Celebrate National Gaming Day At Your Local Library!
This Saturday marks the first-ever National Gaming Day at your library, during which libraries nationwide will be celebrating video games, board games, and taking a break from the culture wars that pit gaming against educators and parents:
"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."
The donations are considerable, Wizards of the Coast gave copies of D&D and Magic the Gathering for local tournaments, EA and Hasbro have donated copies of Pictureka, and, in June 2008, the Verizon Foundation granted $1 million to the American Library Association to study how games activate and improve children's problem-solving skills and general literacy.
Games to the rescue! Find out more after the jump or at the official site.
For Immediate Release
POPULAR VIDEO, BOARD GAMES SUPPORT LITERACY EFFORTS IN U.S.
LIBRARIES
Libraries gear up for National Gaming Day @ your library
CHICAGO - Game on! Hundreds of libraries across the country will join the
American Library Association (ALA) for the first-ever National Gaming Day @
your library on Nov. 15, 2008. The nation's libraries will celebrate the
popularity, as well as the recreational and educational value of board and
video games.
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.
Through a generous donation from Hasbro, more than 16,000 public libraries in
the U.S. will receive a free copy of "Pictureka!, a frenzied version of finder's
keeper's, before National Gaming Day.
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 addition to Pictureka! and/or videogames, libraries will offer a variety of
roleplaying 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.
Libraries are changing and dynamic places, and are continuously offering free
innovative programs and services that educate, entertain and expand
interaction with their users. Historically, libraries are well known as key
providers of print resources. With new digital formats such as downloadable
audio, video, and board and video games, libraries continue to create and
promote modern educational opportunities for their users.
"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."
A study of adult gaming at the Public Library of Charlotte Mecklenburg County
(NC) found that patrons who attended gaming events at the library were
more open to using other services. Also, libraries around the country report
young users who have come to the library for free access to games often
visit the library again to take advantage of other free resources such as
homework help programs. In addition to offering free access to educational
and digital resources, libraries offer the expertise of librarians. Librarians can
teach people how to use new technologies and supply users with tools to
enhance their critical thinking skills.
In June 2008, the ALA received a $1 million grant from the Verizon Foundation
to study how library gaming activities improve children's problem-solving and
literacy skills. During the two year project, the ALA will work directly with
public, school, and academic libraries to document the use of gaming as a
learning and literacy tool.
For more information on National Gaming Day @ your library, and gaming in
libraries, please visit http://www.ala.org/ngd08 .
About the ALA
The American Library Association is the oldest and largest library association
in the world, with more than 67,000 members. Its mission is to promote the
highest quality library and information services and public access to
information. For more information on the American Library Association please
visit www.ala.org.
About Hasbro
Hasbro, Inc. is a worldwide leader in children's and family leisure time
products and services with a rich portfolio of brands and entertainment
properties that provides some of the highest quality and most recognizable
play and recreational experiences in the world. As a brand-driven, consumer-
focused global company, Hasbro brings to market a range of toys, games and
licensed products, from traditional to high-tech and digital, under such
powerful brand names as TRANSFORMERS, PLAYSKOOL, TONKA, MILTON
BRADLEY, PARKER BROTHERS, TIGER, CRANIUM and WIZARDS OF THE COAST.
Come see how we inspire play through our brands at http://www.hasbro.com.
(C) 2008 Hasbro, Inc. All Rights Reserved
About Wizards of the Coast
Wizards of the Coast, Inc. is the pacesetter in the trading card game and
tabletop roleplaying game categories, and the leading developer and publisher
of game-based entertainment products. Wizards of the Coast is considered
the global leader in hobby gaming, developing and publishing game based and
other entertainment products celebrated the world over.
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tiny dancer
Posted to Hot Stuff, Miscellany on 10 November 2008
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