So I changed the name of this blog, of which I'm sure I'm the only reader, because I'm no longer a "proto librarian" and "post proto librarian" was way too clunky.
I am now almost at my 9 month anniversary as a YS department head, which kind of blows my mind. We're also 4 days away from concluding summer reading---hallelujah! It's been hectic and crazy and mostly fun, except for having to discipline unruly skatepunks in the library, etc.
And on that note, let me now rant about horrible patrons in all their forms....
1. Last night's guy who completely monopolized the time of the adult services librarian, using her to teach him how to use a computer to do God knows what. Then he of course ignored our 8:45 PM announcement that we were closing in 15 minutes, please return your laptops, check out your materials, blah blah blah. At 9:05 PM he ambled up to turn in his laptop, then went back to use the bathroom. HEY BUDDY: the library staff have lives too, and we'd like to get back to them before we have to be back here in 12 hours. A**hole.
2. The passive-aggressive "art researcher" who, like Mr. Man above, waits until the ultimate last minute and beyond to ask for obscure books that NO library has and then gets upset about it. Several times a week.
3. The tweenagers who came up with a petition to have another tweenager "banned" from a program, because she was noisy and obnoxious. This from the kids who DEFINE the word "obnoxious". No can do, kiddos; we all have to play nice in this public space or else GO HOME!
4. The comment card-filler-outers who have lots and lots of opinions. Some recent comments:
"Have kids learning to read clubs".
Um, do you mean storytimes? We have at least 7 of those every week. If you mean kids' book clubs, we have those too! READ our newsletter or LOOK at our website, PLEASE!
"Have a loveseat where parents can read to kids. We can't fit into the chairs."
Okay, I sympathize with this. We had to toss our old heinous beanbag chairs because they were gross & damaged. The problem with a loveseat is that we have alot of "early-maturing" kids here after school (and now in summer, all day long) and we really don't want to have an ACTUAL "love" seat, if you know what I mean, and I think you do.
"Get more videogames."
Again, I sympathize. I buy games all the time, they get stolen. Games can cost up to $50 a pop, and my budget isn't that big. 'Nuff said. Want more games? STOP STEALING THEM.
5. Finally, my least favorite "patrons" of all---the pigs. YOU know who you are, you people who dump puzzles out to do with their 2 year olds and then don't put them away. You also leave empty Dorito bags stuffed into the non-fiction stacks. Yesterday one of you bled all over the toilet seat and didn't bother to clean up after yourself. (They didn't teach us about biohazards in library school, amazingly.) You leave things everywhere--crumpled pieces of paper, gum wads, empty cups, God knows what. You dump unwanted books everywhere, despite the presence of carts provided for exactly this purpose. You let your kids play with our small collection of toys and don't make them clean up after themselves--no doubt training them to be like you. Pigs, the world is your ashtray, your garbage can, your toilet---and the library is no exception.
Okay I feel better now. On to another day of public service!
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Get Your Game on: Libraries, Learning and Games
Wednesday March 24, 8:30-Noon
Eli Neiburger, Associate Director, IT & Product Development, Ann Arbor District Library, Ann Arbor, MI
Aaron Schmidt, Digital Initiatives Librarian, District of Columbia Public Library, Washington, D.C.
In public markets, videogames sell more than DVDs or music. Market shares: 34% books, 28% videogames.
Most popular games are not violent: Super paper Mario, Pokemon, Wii Sports
Kids brains will work better than ours because of the higher rate of visual information they receive at an earlier age.
Video games require advanced literacy; knowledge is acquired through text. Example: information on different Pokemon
Phylomon.org = live animal version of a Pokemon game
Social Problem solving: closer to science, engineering
What gamers learn:
*Comprehension--learn to read when you need it, right away & apply it immediately
*Memory & knowledge--keeping track of 500 Pokemon
*Abstract reasoning
*Spatial reasoning
*Hierarchical knowledge systems
*Research skills
*Perserverance--learning is rewarded by moving onto a harder task. It's a safe environment in which to experiment, try, fail, and try again.
