Dear Diary,
I am reading the American Libraries journal article titled, "Carvers Bay (SC) Branch Library: Gaming the Way to Literacy"
Description: If you thought gaming in libraries is only for the big-city systems, take a look at this library next to a corn field in rural South Carolina."
Author: Betha GutschePublisher: Date Posted: Aug 1, 2006 Copyright: OCLC 2006
A new library for a new century
Innovation happens in the most surprising places. If asked which US library is pushing the envelope on introducing interactive computer gaming in public libraries, how many would look to the most rural, poor, and isolated corner of a county in South Carolina? And if informed that this corner of the library world has a 30% illiteracy rate, a 15% unemployment rate, a poverty level exceeding 30% with up to 90% of school kids eligible for free or reduced-rate lunches, and a meager 2% rate for library card registration, what odds would you give that it can even keep its doors open?
Where’s the literacy?
Gaming is the key. The library has extended its hours until 7 PM most nights to accommodate the students’ schedules. However, McInvaill intends for the new library to have an impact on the low literacy and high dropout rates, so he’s applying a few rules to the video game lure, linking reading with gaming. In the spirit of the game, kids can aspire to different levels of accomplishment.
The gaming consoles are filled to capacity. The library extended its weekday hours until 8 PM in order to accommodate the teens' school schedules.
Level one: Any individual can use the games for two hours/week
Level two: Extra gaming time is earned by joining the Gaming Club.
Joining requires:
a current library card
good standing (no serious misbehavior)
a commitment to checking out four items/month, two of which must be books
Level three: Once in the Club, points are accumulated to be eligible for additional gaming time, group gaming parties, special prizes (headphones, memory units, gift certificates), or use of the conference room with the 46" TV.
Points are earned by doing at least one of the following:
writing book reports
attending an after-school program
participating in a youth service organization
embracing other positive, self-improvement activities
For the complete article http://www.webjunction.org/do/DisplayContent?id=13796
