Library Automation Systems—A Brief Overview

To fill a gap in my knowledge of how libraries work, I decided to look into the question: “What is a Library Automation System?” This post serves as an overview only, since the subject is complex in many ways. I’ll explore other areas, such as how the system protects patron privacy information, in later posts.

A basic, working definition: “An automated library system is an information and communications technology (ICT) that interacts with users to perform specific tasks. It uses technology to support and enhance library functions in order to provide efficient and cost effective services to library patrons and library management.”¹ Another term used to describe the technology is Integrated Library System (ILS).

Such functions include:

• Cataloging
  
• MARC Records
  
• Online Public Access Catalog (OPAC)
  
• Circulation
  
• Inventory Control
  
• Reports and Reporting
  
• Serials Management
  
• Inter-library loans

Chances are that you’ve interfaced with a library automation system if you’ve searched the library’s catalog,checked out a book, or placed materials on reserve. Have you ever received a mechanical-sounding voice mail alerting you to an overdue notice? Those are two examples of how patrons interface with all or part of an automation system. Library personnel use the system to enter new acquisitions into the system, facilitate inter-library loans, and track circulation usage. Note that an automation system, or ILS, is used to manage the physical resources, not other assets, such as electronic databases, that are part of 21st-century libraries.²

A system, or set of systems, that manages multiple functions has a clear impact on the well-oiled running of a library. To be successful, the implementation of an automation system needs to be carefully planned and executed.

The process of matching a system to a library’s needs is complex and involves researching the needs of stakeholders and requesting quotes (RFPs) from vendors. There are a host of vendors — SirsiDynix, Ex Libris, and Polaris, to name a few — that offer solutions for libraries large and small. My local library uses a Polaris system.

Considerations taken into account in selecting an automating system include:

• Library type
  
• Annual circulation
  
• Number of items in the collection
  
• Number of simultaneous/concurrent users
  
• Cost
  
• Ease of use

Once a system is implemented, it continuously evolves and changes, like most technology undertakings, driven both by technical advances and the changing needs of stakeholders.

According to Marshal Breeding, Director for Innovative Technologies and Research at Vanderbilt University Libraries, the recent economic downturn has many libraries scaling back automation plans and even rethinking their ties to established platforms in favor of open-source technologies that do not have licensing fees.³ For those libraries without technical personnel to support an open-source implementation, application service providers (ASPs) may be the answer, according to Andrew Pace in TechTrends. In these situations, an outside entity hosts the system and the library interfaces with it through a web browser. ASPs are also known as software as service (SaS).

Have automation systems impacted libraries? Absolutely. But just as the image of the card catalog seems like a fuzzy memory, the idea of one integrated system also seems to be fading. Other technologies and system design approaches are pushing libraries forward, including cloud computing, APIs, and the idea of “knitting together’ various systems.²

As I conduct my library interviews I will ask about the considerations the library had in choosing their automation system.

Privacy?
A question that occurred to me is whether patron information is secure within the circulation piece of a system. I wasn’t alone in wondering this. Walt Crawford voiced his concern on this topic back in 2003 in American Libraries: “I don't believe there's any excuse for a general-purpose library system that ships with retention of circulation history as a default, or even as an option without loads of warnings.”⁵. In an age where people guard their privacy from identity fraud and unwanted marketing, they expect that it will be secure when they check out a book.

A resource to learn more about automation systems:
Mr. Breeding (referenced above) has a long history of reporting on automation systems in libraries and the automation industry. He is the author of the Library Tech Guides website that presents useful analysis on the systems and the industry.