*Success requires risk
*Delay gratification--sometimes a setback is what you need
*Interface literacy
*3D manipulation
*Take care of your data
*Hacking & ethics
built in cheats are like an "easter egg" reward
external devices are hacking--frowned upon
*Global information community devoted to every game--give what you get
*Direct job skills
Study of surgeons who played Super Monkey Ball: 37% fewer surgical mistakes; 27% faster
Search Institute's 40 developmental assets: videogame event at the library covers 27 of these assets!
Hardware:
Consoles chosen because of exclusivity of games for each console
Sony:
*PS3 = $299 = Sony loses money on this right now; higher tech; Netflix interaction = Playstation network where you can watch movie trailers; interactive network = PS3s generally don't play PS2s
*PS2 = most hooked up to TV sets; PS2 still viable but ten years old
*PSP = handheld = can interact with PS3
*PSP GO (?) = no removable devices; download games
Nintendo
*Nintendo DS = 1 in 50 people own this = will play Game Boy Advance games
*DSI = has camera/memory = $129 = "child's first camera"
*DS Lite = $99/110
Trauma Center under the knife--practice surgery
Hotel Dusk--interactive e-book
Cooking mama
Brain age
*DS XL = twice the size = senior market = in Japan now; coming out in US
*Wii = very easy for beginners to learn how to play (Wii Play)
Microsoft
*XBOX360 = $200 "XY BOX" - no appeal to women
Halo, Halo II = first person shooter games w/alien theme
Circulating Games
split audience/budget--buying games for Wii, XBox 360, PS3--problems of loss; can't make everyone happy
Circulating games is not the most important library mission, in presenters' opinion
Gaming Librarian - online game column - collection development resources
Suggestion from attendee for rental collection--helps support game budget--about $1 for a week
You can reach more patrons with one gaming event than with a circulating game collection, according to the presenters
$5000-100000 for game collection--anemic collection
Same amount of $ would be better spent on EVENTS
Ratings
ESRP
C--children's
E--everyone
E10+--10 and over
T--teen
M-mature--17+ (Grand Theft Auto)
A--adult
RP--? NC17 equivalent
Most Wii games are E (3 games rated M)
Target games of a particular rating to a particular audience--assist with board acceptance
Need to build competitive community of kids who will come to play games no matter how "passe" the game and/or console might be
Have other things for kids to do besides the central game
Jenga!
How to convince reluctant staff/board members:
Games are content just as a book is
Narratives build on previous experiences
Cinematic elements to games
Have them TRY it!
Tie to educational/cultural/entertainment mission statement
Tournament events prizes
Big prize: Ipod, or Wii
Monthly: $20,30,40 gift cards
3 tournaments, once a month
Plus some other events when kids are out of school
2 adults to run event--have a gamer involved in the gaming--don't attempt to run an event on a game you know nothing about. Do an open play event; identify kids who always show up & harness their energy
$50 RV televisions--set up multiple stations
Tournament event broadcast--local access TV--color commentary on gaming
Tournament play = create structured activity = adds value to open play
http://wiki.gtsystem.org
set up tournaments software
can create "skin" to match library's own web page
Tournaments:
Rock Band (rules)Beatles, Green Day versions upcoming/Guitar Hero (sucks)/Rock Revolution--high score tourney; sign up as a 3 or 4 player band with a name--Each band plays song of their choice at difficulty of their choice twice--then highest scores win
Don't enforce level: teens would rather not looks stupid than win
Simultaneous DDR tourney going on; turn in best scores
Top 4 scores at end of night--3 hours is minimum
MarioKart all ages tournament--brackets, 1, 2, 3, adult, team, kid winner
Skill is required; process what's on the screen & make decisions--huge with little kids
Up to 6 Wiis in the same match with 6 TVs--12 kids---online also (if allowed; complex)
SmashKart-Smash & Mario Kart--4 hours
Pokemon Battle Revolution on Wii, house DS, then kids bring their own DS--3 hours
House Pokemon--people have to play to get Pokemon
Level 50 all--changes everyone's level to the same one for purposes of the match
SmashKart--Smash Bros & MarioKart--ages 13+
Super Smash Bros Brawl-single player and team tournaments
Mario Kart Wii single player and team tournaments
Items ON allows weaker players some success
Final Championships
National Gaming Day Saturday November 13, 2010--play against other libraries
eli@aadl.org
@ulotrichous
Eli Neiburger, Associate Director, IT & Product Development, Ann Arbor District Library, Ann Arbor, MI
Aaron Schmidt, Digital Initiatives Librarian, District of Columbia Public Library, Washington, D.C.
In public markets, videogames sell more than DVDs or music. Market shares: 34% books, 28% videogames.
Most popular games are not violent: Super paper Mario, Pokemon, Wii Sports
Kids brains will work better than ours because of the higher rate of visual information they receive at an earlier age.
Video games require advanced literacy; knowledge is acquired through text. Example: information on different Pokemon
Phylomon.org = live animal version of a Pokemon game
Social Problem solving: closer to science, engineering
What gamers learn:
*Comprehension--learn to read when you need it, right away & apply it immediately
*Memory & knowledge--keeping track of 500 Pokemon
*Abstract reasoning
*Spatial reasoning
*Hierarchical knowledge systems
*Research skills
*Perserverance--learning is rewarded by moving onto a harder task. It's a safe environment in which to experiment, try, fail, and try again.
*Success requires risk
*Delay gratification--sometimes a setback is what you need
*Interface literacy
*3D manipulation
*Take care of your data
*Hacking & ethics
built in cheats are like an "easter egg" reward
external devices are hacking--frowned upon
*Global information community devoted to every game--give what you get
*Direct job skills
Study of surgeons who played Super Monkey Ball: 37% fewer surgical mistakes; 27% faster
Search Institute's 40 developmental assets: videogame event at the library covers 27 of these assets!
Hardware:
Consoles chosen because of exclusivity of games for each console
Sony:
*PS3 = $299 = Sony loses money on this right now; higher tech; Netflix interaction = Playstation network where you can watch movie trailers; interactive network = PS3s generally don't play PS2s
*PS2 = most hooked up to TV sets; PS2 still viable but ten years old
*PSP = handheld = can interact with PS3
*PSP GO (?) = no removable devices; download games
Nintendo
*Nintendo DS = 1 in 50 people own this = will play Game Boy Advance games
*DSI = has camera/memory = $129 = "child's first camera"
*DS Lite = $99/110
Trauma Center under the knife--practice surgery
Hotel Dusk--interactive e-book
Cooking mama
Brain age
*DS XL = twice the size = senior market = in Japan now; coming out in US
*Wii = very easy for beginners to learn how to play (Wii Play)
Microsoft
*XBOX360 = $200 "XY BOX" - no appeal to women
Halo, Halo II = first person shooter games w/alien theme
Circulating Games
split audience/budget--buying games for Wii, XBox 360, PS3--problems of loss; can't make everyone happy
Circulating games is not the most important library mission, in presenters' opinion
Gaming Librarian - online game column - collection development resources
Suggestion from attendee for rental collection--helps support game budget--about $1 for a week
You can reach more patrons with one gaming event than with a circulating game collection, according to the presenters
$5000-100000 for game collection--anemic collection
Same amount of $ would be better spent on EVENTS
Ratings
ESRP
C--children's
E--everyone
E10+--10 and over
T--teen
M-mature--17+ (Grand Theft Auto)
A--adult
RP--? NC17 equivalent
Most Wii games are E (3 games rated M)
Target games of a particular rating to a particular audience--assist with board acceptance
Need to build competitive community of kids who will come to play games no matter how "passe" the game and/or console might be
Have other things for kids to do besides the central game
Jenga!
How to convince reluctant staff/board members:
Games are content just as a book is
Narratives build on previous experiences
Cinematic elements to games
Have them TRY it!
