme going and one group, who was using a technology to project a 3-D image onto a live Webcam stream, had the “alien trapped in the library” theme. That afternoon, I went up to the Technical University at Delft and met with their games program and saw some of their serious games.

On Friday, 2 libraries from the OBA and 2 librarians from the amazing Library Concept Center (DOK) in Delft came down to see the presentations. The student groups presented their games. One group had a very complete plan about locating a missing book and had really thought through all of the games. Another group didn’t have much of a story but had hardcore puzzles. A third group had more simple puzzles all delivered through SMS. The fourth group improved upon their technology and made the opening part of the game and a movie. The DOK librarians really liked the alien group, while the OBA seemed more interested in the game that was fairly complete. At the end of the class, I asked students if anyone wants to continue working with the library, and 11 out of 20 signed up. I think and hope that some of them will continue their work and make these games a success.

That afternoon, each of the professors involved gave a lecture. I did a devotional overview of the Past, Present, and Future of games in libraries, focusing on how students could get involved. The speaker after me, who was originally happy to be going last, expressed his dismay that he had to follow my show.
After that, all of the classes had a fair where they displayed their games. The other classes all made electronic games, while our projects were hybrids with some online and some analog puzzles and games. The alien group won the “people’s choice” award and ended up being invited to present their work at an upcoming U Play U Learn conference.

It was an interesting experience. Gaming has been my hobby for some time and my research area for over 2 years, and this was the first class I was teaching to a group of savvy game folks. I seem to have held up well, though.

I came away with several things. The experience made me more eager to look at Syracuse about integrating gaming into our iSchool degrees and curriculum, perhaps through partnerships with other schools. In addition, I was inspired to start on a new grant proposal to design information & media literacy games for a public library setting using some whiz-bang technologies. I’ve been doing the ethnographic work for a few years now, and I’m ready to start applying it to create some serious games. It also gave me a chance to scout out some potential sites for me to be a visiting professor at for an upcoming sabbatical; I’m hoping the relationship between the HvA and the OBA develops over the next few years. Finally, it helped me to see a vision of a few libraries (Amsterdam and Delft) where they were fully embracing the concept of library as community hub in a way that will take them into the future; I will communicate this vision to my students. It was an enjoyable experience that I hope to repeat in the future.

I have video footage which I’ll create into something after I settle down from the trip.