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Gaming in Riverside County. Making It Happen. Background: Why Gaming?. Draw difficult-to-reach new audiences Change perception of Library Change librarians’ perceptions Provide easy programs indefinitely Helps m aintain library’s relevance. Background: Why Gaming? .
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Gaming in Riverside County Making It Happen
Background: Why Gaming? • Draw difficult-to-reach new audiences • Change perception of Library • Change librarians’ perceptions • Provide easy programs indefinitely • Helps maintain library’s relevance
Background: Why Gaming? • Gaming is extremely popular • Average gamer’s age: 34 • Video games in 67% of households • Increasingly common in libraries - GGMIG • Gamers want their interests represented
Background: Why the Grant? • Gaming can be tough to do • Viewed negatively by some, including some Friends groups • Lack of experience • Lack of money/equipment • No Friends group
Background: RCLS • Riverside County Library System pushing to connect with new users and to develop new clienteles. • Lots of success in Lake Elsinore • First circulating game collection in system • Many gaming programs and tournaments, with great attendance
Budget • Out of $5000 • $4000 to eight branches in $500 increments • For program materials – largely at their discretion • $1000 to supplement Lake Elsinore’s circulating collection • Demand established already • In kind • Salaries • Food and drinks, promotional materials
Timeline • All eight branches committed to holding at least two programs before the end of August, 2010. • February-April: Held focus groups at each branch and planned programs • May: Purchased materials based on focus group recommendations • June-August: Programs held, often as part of Summer Reading Program
What They did • Most bought Nintendo Wiisor expanded existing Wiiprograms • Free play sessions, tournaments, etc. • Board games – checking them out • Lego project at Mission Trail Library
Other Activities • Gaming class at Staff Day, July 30, 2010 • GGMIG/LibGaming participation • Created purchase list to assist other branches • Convinced administration to reverse policy on purchasing games for circulation • Expanding to include Dungeons and Dragons
Anticipated Outputs • 8 focus groups will be held (one at each branch) prior to program planning Focus groups held! • 5 purchase packages will be created and distributed to branches to choose from Purchase packages completed, but the branches tailored their own in the end.
Anticipated Outputs • Minimum of 16 programs and 320 attendees (20 each) 35+ programs between June 1 and August 31. 614 patrons attended – average of 17.5. • 20 new video games for Lake Elsinore that circulate more than 10 times/year 21 bought Checked last on 8/18/10 – all checked out, on hold, or in transit. Avg. 2.6 circs in 2 months.
Anticipated Outcomes • A survey will be conducted at the end of each program to answer the following questions: • Has this program changed how you look at libraries? If so, how? Yes: 70/83 (84.3% - We hoped for 50%) • Would you like to see these programs continue? 83 of 83(100%) expressed support. • What kinds of gaming programs would you like to see at the Library? • Has this program encouraged you to learn more about what the Library has to offer? Yes: 76/83 (91.6% - We hoped for 50%)
Community Impact • Lots of enthusiasm about the library • Many positive comments in evaluations • “I thought [libraries] were boring but it is fun” • “I had more fun than I’ve ever had in a library” • “Makes me want to come to library more” • “Now I really want to come to the library after school every day” • “I see that the librarians care and that the job they do is important” • Actual thank yous!
Successful if • …patron demand causes the participating libraries to expand their programming after the grant expires. • Several branches have committed to regular sessions (weekly or biweekly)
Next steps • Work more with GGMIG to create best practices at a national level • Continue advocacy and developing talking points for libraries that need to overcome prejudices • Lobby for the inclusion of M-rated games • Encourage innovative new programs • ALA’s National Gaming Day, Nov. 13
Last Words: • Easy to do • Inexpensive • Effective • High demand You can do it too!