Shock, Horror,
Computer Games are
good for public libraries
Andrew Lewis, e-Services Officer
Library and Information Services
The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead
www.rbwm.gov.uk/web/onlinelibrary.htm
What issues are public
libraries struggling with?
Public library issues
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Attracting new people
Reader development
Promoting information literacy
Service overviews and inductions
Providing access to services as required by
diverse customers
Marketing services more effectively to
different segments
Increasing use of existing resources
Creating Digital citizenship
Understanding users and their behaviour
What inherent characteristics do
game technologies possess?
Game technology characteristics
• Multimedia sound and vision
• Strong appeal especially to market areas of
children, through to young middle age adults
• Culturally ubiquitous - embedded in consumer
information technology (web, tv, mobiles, PCs)
• Can create high impact applications
• Data processing and manipulation built in
• Can create simulated environments
• Collaborative and multi-person capability
• Encourages and supports social interaction
• Stimulation of problem-solving thinking
techniques
• Deliverable using existing information channels
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Games
Library issues
Multimedia sound and vision
•
Strong appeal especially to market
•
areas of children, through to young
•
middle age adults
Culturally ubiquitous - embedded in •
consumer information technology
(web, tv, mobiles, PCs)
•
Can create high impact applications
Data processing and manipulation built•
in
Can create simulated environments •
Collaborative and multi-person
capability
•
Encourages and supports social
•
interaction
Stimulation of problem-solving thinking
techniques
Deliverable using existing information
channels
Attracting new people
Reader development
Promoting information literacy
Service overviews and
inductions
Providing access to services as
required by diverse customers
Marketing services more
effectively to different segments
Increasing use of existing
resources
Creating Digital citizenship
Understanding users and their
behaviour
Clearly there is potential
to use games and gaming
technologies but…
Virtually no body of
practical experience
Multi-Lib programme
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Service development programme
Research looks outside of libraries
Piloting of potential practical uses
Suck it and see attitude to risk
Lo-Fi approach
– Low budget
– Start small and build on success
– Use existing technologies
• Publish findings as time allows
Talking Form
Reading Challenge
Big Bad World
Multi-Lib reports
Available free to download at:
www.rbwm.gov.uk/web/library_policies.htm
Shock, Horror,
Computer Games are
good for public libraries
Andrew Lewis, e-Services Officer
Library and Information Services
The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead
[email protected]