Summer is in full swing. At the North Plains Public Library this means that our 12 computers are being used during the day even more than during the rest of the year. The other day there was quite a wait for access and we had a building full of young people. Nice!
I spent some time chatting with the various groups but the whole time I was wishing I had some board games (other than Scrabble) that I could bring out to engage them while they waited. I learned a bit about so called German or European board games at Computers in Libraries in April, but I also have a serious board gamer on staff. When I mentioned the idea of us getting some games for times when there’s an opportunity to engage people with content I could tell he was into it. In response he emailed me a list of potential games. I asked Adam if it was okay and I’m sharing the list here.
Games for all ages and skills:
- *Lost Cities: set collecting card game, 2 player, 30 minutes to play
- *Blokus: abstract strategy game, 1-4, best with 4 players, 20 minute game
- For Sale: auction card game, 3-6 players, 20 minute game
- Hey! That’s My Fish: abstract strategy, 2-4 player, best w/ three, 20 minutes
- Coloretto: set collection card game, 2-5, best w/ four players, 30 minutes
- Gulo Gulo: action/dexterity childrens game, 2-6, best w/ three players, 20 minutes
Older kids games (short):
- *Hive: abstract strategy, 2 player, 20 minutes
- Mr Jack: deduction game, 2 player, 30 minutes
- *Wings of War – Famous Aces: WW1 simulation card game, 2-4, best with four players, 30 minutes
Older kids games (longer, more involved):
- *Ticket to Ride: transportation hand management game, 2-5, best with 4 players, 45 minutes
- Pandemic: co-operative play environmental game, 2-4, best with 4 players, 45 minutes
- *Samurai: tile placement, area control game, 2-4, best with 2 players, 45 minutes
- Ingenious: abstract strategy, tile placement game, 1-4, best with 2 players, 45 minutes
- Through the Desert: abstract strategy, tile placement game, 2-5, best with 3 players, 45 minutes
He continues:
I tried to pick games that were easy to learn, short, and didn’t have a lot of pieces to lose. I’ve only played about half of these games and I starred those. You can lookup any of these games and get tons of info on them at boardgamegeek.com – That’s where I’m getting my info. As you can see I’m a board game geek. Maybe some of these suggestions will peak your own interest to play…I own “Samurai” and “Ticket to Ride” if you’re interested some time.
You bet I am. Maybe our at next staff meeting we’ll just play “Ticket to Ride!”
Bonus links
Just in case you haven’t seen them yet, these posts from Library Gamer discuss AASL standards and board games:
Like books or libraries? Have an iPhone or iPod Touch? Then just maybe you’ll want to download some of these nifty library-ish iPhone wallpapers. I made them while half watching “Napoleon Dynamite” during a summer reading program event tonight.
Click through to flickr for the full size 320×480 images.
If you happen to like many of the designs you can download a zip file with all of them: iphonewallpaper.zip. Enjoy!
I stumbled upon this great scene in the library today and it made me happy. There’s probably an opportunity here…
I suspect that the majority of library users out there are repeat visitors. They’ve gotten over whatever barriers to service we erect and have made the library a part of their lives. I’ve been able to recognize, at least by face if not by name, most of the people coming to the points of service I’ve worked in libraries.
I’ve also noticed people’s library use getting deeper as more time passes. Perhaps at first they come in to to simply check out a DVD or use a computer. After more visits during which the relationship is grown they’re more apt to talk about the book they’re checking out, or ask for some help.
This makes sense. Engaging strangers in smalltalk is one thing, but in a library setting there’s often little motivation to go beyond that. So besides being friendly and open, how can libraries and librarians build relationships with people?
Museum 2.0 has some advice that certainly pertains to in-house (and online) library services:
Creating a place for participation is not enough. To design spaces that encourage participation, you have to find ways to offer users mediating objects, rules, and events, and enough non-uniformity to allow intimate moments to slip through. And the hardest part? You have to do it in a way that feels accidental, surprising, and authentic. Otherwise you just become another guy in a bunny suit, people hurriedly passing by.
I’m immediately reminded of the Thinkering Spaces that Jenny Levine has been posting about. The bit about “mediating objects, rules and events” makes me think that libraries should offer more content (maybe specifically story) creation projects for people in the library.
See the rest of the post at Museum 2.0 for her list of “list of conditions for non-compulsory participatory encounters with strangers.”
I suspect that the majority of library users out there are repeat visitors. They’ve gotten over whatever barriers to service we erect and have made the library a part of their lives. I’ve been able to recognize, at least by face if not by name, most of the people coming to the points of service I’ve worked in libraries.
I’ve also noticed people’s library use getting deeper as more time passes. Perhaps at first they come in to to simply check out a DVD or use a computer. After more visits during which the relationship is grown they’re more apt to talk about the book they’re checking out, or ask for some help.
This makes sense. Engaging strangers in smalltalk is one thing, but in a library setting there’s often little motivation to go beyond that. So besides being friendly and open, how can libraries and librarians build relationships with people?
Museum 2.0 has some advice that certainly pertains to in-house (and online) library services:
Creating a place for participation is not enough. To design spaces that encourage participation, you have to find ways to offer users mediating objects, rules, and events, and enough non-uniformity to allow intimate moments to slip through. And the hardest part? You have to do it in a way that feels accidental, surprising, and authentic. Otherwise you just become another guy in a bunny suit, people hurriedly passing by.
I’m immediately reminded of the Thinkering Spaces that Jenny Levine has been posting about. The bit about “mediating objects, rules and events” makes me think that libraries should offer more content (maybe specifically story) creation projects for people in the library.
See the rest of the post at Museum 2.0 for her list of “list of conditions for non-compulsory participatory encounters with strangers.”
