Keeping Portland Weird
PreConference: “Get Your Game On”
Gaming and the Library this was an amazing preconference information session. I have attached in my delicious site all the conference handouts and information. The two presenters have extensive experience with gaming in the library, Eli Neiburger wrote a book entitled “Gamers in the Library?!” The preconference focused on the research and actual literacy connections of video games and the library patron. The statistics indicate that the highest number of “gamers” is adult women at 72% of all video games are bought by women in the USA. Children who play Pokemon or any RPG (role playing games) are able to process visually, as well as acquire literacy through symbols at 200,000 lines of text! Pokemon has over 500 characters that’s more elements than the Periodic Table of Content, children are able to solve problems in a social situation, their comprehension, memory and knowledge of abstract reasoning are the 21st Century skills the work force is looking for.
http://feeds.feedburner.com/walkingpaper/full
The games that we tried out were Big Fish Games for the Wii and Big Brain Academy. National Gaming is on November 13th and I am planning on collaborating with the Youth Centre and having a gaming tournament here at the library.
the website for registering your results is gtsystem.org
It Takes a Leader to Be Strategic
http://www.placonference.org/handouts/1560_Cervantes_Melinda__143555_Apr01_2010_Time_010117PM.pdf
This session dealth with the issue of analyzing data and statistics to take your library in a forward thinking direction. The session was quite informative, however, the issues that many of the libraries in the states are facing is the closures of branches and libraries be amalgamated into huge regional districts. The session talked about watching the behavious of your readership, and creating a knowledge base of these patterns.
http://www.anderson.ucla.edu/faculty/jason.frand/teacher/technologies/palace/datamining.htm
Your Invited: A Feast of New Literature for Teens
50 new titles reviewed and discussed…lots of interesting new books for Young Adult. We have ordered a dozen of the suggestions for the new release shelves in our teen area!
http://www.placonference.org/handouts/1560_Battisti_Jerene__143678_Apr02_2010_Time_112551AM.doc
If you get a chance read NUMBERS by Rachel Ward – amazing book!!!
Shortcuts to Greatness or 10 things that great libraries know and maybe you don’t…
1. Great libraries have great leadership.
2. Visionary leadership relies on wonderful staff.
3. Visionary leadership and great staff can create a great culture.
4. The library belongs to the customers. Visionaary leadership and great staff are there to make the experience that the customers love.
5. Great libaries practice rapid recovery.
6. Great library seize opportunity.
7. Great libraries have heart and soul.
8. Great libraries have a sense of humour.
9.Great libraries look cool.
10. Great libraries don’t wait to be great.
check out:
http://issuu.com/houstonlibrary/docs/houston_public_library_annual_report
Reinventing Circulation Jobs
This session has been very useful to our staff – we have discussed at the last staff meeting issues around repetitive injuries due to check-in and check-out motion. We have started to adopt a roving circulation model, meeting and greeting people at the place of their need (ie the catalogue stations and in the stacks). Our circulation has increased since we have adapted to this model. More and more people are leaving the library with books in hand. It has given the front staff more freedom and opportunity for dirversity in their jobs.
Be a Good Boss
This one was really a treat to myself. I thoroughly enjoyed this session! CAN NOT WAIT UNTIL HER BOOK COMES OUT AT THE END OF APRIL!
The speakers talked about the three types of bosses:
1) Newbie
2) Know but Don’t have time
3) Don’t know what they don’t know
“How can you treat other people?” TONE set by the boss, I want to make other peoples’ jobs easier.
What is needed to be a good boss?
1) Commitment
2) Time
3) A Plan
What an amazing conference, so many great ideas and people. I have spoken with a local homeschooler in Beaumont and I am going to set aside the use of the computers in the back, along with speciality programs for the homeschoolers to network and connect with each other.
Also, I am looking forward to putting in motion the gaming tournament and am on my way to make this happen. I am thinking about “branding the library” making a real signature icon for our patrons to recognize.
It’s all very exciting!!!
Hi T A Allan,
What an interesting post! I stumbled across it because of your kind recommendation of my book (okay, hands up, I was Googling myself) but then was riveted by the section on gaming and libraries. My son is a keen gamer and we’ve encouraged it because I think it does wonders for literacy, vocabulary, strategic thinking, social interaction, etc., etc. I think it would be great if libraries in the UK embraced gaming – you never know the kids involved might even pick up a book while they’re there…
Best wishes,
Rachel
Oh, my I am so honoured to have you comment on my blog! A million thank yous…I would absolutely love the opportunity to have you do a SKYPE interview with some Junior Girls during a book club meeting. Would you be receptive to that? I am thinking sometime in the fall…
Looking forward to hearing from you! Tracey Allan
I’d be happy to do a SKYPE interview. I’m doing my first one later today, so by the fall I should have the hang of it! Do get in touch with me through my email (rachelward@rachelwardbooks.com) and we’ll see if we can sort something out.
All best,
Rachel
That’s just super news! Thank you, Iwill contact you as soon as the summer starts to close in these parts. Perhaps, towards the end of August or so. Take care and have fun with the interviews.