Final Reflections

Our first introductory course to the library field has come to a close. I am sad, but also excited for the other courses (and of course the jobs) that are awaiting me. For our last blog post, Dr. Lankes asked that we sum up what we have learned during the semester and explain how our view of the profession has changed from when we first began school back in August.

I have to admit that my view of the profession has changed dramatically. When we first began the semester, I was stuck in defining librarianship in a very traditional way. Dr. Lankes knew that many of us would have this view, and that is why he worked hard to deconstruct that traditional definition for us. I now know that librarianship is about information, knowledge and conversation. It is not about books, shelves, and catalogs. I also know that there are a myriad of opportunities awaiting me in the profession. I don’t have to work in a university or public library to be a librarian. I can work for a hospital, a business, an archive, a museum, a newspaper, a television or radio broadcasting station, and the list goes on.

I also know that I may face some opposition. There are those people out in the world who see librarianship as a dying profession, and do not feel that there is a need for libraries anymore. After my first semester of graduate school, I feel that I am better prepared to face these people and their misguided opinions about libraries. For instance, say I am confronted with the following situation:

Misguided Person: “Why do we need libraries anymore? We can get everything online at home.”

Me, Future Librarian at the Ready: “Libraries are not just about books. In fact, they have always been about information more than anything else. Although you can access a lot of information online, that information is not always accurate or authoritative. Librarians can help you to find the right kind of information on the Internet.”

Misguided Person: “But can’t they do that virtually? Why do we even need a library building that is sucking up our government funding?”

Me: “Libraries serve a very important place in the community. They are gathering places, studying and learning places, and places for people to be themselves in their own community. They are also one of the only places where people who cannot afford computers can go to access the Internet free of charge. As my professor used to say, the mission of librarians is to improve society through facilitating knowledge creation in their communities. Libraries and librarians provide people with the tools and the information they need to become informed and to create. There is no other place in our community that serves the same function as libraries and certainly not one that does so for free. When you take all of this into consideration, libraries are quite deserving of government funding.”

While it is sad that I will have to defend my profession to some people, I take comfort in the fact that those who do not value libraries are simply misinformed. I am proud that I am going into such a worthy profession, and proud to defend that profession to anyone who questions its importance. I can’t wait to be a librarian!

Gaming in Libraries

Professor Scott Nicholson (a fellow Okie!) led the discussion for our IST 511 class this week and talked about the importance of games and gaming in a library setting. Personally, I had never really given much thought to gaming in the library. I knew that gaming in libraries existed, and I’ve heard a lot about National Gaming Day @ Your Library (an annual event each November originated by Dr. Nicholson), but I always thought of gaming in libraries as a sort of ‘extra’ thing that libraries could provide to the public. Professor Nicholson’s discussion made me realize that gaming is in fact a very relevant library service.

Cartoon by Jonny Hawkins.

At my hometown’s public library, I know that gaming nights have become popular over the past few years. When the Wii was first introduced, the library started having weekly Wii game nights for teens where they could take turns playing games for a designated period of time each week. I always thought it was strange that they targeted teens specifically—other age groups like playing with Wiis, too! However, Professor Nicholson brought up the fact that teens are an underrepresented group in public libraries. While there are plenty of activities for young children and even babies (cuddle hours, anyone?) to keep the little ones active at the library, kids tend to lose interest in libraries as they grow into teenagers. This is particularly true for teenage boys, who don’t necessarily think hanging out at the local library is a cool thing to do. Wii game nights, and other gaming events, are a great way for libraries to draw in teenage boys and other underrepresented groups.

There are many other benefits to libraries that provide gaming services and events to their patrons. Based on his own studies, Professor Nicholson discovered that libraries involved in gaming often find an increase in the library’s reputation and that of the library staff. The studies also found that people who attend library gaming events tend to return to the library for other services. Gaming events would also appear to create a more fun and inviting atmosphere at libraries. As Dr. Nicholson said, in times of economic hardship it is important to evoke the idea of the library as a positive, fun, and inviting space.  Gaming can certainly help make libraries reflect this positive atmosphere.

I particularly liked Dr. Nicholson’s ideas about connecting different generations and cultures through gaming. Gaming clubs at the library can be multi-generational and can create relationships among people who would not otherwise meet or associate with one another. Gaming has also become quite popular in senior centers and nursing homes, and many libraries have been taking advantage of this and bring the library, librarians, and games to the seniors. There are so many ways to utilize games at libraries, for fun and for learning, and it all seems to lead back to that wonderful library-as-community-space idea we’ve been talking about all semester.