___________________
¹Schultz-Jones, B. (2006). An Automation Primer for School Library Media Centers and Small Libraries. Worthington, OH: Linworth Books. Retrieved from http://go.galegroup.com/ps/start.do?p=GVRL&u=acd_gvrl

²Breeding, M. (2006, October). Knitting systems together. Computers in Libraries, 26, 9. p.32(4). Retrieved from:http://find.galegroup.com/gps/start.do?prodId=IPS&userGroupName=pub_powersearch

³Breeding, M. (2009, March). Library automation in a difficult economy. Computers in Libraries, 29, 3. p.22(3). Retrieved from:http://find.galegroup.com/gps/start.do?prodId=IPS&userGroupName=pub_powersearch

⁴Pace, A. K. (2005, September 20). Helping You Buy: Integrated Library Sytems. TechTrends, p.NA. Retrieved from: http://find.galegroup.com/gps/start.do?prodId=IPS&userGroupName=pub_powersearch


⁵Crawford, W. (2003, August). The Crawford files: time for a privacy audit. American Libraries, 34, 7. p.91(1). Retrieved from: http://find.galegroup.com/gps/start.do?prodId=IPS&userGroupName=pub_powersearch

A Day in the Life… Second Life

This blog focuses on the question, “how has technology impacted libraries?” While some technologies transform libraries and library professionals, others, like Second Life, illustrate the adage that “the more things change, the more they stay the same.”

According to its website, “Second Life is a free 3D virtual world where users can socialize, connect and create using free voice and text chat.”¹ It’s an immersive environment where participants create “avatars”— forms that allow them to travel and interact. There are now at least one million registered users and approximately 10,000 of them are online in Second Life at any given time.² A population this large must have information needs.

As a Library and Information Science student, I wondered if the Second Life reference desk would be different from any other. To answer that question I first turned to Bill Sowers, who runs the reference desk at the State Library of Kansas branch in Second Life. He kindly agreed to share his experiences through a telephone interview conducted on Friday, June 4, 2010.

Mary Claire: What is your background and how did you become a reference desk librarian on Second Life?

Bill: I’m a cataloger by training. Prior to August 2006 my world was working with OPACs and OCLC. I had a subscription to AutoCat and absolutely no Instant Messaging (IM) or virtual world experience. In August 2006 my Director asked the staff to give Second Life a try. I went into Second Life with my wife [Diana] and we volunteered on the Second Life library sims starting with the government documents collection. Both of us eventually began our own libraries in Second Life, a State Library of Kansas Virtual Branch and a Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library Virtual Branch.

Mary Claire: How did that go?

Bill: It was frustrating at first, because I had no knowledge of IM or texting, which is a basic communication tool in Second Life. But gradually I learned. Diana had some experience with it, so she helped me learn the basics.

Mary Claire: It seems like the Second Life community would be really young and tech-savvy.

Bill: Actually many inhabitants are older—40 and up and highly educated. Younger gaming types aren’t drawn to it. There’s no reward system, no mission to carry out, points aren’t rewarded for certain activities. The attraction is the social networking and creativity.

Mary Claire: And I recall you mentioning that you had a special PC, one equipped for gaming. Is hardware a barrier?

Bill: Yes, users need a fast internet connection and enough processing power to run graphics-rich programs. There are rural areas in Kansas that do not have connections fast enough to handle it.

Mary Claire: What are your duties as a Second Life Librarian?

Bill: My presence is twofold: to update and assist the State Library of Kansas virtual branch, and Diana and I also do larger work at the Community Virtual Library on Second Life. Just as a public library serves its community, Second Life libraries serve the Second Life community. I get questions like “How do I buy hair?” and “Where are the interesting landmarks?”

I use the same tools as any reference desk: pathfinders and handouts. I built a catalog of references. I keep stats on how many questions are answered, by type and by visitor. I do some tours of the library and Second Life. I try to dispel the stereotypical views of Kansas with the collection I’ve set up at the State Library of Kansas Virtual Branch.

Mary Claire: Do you provide your management with reports, average number of questions answered, etc?

Bill: Yes, just like any branch; and I always point out the Second Life branch has no facilities expenses! We do have visitor statistics, too, which I supply to my administration at the State Library of Kansas.

Mary Claire: What are you working on now?

Bill: I’m working on a book fair for July and August. We’ll have authors reading excerpts from their work. an author discussing how to write in a virtual environment, another on how to publish your own manscript. I am setting up a display on "The History of Printed Text in Communication". We found a digital Guttenberg Press that someone had already built in Second Life and it will be featured in the display.

Mary Claire: Are other libraries or colleges using Second Life?

