Shock, Horror, Computer Games are good for public libraries Andrew Lewis, e-Services Officer Library and Information Services The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead

What issues are public libraries struggling with?

Attracting new people Reader development Promoting information literacy Service overviews and inductions Providing access to services as required by diverse customers Marketing services more effectively to different segments Increasing use of existing resources Creating Digital citizenship Understanding users and their behaviour Public library issues

What inherent characteristics do game technologies possess?

Multimedia sound and vision Strong appeal especially to market areas of children, through to young middle age adults Culturally ubiquitous - embedded in consumer information technology (web, tv, mobiles, PCs) Can create high impact applications Data processing and manipulation built in Can create simulated environments Collaborative and multi-person capability Encourages and supports social interaction Stimulation of problem-solving thinking techniques Deliverable using existing information channels Game technology characteristics

Multimedia sound and vision Strong appeal especially to market areas of children, through to young middle age adults Culturally ubiquitous - embedded in consumer information technology (web, tv, mobiles, PCs) Can create high impact applications Data processing and manipulation built in Can create simulated environments Collaborative and multi-person capability Encourages and supports social interaction Stimulation of problem-solving thinking techniques Deliverable using existing information channels Games Attracting new people Reader development Promoting information literacy Service overviews and inductions Providing access to services as required by diverse customers Marketing services more effectively to different segments Increasing use of existing resources Creating Digital citizenship Understanding users and their behaviour Library issues

Clearly there is potential to use games and gaming technologies but…

Virtually no body of practical experience

Multi-Lib programme Service development programme Research looks outside of libraries Piloting of potential practical uses Suck it and see attitude to risk Lo-Fi approach –Low budget –Start small and build on success –Use existing technologies Publish findings as time allows

Talking Form

Reading Challenge

Big Bad World

Multi-Lib reports Available free to download at:

Shock, Horror, Computer Games are good for public libraries Andrew Lewis, e-Services Officer Library and Information Services The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead