Making It Happen

Background: Why Gaming?  Draw difficult-to-reach new audiences  Change perception of Library  Change librarians’ perceptions  Provide easy programs indefinitely  Helps maintain library’s relevance

Background: Why Gaming?  Gaming is extremely popular  Average gamer’s age: 34  Video games in 67% of households  Increasingly common in libraries - GGMIG  Gamers want their interests represented

Background: Why the Grant?  Gaming can be tough to do  Viewed negatively by some, including some Friends groups  Lack of experience  Lack of money/equipment  No Friends group

Background: RCLS  Riverside County Library System pushing to connect with new users and to develop new clienteles.  Lots of success in Lake Elsinore  First circulating game collection in system  Many gaming programs and tournaments, with great attendance

Budget  Out of $5000  $4000 to eight branches in $500 increments  For program materials – largely at their discretion  $1000 to supplement Lake Elsinore’s circulating collection  Demand established already  In kind  Salaries  Food and drinks, promotional materials

Timeline  All eight branches committed to holding at least two programs before the end of August,  February-April: Held focus groups at each branch and planned programs  May: Purchased materials based on focus group recommendations  June-August: Programs held, often as part of Summer Reading Program

What They did  Most bought Nintendo Wiis or expanded existing Wii programs  Free play sessions, tournaments, etc.  Board games – checking them out  Lego project at Mission Trail Library

Other Activities  Gaming class at Staff Day, July 30, 2010  GGMIG/LibGaming participation  Created purchase list to assist other branches  Convinced administration to reverse policy on purchasing games for circulation  Expanding to include Dungeons and Dragons

Anticipated Outputs  8 focus groups will be held (one at each branch) prior to program planning Focus groups held!  5 purchase packages will be created and distributed to branches to choose from Purchase packages completed, but the branches tailored their own in the end.

Anticipated Outputs  Minimum of 16 programs and 320 attendees (20 each) 35+ programs between June 1 and August patrons attended – average of  20 new video games for Lake Elsinore that circulate more than 10 times/year 21 bought Checked last on 8/18/10 – all checked out, on hold, or in transit. Avg. 2.6 circs in 2 months.

Anticipated Outcomes  A survey will be conducted at the end of each program to answer the following questions:  Has this program changed how you look at libraries? If so, how? Yes: 70/83 (84.3% - We hoped for 50%)  Would you like to see these programs continue? 83 of 83 (100%) expressed support.  What kinds of gaming programs would you like to see at the Library?  Has this program encouraged you to learn more about what the Library has to offer? Yes: 76/83 (91.6% - We hoped for 50%)

Community Impact  Lots of enthusiasm about the library  Many positive comments in evaluations  “I thought [libraries] were boring but it is fun”  “I had more fun than I’ve ever had in a library”  “Makes me want to come to library more”  “Now I really want to come to the library after school every day”  “I see that the librarians care and that the job they do is important”  Actual thank yous!

Successful if  …patron demand causes the participating libraries to expand their programming after the grant expires.  Several branches have committed to regular sessions (weekly or biweekly)

Next steps  Work more with GGMIG to create best practices at a national level  Continue advocacy and developing talking points for libraries that need to overcome prejudices  Lobby for the inclusion of M-rated games  Encourage innovative new programs  ALA’s National Gaming Day, Nov. 13

Last Words: Easy to do Inexpensive Effective High demand You can do it too!