Bill: Some that I’m aware of: the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh Nursing Program is using Second Life for its distance learners to demonstrate procedures. San Jose State University, University of Hawaii and Mexico State University use the environment for class assignments.

Mary Claire: How has the experience changed you or shaped your career?

Bill: It’s broadened my social network far beyond Kansas. I’m sensitive to the fact that only about 40% of Second Life inhabitants are from the U.S. One of my first projects was to set up a document collection on Info Island. A Canadian techie called me out on its U.S.-centered focus. I’ve connected with many library professionals from around the world that I would have never met before.

Professionally, I became interested in blogging, and now manage two blogs for the State Library of Kansas on government information. I read a broader range of topics. I tweet and use FaceBook… seemingly small things but big steps for me.

Mary Claire: Where is all this going?

Bill: Libraries in Second Life and other virtual worlds are in their infancy. There are so many ways we can evolve I really cannot predict. One interesting area is exhibits. There have been some effective exhibits focusing on the recent events in Haiti and confronting the topic of human trafficking. These have leveraged the 3rd and 4th dimension properties of Second Life with some really interesting, high impact results. We’ll just have to wait and see where it goes from here.

* * *

(B. Sowers, personal communication, June 4, 2010)

Thanks, Bill for sharing some of your experiences as a Second Life Reference Librarian!

After my call to Bill I scanned the programming listed on the Info Island page,³ (http://www.infoisland.org/), and noted that it could be from any public library: Community Virtual Library Summer Book Club, Exercise & Fitness @ Community Virtual Library, and a Virtual World Landmark Center.

While Second Life is a world apart from the “brick and mortar” world we inhabit, some needs are very much the same. Participants need information and a library is still a venue for providing it. Yes, there is a learning curve for walking, flying, and teleporting, but the essence of the reference interview remains.

_______________________

¹For more information see http://www.secondlife.com/

²Reena J. & McConnon, A. (2006, November). Second Life Lessons. Business Week, (4011), 17. Retrieved from Research Library. doi:1166572491

³For more information see http://www.infoisland.org/

E-books and e-readers: The future is here!

You know that obnoxious guy—the one who gets a new gadget and has to go around telling all his friends (and often, total strangers) about the glories of his shiny, wondrous new toy? I’ll admit that since I got my e-reader, I have very much become That Guy. I thought that in this post, we could discuss some of the many, many digital reading devices on the market, and look at how their advent is changing things in the bookselling and library worlds.

First, let’s discuss some of the products that are available and what they offer. We’ll start with mine, Barnes & Noble’s “nook.” I can read files and books which are in an EPUB format, and I can also read PDF files, which is very helpful when I want to carry around journal articles for class. Like some other e-readers, it uses a screen which is not backlit¹, so it’s far easier on the eyes than a computer screen. Amazon’s Kindle is fairly similar, and Sony’s e-reader is pretty comparable, too. Apple’s iPad is larger, heavier and backlit. It carries a much heftier price, and can do about as much as a small laptop. Next, although I have never seen one other than in a photo, the Skiff seems to be a really intriguing reader for periodicals². It sort of looks like a big, bendy, plastic newspaper—which preserves the intended layout of articles. Then, there is the QUE reader, which I was told that Barnes & Noble recently bought, and it’s supposed to be more a kind of business-oriented e-reader (supporting more than just PDFs—things like PowerPoint files³, etc.). Two final items worth mentioning are Blio and Copia, which are now still just software, but they stand out because of the way they make reading more of a multimedia experience, including links, audio, and even social sites where people form book groups and list favorite reading material⁴.

It seems like e-books and e-readers are becoming a more widespread phenomenon. They have already appeared as topics in advice columns (one owner asks if downloading a pirated e-book after she had already paid for the hardcover “counts” as actual piracy⁵). Also, let us not forget the real measure of something’s popularity—its Facebook presence. As of this writing (9 p.m., June 5, 2010), the Kindle boasts 64,302 Facebook fans, the nook 16,395, and the Apple iPad 125,374⁶.

