Gaming can provide a huge payoff for the investment of pizza, manhours, etc. We can borrow equipment, but it's best to own some in order to facilitate more players.
Ann Arbor District Library (Ann Arbor, MI) has shown results:
- Year one it cost $10,000. Year 2, $5,000. 3, $6,000. 4, $7,000. It has been rising due to prestige and need to keep prizes at same level.
- Average age: 33.
- 94% are between ages 18-49.
- 80% vote.
- Adult women actually game more often than teenage boys. If there is a knitting program, why no gaming program?
- Market opening even more. Wii is opening up the market to boomers and seniors that may not be able to throw a 12 lb. bowling ball anymore.
- All ages game. Adult-child teams can be very popular.
- Some of the best players have learned at the library.
- We can be dispenser, rather than detractor of "cred" and overcome library stigma.
- Those who have no success in sports due to physical shape, awkwardness can be a success in something big. Helps bring people out of their shells.
Is about conversations through the content, whether it is Mario Kart or Sneetches. Games already exist in our library. Summer Reading Program is a game.
AADL Gamers blog has generated 10,200 comments. One comments attests to the fact that "there is life left in the library." Useful for attitude, changing program, auditioning commentators for events, etc.
Positive Interactions with Staff -- nonpedantic. Peer pressure exists to play by the rules, rather than break rules, as usual. (Don't mix in career day to destroy the spell).
Staff must buy in. IT, managers, maintenance. Otherwise, it won't work.
Can make national leaderboards by using AADL's system here. Software development here. Perhaps synchronized tournament days with online finals where libraries could face off. National marketing and sponsorship opportunities.
Broadcast to cable access. This can become huge. Payoff: proving relevance to an audience that would never otherwise see it. Eli is open for contact eli at aadl.org.
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