Free Webinar - Video Gaming Collections in Libraries

Image by Rafael Javier from Pixabay

On October 30th, from 10:00-11:00 am CST (11:00 am - 12:00 pm EST), the Indiana State Library will be hosting myself, Jenna Gilles (Youth Services Associate, Chippewa Falls Public Library, WI), and Jamie Hein (Library Director, Clintonville Public Library, WI), as we collaboratively present about video game collection development philosophies, tips, and best practices. This will likely be the first in a multi-part webinar series (more info about subsequent offerings to be shared in the future). Thank you to the Indiana State Library for facilitating this!

This event is co-sponsored by the ALA's Games & Gaming Round Table. Info about the event is below; share far and wide – and add it to your calendar, today!!

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Video Game Collections in Libraries, Pt. #1: The "Why", "What", and "How" of Selection & Acquisition

• Date & Time: Wednesday, October 30th, 10:00-11:00 am
• Link to Event/URL to Attend: https://isl.libcal.com/event/13140847
• Description:
For years now, media usage data has shown that video games have led the entertainment industry by a massive margin, handily securing the crown as the most popular recreational medium on the planet. In the United States, 61% of Americans report playing video games for at least one hour every week; 29% of game players are 50 or older, and the average age of video gamers in the U.S. is 36, with a near-even split of 53% identifying as male, and 46% identifying as female.

The point? These impressive statistics represent an enormous opportunity for libraries in the U.S. to capitalize on – and illustrate that librarians ought to prioritize intentionally developing robust video game collections for their users to access; game collections can meaningfully help libraries reach a broader base of patrons, create exceptional new pathways for materials circulation, resonate with additional user identities, and help foster a 'community of practice' surrounding games in the library space. On top of this, video game collections help libraries showcase an earnest desire to remain relevant, accessible, and cutting-edge to their public.

In this first presentation in our series about video game collection development, you’ll hear from multiple librarians about the “why”, “what”, and “how” of video game selection and acquisition; we will highlight both philosophical and pragmatic best practices for developing video game collections – from advocacy data, to funding tips, to selection resources, to acquisition schedules, and more. A follow-up webinar in the series will focus on things like processing, borrowing rules, policy, and collection maintenance. You won’t want to miss these presentations!

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This event will be recorded, and will eventually be uploaded as a resource to the Wisconsin Games + Learning + Libraries Cohort on WISELearn; that said, if you attend the event, you can take part in the last fifteen minutes' Q&A. 

Thanks so much for sharing; we look forward to sharing our insights and experience!

~Chris

Chris Baker

Public Library Consultant

Games & Learning Consultant

Library Services Team; WI Department of Public Instruction

(608) 264-6709

christopher.baker@dpi.wi.gov