Comments on: Gaming at the Library, Old School Style http://www.swissarmylibrarian.net/2008/10/30/gaming-at-the-library-old-school-style or, The Hitchhiker's Guide to Fear and Loathing at a Public Library Reference Desk Thu, 18 Mar 2010 21:25:26 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Brian Herzog http://www.swissarmylibrarian.net/2008/10/30/gaming-at-the-library-old-school-style#comment-50836 Brian Herzog Thu, 13 Nov 2008 14:20:30 +0000 http://www.swissarmylibrarian.net/?p=465#comment-50836 @Mary Ellen: I like that idea - it would probably work, if I could convince the director to let two Pages (or me, for that matter) spend some time each day playing. Someone else suggested just leaving the pieces on the table, and that might prompt people to use them. But actually, I'm happy to report that we've finally had our first actual patrons check out a game and play together. It was a father and his six year old son, and they spent about two hours playing chess. Reluctantly, the son admitted that his dad won. @Mary Ellen: I like that idea - it would probably work, if I could convince the director to let two Pages (or me, for that matter) spend some time each day playing. Someone else suggested just leaving the pieces on the table, and that might prompt people to use them.

But actually, I’m happy to report that we’ve finally had our first actual patrons check out a game and play together. It was a father and his six year old son, and they spent about two hours playing chess. Reluctantly, the son admitted that his dad won.

]]> By: Mary Ellen Petrich http://www.swissarmylibrarian.net/2008/10/30/gaming-at-the-library-old-school-style#comment-50835 Mary Ellen Petrich Thu, 13 Nov 2008 05:36:09 +0000 http://www.swissarmylibrarian.net/?p=465#comment-50835 Maybe they would be willing to play a little Monopoly every day. If people see them playing, they might want to play themselves. It's sort of like graffiti. One person does it, and everyone wants to. Or perhaps you have some willing volunteers? Maybe they would be willing to play a little Monopoly every day. If people see them playing, they might want to play themselves. It’s sort of like graffiti. One person does it, and everyone wants to. Or perhaps you have some willing volunteers?

]]> By: Brian Herzog http://www.swissarmylibrarian.net/2008/10/30/gaming-at-the-library-old-school-style#comment-50810 Brian Herzog Wed, 05 Nov 2008 23:42:29 +0000 http://www.swissarmylibrarian.net/?p=465#comment-50810 @Mary Ellen: They are indeed - I asked two of our Pages to pose. I was just thinking a simple picture, but they really got into laying all the cards out and rolling the dice and moving their pieces around the board. Any diversion from shelving is a good one. @Mary Ellen: They are indeed - I asked two of our Pages to pose. I was just thinking a simple picture, but they really got into laying all the cards out and rolling the dice and moving their pieces around the board. Any diversion from shelving is a good one.

]]> By: Mary Ellen Petrich http://www.swissarmylibrarian.net/2008/10/30/gaming-at-the-library-old-school-style#comment-50777 Mary Ellen Petrich Sun, 02 Nov 2008 00:04:32 +0000 http://www.swissarmylibrarian.net/?p=465#comment-50777 Who are the two young women playing Monopoly? Are they '<a href="http://laughingsquid.com/squidlist/events/index.php?com=detail&eID=173210&year=2007&month=11" rel="nofollow">Refrigerator Ladies</a>'? Who are the two young women playing Monopoly? Are they ‘Refrigerator Ladies‘?

]]> By: Brian Herzog http://www.swissarmylibrarian.net/2008/10/30/gaming-at-the-library-old-school-style#comment-50773 Brian Herzog Sat, 01 Nov 2008 14:07:10 +0000 http://www.swissarmylibrarian.net/?p=465#comment-50773 No, but that is a good idea. All the pieces that came with the table were nice wooden sets, so there might be resistance to leaving them out. But I agree that it would encourage play (and if we leave them out, then we can could anyone who touches them as a circ, which is good for our stats). Good idea - I'll bring this up with my coworkers. Thanks. No, but that is a good idea. All the pieces that came with the table were nice wooden sets, so there might be resistance to leaving them out. But I agree that it would encourage play (and if we leave them out, then we can could anyone who touches them as a circ, which is good for our stats). Good idea - I’ll bring this up with my coworkers. Thanks.

]]> By: Shannon http://www.swissarmylibrarian.net/2008/10/30/gaming-at-the-library-old-school-style#comment-50764 Shannon Fri, 31 Oct 2008 17:09:56 +0000 http://www.swissarmylibrarian.net/?p=465#comment-50764 Have you thought about leaving a subset of game pieces at the table? Maybe the chess or checkers? (Those being easiest to replace when they go missing.) It might demonstrate to kids that the table is available for play. We had a chess club at my previous library. It became pretty popular with the preteen crowd, giving them a non-school-related reason to visit the library. Have you thought about leaving a subset of game pieces at the table? Maybe the chess or checkers? (Those being easiest to replace when they go missing.) It might demonstrate to kids that the table is available for play.

We had a chess club at my previous library. It became pretty popular with the preteen crowd, giving them a non-school-related reason to visit the library.

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