PVLD Director's Blog

Cartoon about the Annex

It's great to have newspaper articles about the library, but you know you've hit the big time when you are the subject of and editorial cartoon!  Today's Palos Verdes Peninsula News had this about the Annex opening its doors to Seniors -

Download annex_cartoon_in_pv_news.pdf

"Seniors" at the Annex

On Tuesday PVLD hosted its inaugural event for "seniors" at the Annex (I hate that term but we've yet to come up with a better one...in our Strategic Plan we say "Boomers+").  About 35 people came to enjoy refreshments, video games, prizes, and more.  The event made the front page of our local paper, the Palos Verdes Peninsula News - http://www.pvnews.com/articles/2007/07/26/local_news/news2.txt

It is great to see this space used for multiple purposes and since I was unable to attend I enjoyed seeing these photos of participants playing Wii and just enjoying the event!
 
http://www.slide.com/r/ezasaplZ5j95Z62aTWOq6u8ghXqOdSea?previous_view=mscd_embedded_url&view=original

Participants were asked to complete a brief survey to help us plan for future programs for older adults at the Annex and in our libraries.  We're all looking forward to more events like this, and to collaborating with our local Seniors group, the Peninsula Seniors, to explore joint programs and multigenerational program opportunities.

Thank you to the dedicated staff members who planned this event - Debra Petersen, Phil Wesley, Ali Orr, Louise Beebe, and Erik Adams.  Great job!

Video Gaming in Libraries

Video Games, originally uploaded by pvldteens.

PVLD staff have been talking a lot about how to incorporate video gaming into our services, programs, and collections so I was pleased to see this posting on the "Designing Better Libraries" Blog

http://dbl.lishost.org/blog/2007/03/31/libraries-and-gaming/

Why video games in libraries?  Because they support many of the things we see as our core mission!  They provide intellectual stimulation, facilitate skill-building (e.g. problem solving and manual dexterity) and as this photo from the Annex shows - they even promote social interaction and community building.  They can even impart real knowledge - at last year's Public Library Association conference one of the speakers told of bringing his son, who has Downs Syndrome, to Boston for the first time.  As they travelled around the city the boy, who had never been there, pointed out various landmarks and even helped give directions.  Where did he learn how to navigate Boston?  From a "Tony Hawk" skateboarding video game that is set in that city!  Some games - think "Dance Dance Revolution" or Nintendo Wii - even promote physical activity.

And video games aren't just for teens! Check out this video from the Sedgebrook Senior Center in Illinois!  You'll need to scrolll down to the video called "Calling all Bowlers".

http://www.erickson.com/ericksonvideogallery/evlPlayerver5.asp?videoname=sportsActivitiesStreaming&var2=7

This New York Times article also discusses the seniors and video games 

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/30/arts/30seni.html?_r=1&ref=arts

Here at PVLD we have taken our first steps into the brave world of video gaming by having video game stations at the Annex (and hosting our first ever video game tournament at the Annex during Spring Break this week) and offering video games for circulation at the Miraleste Library, and soon at Peninsula Center Library.

Ideas we are exploring include:

• Offering video game based programming for seniors at the Annex on weekday mornings when the space is otherwise unused.
• Creating a "PVLD Gaming" website with links to games and information.
• Purchasing a number of handheld video games (e.g. Gameboys or PSPs) that could be used for game tournaments using our wireless networks.
• Purchasing handheld video games for circulation to give people a chance to try them out.
• Sponsoring a "guild" or team in an online multi-user game such as "World of Warcraft"

We'd love to hear your thoughts and suggestions!