Tie to educational/cultural/entertainment mission statement
Tournament events prizes
Big prize: Ipod, or Wii
Monthly: $20,30,40 gift cards
3 tournaments, once a month
Plus some other events when kids are out of school
2 adults to run event--have a gamer involved in the gaming--don't attempt to run an event on a game you know nothing about. Do an open play event; identify kids who always show up & harness their energy
$50 RV televisions--set up multiple stations
Tournament event broadcast--local access TV--color commentary on gaming
Tournament play = create structured activity = adds value to open play
http://wiki.gtsystem.org
set up tournaments software
can create "skin" to match library's own web page
Tournaments:
Rock Band (rules)Beatles, Green Day versions upcoming/Guitar Hero (sucks)/Rock Revolution--high score tourney; sign up as a 3 or 4 player band with a name--Each band plays song of their choice at difficulty of their choice twice--then highest scores win
Don't enforce level: teens would rather not looks stupid than win
Simultaneous DDR tourney going on; turn in best scores
Top 4 scores at end of night--3 hours is minimum
MarioKart all ages tournament--brackets, 1, 2, 3, adult, team, kid winner
Skill is required; process what's on the screen & make decisions--huge with little kids
Up to 6 Wiis in the same match with 6 TVs--12 kids---online also (if allowed; complex)
SmashKart-Smash & Mario Kart--4 hours
Pokemon Battle Revolution on Wii, house DS, then kids bring their own DS--3 hours
House Pokemon--people have to play to get Pokemon
Level 50 all--changes everyone's level to the same one for purposes of the match
SmashKart--Smash Bros & MarioKart--ages 13+
Super Smash Bros Brawl-single player and team tournaments
Mario Kart Wii single player and team tournaments
Items ON allows weaker players some success
Final Championships
National Gaming Day Saturday November 13, 2010--play against other libraries
eli@aadl.org
@ulotrichous
PLA in Portland!
3/23/10--2:45 pm
Made it thru "secoority" w/o too much drama. My son had his hair (Swedefro) patted down, so you may be assured the world is safe for democracy, at least where curly hair is concerned. Alaska Air was a breeze; sad we can't return that way, but we're booked on Untied. So far not too unpleasant. Boys are in line for McD's & Gold Coast Dogs (haute cuisine here in Terminal 3).
--8 ish pm
Arrived with a bounce and applause for the captain. Our friend Pat graciously picked us up at baggage claim & took us to his house, where his kids (!) had dinner waiting. May I please have these children, on a trial basis at least? We had a nice evening but were wiped out--since we were 2 hours "ahead". He ferried us to the Marriott Residence Inn & we are installed in our cozy Portland pied a terre.
3/24/10--7 a.m.
The games begin. I'm scheduled to attend a preconference on gaming, which I'm hoping will be fun & interesting. Supposedly Natalie Merchant (!) is making an appearance today. Rockin' librarians. I'm sure it will be her perfect audience. :D
Made it thru "secoority" w/o too much drama. My son had his hair (Swedefro) patted down, so you may be assured the world is safe for democracy, at least where curly hair is concerned. Alaska Air was a breeze; sad we can't return that way, but we're booked on Untied. So far not too unpleasant. Boys are in line for McD's & Gold Coast Dogs (haute cuisine here in Terminal 3).
--8 ish pm
Arrived with a bounce and applause for the captain. Our friend Pat graciously picked us up at baggage claim & took us to his house, where his kids (!) had dinner waiting. May I please have these children, on a trial basis at least? We had a nice evening but were wiped out--since we were 2 hours "ahead". He ferried us to the Marriott Residence Inn & we are installed in our cozy Portland pied a terre.
3/24/10--7 a.m.
The games begin. I'm scheduled to attend a preconference on gaming, which I'm hoping will be fun & interesting. Supposedly Natalie Merchant (!) is making an appearance today. Rockin' librarians. I'm sure it will be her perfect audience. :D
Sunday, November 1, 2009
101 Things a Bright New Librarian Can Do...
1. Learn absolutely everything about the job in 5 days. Or not! Budgeting, ordering materials, scheduling staff, payroll functions, institutional policy, recognizing the "problem children"...I could go on, but WHY?
2. Come into the tail end of the budget year and have to spend about a zillion dollars in 2 weeks. Nice problem to have, I suppose, but what do I GET?!