As these devices become more widely available, affordable, and user-friendly, it doesn’t take a bookseller or librarian to notice that there are big changes coming to the industry. What’s going to happen to the hardcover/paperback divide, once e-books take over? How long will readers have to wait before a new title drops its price? One researcher mentions author compensation, and how different that’s going to be in an e-book world⁷. Publishers and their strict adherence to certain formats will likely be changing soon, as well⁸ (think of a newspaper’s column layout, or reference maps in epic fantasy fiction books).

What does this all mean for libraries? Josh Hadro states in his article, “It’s time to start prepping on the ways our patrons will soon be expecting to interact with content⁹”. My own rewording: We’d better get ready! If any library user is as excited as I am about e-readers, they’re going to be wanting to get some of their digital content from the same great place they go to check out the latest print books. William Dougherty mentions in his article about e-readers that a library in Florida has just announced that they will be making Kindles available to users later this year¹⁰. Could other libraries be far behind? Many are already at the forefront of providing digital loans, at least, and are helping new users understand how to use various formats. A local library to which I am partial offers digital material, and has an excellent FAQ about how to go about using several different digital download processes, from using Adobe EPUB and PDFs, to using Overdrive. Check out the Digital Catalog and Download Center link at Dearborn Library.

It will be challenging to incorporate e-books and readers into traditional libraries. There are, as one author says, quoting a review of the Consumer Electronics Show which was littered with new devices, “Officially Too Damn Many E-book Readers¹¹”. You can see from the website above just how many ways files and books can be saved and loaned. It can get confusing for both patrons and librarians, which is all the more reason for us to stay on top of technological changes like these so we can help users.

In addition to the changes involving author compensation and e-book/hardcover releases, it seems that there are many challenges on the horizon which deal with the way libraries acquire e-books. Patrons may have more say in choosing the content—for example, if enough users click on an e-book, the library would get it automatically¹². Many libraries will also begin to pick up e-books first, and then buy print if the digital version is unavailable¹³. This leads us to consider another challenge, which is in regard to the ratio of digital to print acquisitions—put simply, money spent on one format leaves less money to purchase other formats. All sorts of legal issues exist in the digital rights world, but perhaps in the future, buying one format may entitle readers or libraries to all formats. It all leads us back to the idea that many, many aspects of book buying and lending will be changing in the future. It is our duty as information stewards and disseminators to stay informed and upbeat about these changes as they occur. With the intense marketing being done in the e-reader arena, we can be assured that our patrons will!

__________________________________________
¹Dougherty, W.C. (2010). E-readers? Passing fad or trend of the future?. The Journal of Academic Librarianship, 36(3), 254-256.
²Kho, N.D. (2010, April). E-readers and publishing's bottom line: the opportunities and challenges presented by the explosion of the e-reader market. EContent, Retrieved from http://www.econtentmag.com
³Hadro, J. (2010). In front of (e)readers. Library Journal, 135(3), 24.
⁴Ibid.
⁵Cohen, R. (2010, April 4). E-book dodge. The New York Times Magazine, 15.
⁶Please refer to Facebook.
⁷Kho, N.D. (2010, April). E-readers and publishing's bottom line: the opportunities and challenges presented by the explosion of the e-reader market. EContent, Retrieved from http://www.econtentmag.com
⁸Ibid.
⁹Hadro, J. (2010). In front of (e)readers. Library Journal, 135(3), 24.
¹⁰Dougherty, W.C. (2010). E-readers? Passing fad or trend of the future?. The Journal of Academic Librarianship, 36(3), 254-256.
¹¹Hadro, J. (2010). In front of (e)readers. Library Journal, 135(3), 24.
¹²van Gisbergen, M., Profera, E., & Stamison, C.M. (2009). A Librarian's view of ebook acquisitions. Information Today, 26(11), 14.
¹³Ibid.

Impact of RFID Tags in Libraries

RFID tags have been an extremely helpful tool in the growth of libraries. They have allowed circulation services to be much more efficient and quicker than before. There are many products that contain RFID tags besides library materials – farm animals, car keys, security tags, and tollway tags ¹. RFID tags were originally used to track wild and farm animals, then they eventually expanded into other areas and it was realized that they could be used for collection management and security in libraries ¹. As of 2005, there were about 60 libraries with 10 million books using RFID tags ¹, but these numbers are surely much higher now.

