Gaming Day at the library
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- November
- 13
Yes, that’s right, the first ever interactive, online National Gaming Day at the Library will be this Saturday. And it’s more than just video games — it’s intended to encourage literacy and a love of libraries as where fun happens. It seems that in our region, Haverstraw, Kent and Mt. Vernon public libraries are participating.
During National Gaming Day, public, school, and academic libraries will participate in two national events. The first is an attempt to establish a record for the most number of people playing the board game “Pictureka!” on the same day at the library, according to a release sent out by the American Library Association based in Chicago.
“Gaming formats have become a valuable tool for libraries,” said ALA President Jim Rettig. “Not only has this new format increased library usage from hard to reach users such as teens, we also have found that video games attract a variety of users and are a great vehicle to teach basic technology skills.”
In addition to Pictureka! and/or videogames, libraries will offer other active participation games. Wizards of the Coast has donated all the materials needed to run both the Dungeons & Dragons® Roleplaying Game and Magic: The Gathering® Trading Card Game to registered libraries.
Library gamers will also participate in a national video game tournament via the web. Players of all ages and experience levels will be able to see how they rank on local, regional and national leaderboards. The video game tournament is made possible by free Web-based tools provided by Ann Arbor (MI) District Library.
In June 2008, the ALA received a $1 million grant from the Verizon Foundation to study how library gaming activities could improve children’s problem-solving and literacy skills. During the two-year project, the ALA intends to work directly with public, school, and academic libraries to document the use of gaming as a learning and literacy tool.
To find out more, go to the American Library Association’s site. And please, I want to know about all the local events so e-mail me at bnackman@Lohud.com or just add your comment here.
This entry was posted
on Thursday, November 13th, 2008 at 5:51 pm by Barbara Nackman.
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