Insomniac Librarians Why sleep when there's field literature?

For the 2007 TechSource Gaming, Learning, and Libraries Symposium, we tried to offer sessions for the full range of knowledge about gaming, from the newbie who doesn't even play video games herself to the expert gamer who is already offering gaming in the library. If you fall into the former group, especially if you want to know how to get started, we've got a great line-up of experts to help you.

• Growing a Gaming Group
  Amy Alessio, Joe Torres, Jason Larson (Schaumburg Township District Library)
  "Create a Gaming Advisory Board at your school or public library. Presenters will demonstrate equipment used on a variety of platforms, and outline activities used with a monthly gaming group. Work with a Gaming Group to revolutionize your digital collections, online presence, programming for younger gamers and more."
• Building a Gaming Community and a Game Friendly Environment
  Donald G. Dennis (Game Lab, Information Institute of Syracuse at the Syracuse University School of Information Studies)
  "Game environments for traditional and modern board games, card games, RPGs, or even electronic games are not the traditional domain of libraries. Games are, by and large, an interactive activity. Formal and informal communities have developed around board games, card games, RPGs (role playing games), or even electronic games.

  This presentation will discuss physical and social issues library facilities must consider to best facilitate games programs - physical needs, developing game collections suitable for your existing library environment, tapping into game communities, and exploiting industry resources. Dennis will discuss outreach to local clubs, companies, area events, and game industry organizations."

• How’d They do That? A Step-by-Step Guide to Starting a Gaming Program at Your Library
  Kelly Laszczak (Orland Park Public Library), Dan Braun (Worth Public Library), Alex Tyle (Homer Township Public Library District)
  "You know gaming is good for libraries, but you have no idea how to start a gaming program. Have no fear, this presentation will give you a step-by-step guide for setting up Dance Dance Revolution tournaments, Halo 3 tournaments, and online discussion groups for teens. Learn what equipment you need to purchase from the right video game console for your library, games that work well for the library, and additional equipment including dance pads and wireless controllers. Also, find out how to create a successful gaming program on a limited budget."
• Getting Gaming On The Table, In the Conversation and Running at Locations
  Julie Scordato (Columbus Metropolitan Library)
  "How do you get a library from “Surely you can’t mean video games at my library?” to, “When am I getting video games at my library!”

  In December 2006, the Columbus Metropolitan Library Board of Trustees approved a budget of $25,000 to bring gaming equipment to each of its 21 locations as a major teen services programming initiative. This presentation will look at how we went from sending two librarians to the Chicago MLS gaming symposium in December 2005 to unrolling gaming system wide for Teen Tech Week 2007.

  The focus is on cultivating staff buy-in from teen services staff and branch managers to resounding support from administration. It’s a "How do you get from here to there with gaming in a large system?" discussion. Focus will be on verbal presentation and how to convince staff in person, at meetings and in other venues that gaming is a vibrant addition to library service for teens. We will also cover gaining support through formal proposals. Creating the right kind of proposal can go a long way getting administrations on board. I'll cover main themes to think about when creating the proposal that will appeal to your organization.

  Any conference participants who would like to send specific points of resistance they see with their staff can email me in advance until July 1st at jscordato@columbuslibrary.org

  Put 'resistance' in the subject line. "

But wait, there's more! View all of the sessions here, and check out the preliminary program is here.