RFID tags are used for many different things within a library. They can be used to “keep track of user history, the life cycle of a book … [and enable] librarians to keep better inventory and better security control of the library” ¹. These tags, paired with the computer systems and programs that keep track of this data, can really be beneficial to libraries when it comes to retrieving records or information about books. In addition to the uses listed, the tags can also show information such as an item’s barcode, name, when it was last checked out, when it was last checked in, and which patron had it last. Some other benefits of these tags include reducing lines at the checkout counter, less repetitive work for the staff, reduced costs and handling, inventory control, automated sorting, and the ability to find misshelved items ¹. Many libraries, now that they have RFID tags in the materials, have implemented self-check systems in which the patrons check out their own materials themselves.

As mentioned, security is an important issue when it comes to RFID tags. Libraries with RFID tags in their items typically have security gates installed at the front doors. The devices at the front doors are called “sensors”, while the devices used by the staff to check in and out materials are called “readers” ². If a patron walks out of the door without checking out an item, the sensors at the door go off. This helps to cut down on theft of library materials.

As shown, there are many benefits of having RFID tags in library items. They hold information and allow for quicker check-in and check-out of items. They also are helpful to the staff because an item with an RFID tag does not have to be in the line of sight of the reader ². Barcodes must be in the line of sight of the barcode reader, so it takes longer to check in/out books items way. Items with RFID tags can be checked in/out from a further distance and also much quicker than items with just barcodes ².

A major benefit of these tags is that they open up the possibility for a library to have other technologies that they are compatible with. One of these technologies is the self check-out. Nowadays most libraries have these. A self check-out consists of a scanner to read the library card barcodes, an RFID pad to read the materials, and computer monitor (and an unlocking device if the library has locked DVD cases) ³. Self check-outs are helpful because patrons can skip long lines at the check-out/circulation desk and check materials out on their own ³. Librarians and other library staff will direct patrons to the self check-outs when needed and show them how to use them. There are some occasional problems with self check-outs but the “benefits to the system outweigh the challenges and predicted to increase as patrons become accustomed to the new system” ³.

Some libraries have invested in automatic sorters and/or automatic check-in systems. The items are put in a bin or a slot and ride down a conveyor belt, which has sensors on it, and get checked in. They are then sorted into bins or onto other conveyor belts that go where the item needs to go. These automatic systems would not be possible if the RFID tags were not in the items. The library that I work at (Canton Public Library) is going to be getting a machine like this within the next few weeks. All of the RFID tags in the items were replaced last fall and now they are compatible with new software and with the sorting system.

Here is a decent video of a sorting machine that sorts the items with conveyor belts. The books are placed into the bookdrop and then checked in and sorted with the conveyor belt. This one is more advanced than some in the fact that it actually places the books on carts, instead of just throwing them into bins.
Sorting System Video

__________________________________
¹Erwin, Emmett and Christian Kern (2005). Radio Frequency Identification
in Libraries. Australas Public Library Inf Serv, 18(1), 20-8.

²Galhorta, M.K. and A.M. Galhorta (2009). Application of Radio Frequency Identification Technology in Libraries. DESIDOC J Libr Inf Technol, 29(3), 59-64.

³Thompson, Jessica E. (2006). Self Check-Out. Georgia Library Quarterly, 43(2), 15-17.

Impact of the Internet in Libraries

Libraries have always been a place to store information and a “symbol of human intellectual achievement” ¹. They still are these things, but after the Internet came to be, one of their main purposes has been to provide access to information ¹. The Internet has made a huge impact on our lives in so many ways. We can now shop, chat with people, share photos, watch TV, and do so many other things online. Just as the Internet has had such a huge impact on our lives, it has also had a huge impact on the libraries. Most do not realize how much the Internet has changed the way that libraries function. It has opened up a vast amount of resources and information for librarians and patrons to use and access. Librarians are now expected to embrace the information cycle that is the Internet, to provide Internet access to connect people with the information they need, to help make accessing information through the Internet more organized, to become involved in policy decisions concerning Internet resources, and to be involved with the development of tools and resources to use the Internet effectively ².