3. Sit in on a board meeting visited by (demented) concerned citizens who rave on for half an hour about how things were better before you started the job. Pitchforks and torches optional!
4. Freak OUT.
5. Repeat on Monday.
6. Remember a wise friend's advice: "Use discipline and common sense and it will be 'all good in the 'hood!'"
Sunday, October 25, 2009
The adventure begins...
No longer a proto librarian, I'm a fully-fledged MSLIS. I even finally put my degree in a frame; a bit ironic since all or most of the folks who signed it were part of the University of Illinois admissions scandal. Nothing to do with me, kids! I got in fair and square.
Tomorrow, I'm starting a job as a full-time department head in Youth Services. I have plenty of trepidation and nerves, but I'm hopeful that I can learn the job and do well. It's extra weird because I've been applying for librarian jobs for at least the past year and have been rejected for 6 theoretically "lesser" positions (i.e. part-time, Librarian I, etc.), including a job that was almost identical to the one I just left. I could not GIVE myself away until this job came along. So let's hope it works out. If not, this librarian will be hanging up her spurs and retiring.
Tomorrow, I'm starting a job as a full-time department head in Youth Services. I have plenty of trepidation and nerves, but I'm hopeful that I can learn the job and do well. It's extra weird because I've been applying for librarian jobs for at least the past year and have been rejected for 6 theoretically "lesser" positions (i.e. part-time, Librarian I, etc.), including a job that was almost identical to the one I just left. I could not GIVE myself away until this job came along. So let's hope it works out. If not, this librarian will be hanging up her spurs and retiring.
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Food Orgy
Yesterday was my 27th wedding anniversary!
Tom had made dinner reservations at a nearby gourmet spot--Vie in Western Springs--and we were both eagerly anticipating that. Since I worked a half day, we decided to go to the movies in the afternoon to see "Julie & Julia". While I'm not familiar with the former character (the present-day blogger/writer), I had just finished reading Julia Child's My Life in France, loved it, and was curious about the film. So off we went, intending to go to the York Theater in Elmhurst. But, as is typical for us, we somehow took the wrong road (even though we've lived in the area for over 20 years) and ended up in Rosemont at the enormous and gaudy Muvico theater. Think Vegas plopped amid a soul-less office building complex. It was weird! We dashed through the pelting rain and made it to the film, missing the first 10 minutes or so. Phew! The movie was a joy--perfectly cast, funny, poignant. We made it back home without further road incidents and headed out for our big night out.
Vie was incredible. The restaurant was pretty and sleek (and unexpectedly big--I kept stumbling on new rooms); the service was smooth; the food was unbelievably good. I'm sure it helped that one of our daughter's friends, a culinary student, is interning in the kitchen and kept sending out little treats for us. It was La Grande Bouffe and Big Night combined! And I can here testify that I had foie gras for the first time in my life and it was delicious. I also had an incredible beet salad, pork loin, halibut, and a homemade lemon verbena ice cream. My limited powers of description can't do justice to this meal; it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Everyone should save their pennies and visit Vie for a special occasion dinner!
Tom had made dinner reservations at a nearby gourmet spot--Vie in Western Springs--and we were both eagerly anticipating that. Since I worked a half day, we decided to go to the movies in the afternoon to see "Julie & Julia". While I'm not familiar with the former character (the present-day blogger/writer), I had just finished reading Julia Child's My Life in France, loved it, and was curious about the film. So off we went, intending to go to the York Theater in Elmhurst. But, as is typical for us, we somehow took the wrong road (even though we've lived in the area for over 20 years) and ended up in Rosemont at the enormous and gaudy Muvico theater. Think Vegas plopped amid a soul-less office building complex. It was weird! We dashed through the pelting rain and made it to the film, missing the first 10 minutes or so. Phew! The movie was a joy--perfectly cast, funny, poignant. We made it back home without further road incidents and headed out for our big night out.