“The Internet is an invaluable tool in nearly every organization. An organization that cannot utilize Internet both as a productivity tool and as a marketing tool may have a tremendous disadvantage” ³. This is definitely true for libraries. Not only has the Internet been important for libraries in the fact that it helps with finding information and allowing patrons access to the library’s catalogs, but it is also important in the fact that libraries are in competition with other places, in so many ways. The Internet is what the public wants, so it needs to be given to them. If libraries are not going to provide it to them, patrons will go elsewhere to find it, and not support the library. Libraries need to provide Internet services to give the patrons, as well as themselves, access to the library catalog and other information they are looking for. Not only does the Internet provide the public with access to a library’s catalog, but it also provides other important information, such as their mission statement, hours of operation, and other services ¹. This is helpful because this information can be accessed from anywhere at any time and is very convenient.

The Internet has greatly helped librarians when it comes to doing research and for storing important information. They are now able to search the Internet for electronic and digital resources, as well as use it for more simpler things, such as e-mailing or teleconferencing ². Computers and Internet now also help libraries store, organize, and preserve important information ². Preservation is become popular lately. “As society becomes increasingly more digital more information resides on the Internet, and focus on storage and preservation” ². Many libraries have started digitizing projects and working to make their materials digital and accessible on computers and over the Internet. This is great because it may preserve the information for a longer period of time, and it makes the information more accessible to more people.

In addition to public libraries, the Internet has also affected school libraries as well. Computer systems have helped and improved teaching and learning in schools ³. Presentations, videos, and web sites from the Internet assist teachers in their instruction ³. These things are applicable among all levels of learning, but then there are also more complicated tools such as web-based classes and list-serves that can be applied at the college level and above ³. School libraries offer students many services via the Internet that they can use while they are in the library as well as at home, such as access to the library support staff, databases, web discussions, syllabi, and course readings ³. These are services that we have probably all utilized before, especially accessing databases through a school library. If this service was not available, students would have to track down physical journals to find an article they are looking for.

Many people believe that the Internet will be the downfall of libraries eventually. Maybe there are some people who just use Google themselves instead of asking for help from a librarian. But the reality is that the Internet complements the services that libraries provide. With all of the new tools being created (the Internet, word processors, etc.) the public will always need someone (librarians) to help them with these tools.. Many librarians feel that the Internet provides new opportunities for libraries and that it facilitates the need for new skills ².

__________________________________
¹Soomroo, Sheein Gul (2000). Libraries of New Millenium. Pakistan Library Bulletin, 31(3/4), 34-8.

²Soomroo, Sheein Gul (2001). The Librarian and Internet. Pakistan Library & Information Science Journal, 32(1/2), 1-16.

³Hou, Feng-Hsiung (2003). A Research on the Impact of Internet Use in American Elementary School Libraries. Journal of Education Media & Library Sciences, 40(3), 299-308.

Video Games in Libraries

Stumbling across a library website, a casual patron might wonder about pages like this one: Dearborn Libraries, which mentions Wii gaming as an event on June 4th at the Snow Branch Library in Dearborn. The Ann Arbor District Library has been hosting game tournaments for several years¹. It seems that it is becoming more and more common to find such events at public libraries. Our abovementioned casual patron may be wondering what on earth video games are doing there.

Well, popular console and PC games are doing lots of thing in libraries! First, it can be argued that games have always been present there—they are just digital now². Libraries have supported basic tabletop games for a long time—chess and other board games, for example³. But, you say, chess has some educational value, right? True—but, so do many popular video games, in one way or another. Many different titles encourage problem solving, information seeking, multitasking, and storytelling. These are just a few benefits; the Nintendo Wii, for example, can even provide physical exercise with many of its sports titles⁴.

Another educational benefit deals with the storylines involved in many video games. They are often very complex and the character development can be amazingly involved. If a patron enjoys the rich worlds created and the journey of the protagonist in the storyline, what better way to get him or her hooked on a book series? An excellent article by Easterwood and Wesson tells us all about this idea, and they give great examples of the concept—recommending epic fantasy series to those who enjoy role-playing quest-oriented games, mysteries for strategy game players, and so on⁵.