Vie was incredible. The restaurant was pretty and sleek (and unexpectedly big--I kept stumbling on new rooms); the service was smooth; the food was unbelievably good. I'm sure it helped that one of our daughter's friends, a culinary student, is interning in the kitchen and kept sending out little treats for us. It was La Grande Bouffe and Big Night combined! And I can here testify that I had foie gras for the first time in my life and it was delicious. I also had an incredible beet salad, pork loin, halibut, and a homemade lemon verbena ice cream. My limited powers of description can't do justice to this meal; it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Everyone should save their pennies and visit Vie for a special occasion dinner!
Monday, August 3, 2009
Do do do what you done done done....
It's been awhile since my last post, no doubt because my workplace is done with our "techplay" session (so now is it "techwork"??) and I haven't had time at work to post! But since the last post, I have been duly graduated from library school! I am now a card-carrying librarian; an MSLIS (Master of Science in Library and Information Science); an alumna of the University of Illinois GSLIS Program (thankfully, NOT implicated in the latest Clout U Scandal----trust me, NObody wrote a letter or made a phone call on MY behalf!) Anyway, the degree itself arrived by mail a mere 3 months after my "official" graduation----now THAT'S efficiency for ya!
BUT--I'm out, and that's what counts. I did not go to campus for the graduation ceremony; I participated "virtually" via computer. I felt this was appropriate because 1) this was a mostly online program and 2) I was too cheap to get a hotel room and/or park in Urbana to graduate with 10,000 of my closest friends. Plus, I was able to hear my name read out loud & simultaneously drink champagne while wearing my daughter's (appropriately blue) mortar board! How many grads can say all THAT?? My workplace also gave a charming grad party for me and 3 graduating co-workers (2 from high school and 1 from college) which made me feel like some kind of Elder Stateswoman or something. Plus there was ice cream; what's not to like?
I was able to attend the American Library Association Annual Conference in Chicago this summer (on my own dime, though my employer generously paid for food & parking), which was fun. I saw cronies from grad school, attended some interesting and useful (and some not-so) sessions, and got a lot of fun SWAG to bring back to the library. (I kept the pre-pub latest Lorrie Moore for my husband as well as 2 llama finger puppets; I cannot explain the latter. I just had to have them!) So I suppose I'm no longer "Proto Librarian"--- but "Posto" sounds weird and its semi-logical follower "Postal" sounds even worse, though considering we just finished Summer Reading, perhaps it's not far off! :D J/K, as the youngsters say (just kidding); I actually love Summer Reading & consider myself the Queen of M & M Bingo. August will no doubt be Dullsville in comparison. But before we know it, school will start (thankfully, NOT for me!) and we'll be back in the groove. Is change good? I don't know. Change is just....change!
BUT--I'm out, and that's what counts. I did not go to campus for the graduation ceremony; I participated "virtually" via computer. I felt this was appropriate because 1) this was a mostly online program and 2) I was too cheap to get a hotel room and/or park in Urbana to graduate with 10,000 of my closest friends. Plus, I was able to hear my name read out loud & simultaneously drink champagne while wearing my daughter's (appropriately blue) mortar board! How many grads can say all THAT?? My workplace also gave a charming grad party for me and 3 graduating co-workers (2 from high school and 1 from college) which made me feel like some kind of Elder Stateswoman or something. Plus there was ice cream; what's not to like?
I was able to attend the American Library Association Annual Conference in Chicago this summer (on my own dime, though my employer generously paid for food & parking), which was fun. I saw cronies from grad school, attended some interesting and useful (and some not-so) sessions, and got a lot of fun SWAG to bring back to the library. (I kept the pre-pub latest Lorrie Moore for my husband as well as 2 llama finger puppets; I cannot explain the latter. I just had to have them!) So I suppose I'm no longer "Proto Librarian"--- but "Posto" sounds weird and its semi-logical follower "Postal" sounds even worse, though considering we just finished Summer Reading, perhaps it's not far off! :D J/K, as the youngsters say (just kidding); I actually love Summer Reading & consider myself the Queen of M & M Bingo. August will no doubt be Dullsville in comparison. But before we know it, school will start (thankfully, NOT for me!) and we'll be back in the groove. Is change good? I don't know. Change is just....change!
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