It should also be mentioned briefly that even academic libraries have good reason to keep game collections and the consoles on which they can be played. Mainly, think about all the research that is done on the gaming culture—are certain titles too violent, etc. How is anyone to complete such research if they cannot experience the game first hand⁶?

If one looks at the games in terms of having fun for fun’s sake alone, and asks why plain entertainment is an element in libraries, there are a couple of responses. One answer is simply that the precedent has already been set by the presence of, let’s say, comedy DVDs or romance novels in libraries⁷. I read several different authors who referred to libraries as “third places,” where one goes to have some space in the world which doesn’t fall into either the “my home” or “my job” category. Libraries are also a place to interact, and it can be argued that video games are a great way for institutions to facilitate that, whether it involves grandparents sharing simple puzzle games with kids, or folks from different economic strata finding common ground and enjoying time together during a tournament⁸.

So, what are some of the challenges for librarians who wish to make video games a bigger part of the services their library offers? First, they will have to take a look at the space which is available in their building. Is there enough room to offer stations where consoles can be set up for tournaments and group gaming nights? Can they be put far enough away from folks who are doing research and who are using this “third place” as a calm haven for quiet reading⁹? Do the funds exist to add soundproof stalls or to wall off a full reading room for those who need silence?

Secondly, someone will have to take on a pretty large responsibility regarding acquisitions and collection maintenance. Games can lose their popularity quickly, and staff must always be on top of asking players about what’s current and “hot.” One also has to be careful not to pigeonhole library users and their interests based on gender or age, for example. Many girls play first-person shooters, and many elderly patrons might be interested in Wii games which involve moderate movement and activity¹⁰. Also, how does one know which consoles to buy? One author mentions that it isn’t the same as buying the latest-and-greatest, as happens with things like the switch from VHS tapes to DVDs, or as simple as the competition between VHS and Beta—it’s more complicated due to the fact that there are many more systems on the market at once. Shawn McCann’s article entitled “Systems showdown” compares three currently popular consoles for the purpose of helping librarians choose the one which is best for them based on system price, individual game price, and popularity¹¹. All of these factors must be considered.

Finally, gaming libraries must stand behind their choice to support digital game media. Check out the Frequently Asked Questions part of this ALA-backed website which is intended to help libraries interested in gaming culture (Library Gaming Toolkit) for suggestions about how librarians should respond if challenged by, say, a patron who thinks his or her taxpayer dollars should not be supporting video games. The FAQ, in making the argument for gaming, also reiterates and neatly summarizes many of the points I found in multiple journal articles and listed above.

My personal opinion is that public libraries which host video game gatherings and maintain extensive game collections are just taking the next logical step in continuing to provide the kind of learning and entertainment environment that they always have. I have concerns about noise and space, as I’m sure many other patrons might. But, necessity being the mother of invention, I feel confident that newly designed library buildings will begin to take into account alternative layouts and floor plans for those who would like to use their “third place” as somewhere to go on epic quests with their friends or perhaps play some digital tennis with their grandfathers.
__________________________________
¹Barack, L. (2005). Gaming at your library. School Library Journal, 51(7), 22.
²Adams, S.S. (2009). The Case for video games in libraries. Library Review, 58(3), doi: 10.1108/00242530910942045
³Ibid.
⁴Ibid.
⁵Easterwood, L., & Wesson, L.P. (2009). Gamers are readers. School Library Journal, 55(4), 24.
⁶Laskowski, M., & Ward, D. (2009). Building next generation video game collections in academic libraries. The Journal of Academic Librarianship, 35(3), 267-273.
⁷Adams, S.S. (2009). The Case for video games in libraries. Library Review, 58(3), doi: 10.1108/00242530910942045
⁸Ibid.
⁹Ibid.
¹⁰Danforth, L. (2010). Rethinking your strategy. Library Journal, 135(3), 73.
¹¹McCann, S. (2009). Systems showdown. Library Journal, 134(7), 73.