Comments on: Library’s ‘Guitar Hero’ contests a hot ticket http://www.librarystuff.net/2008/08/10/librarys-guitar-hero-contests-a-hot-ticket/ The library weblog dedicated to resources for keeping current and professional development Sun, 12 Feb 2012 05:33:21 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Ed Tiegs http://www.librarystuff.net/2008/08/10/librarys-guitar-hero-contests-a-hot-ticket/comment-page-1/#comment-25707 Ed Tiegs Sun, 12 Oct 2008 17:43:35 +0000 http://www.librarystuff.net/2008/08/10/library%e2%80%99s-%e2%80%98guitar-hero%e2%80%99-contests-a-hot-ticket/#comment-25707 There is no evidence that Gamimg increases literacy, but without gaming, some young people will NEVER set foot in a library. Good luck turning THEM on the Shakespeare! If only one child gets hooked on reading as a result of coming into the library to game, then it's worth it. Also, my daughter, a few years back danced on a DDR knock-off game called "Pump-it-Up" There was a version of one of Mozart's classical works on the game...When we got home she HAD to find that piece and listen to it. She now is quite proficient at the French Horn because of it. Not quite reading, but it is an example of unintended learning... There is no evidence that Gamimg increases literacy, but without gaming, some young people will NEVER set foot in a library. Good luck turning THEM on the Shakespeare! If only one child gets hooked on reading as a result of coming into the library to game, then it’s worth it. Also, my daughter, a few years back danced on a DDR knock-off game called “Pump-it-Up” There was a version of one of Mozart’s classical works
on the game…When we got home she HAD to find that piece and listen to it. She now is quite proficient at the French Horn because of it. Not quite reading, but it is an example of unintended learning…

]]> By: Melissa http://www.librarystuff.net/2008/08/10/librarys-guitar-hero-contests-a-hot-ticket/comment-page-1/#comment-24978 Melissa Tue, 12 Aug 2008 17:11:58 +0000 http://www.librarystuff.net/2008/08/10/library%e2%80%99s-%e2%80%98guitar-hero%e2%80%99-contests-a-hot-ticket/#comment-24978 I've been torn about gaming in libraries. I'm not sure what my opinion is until I see some cold hard statistics. Does anybody know where I can find some? I’ve been torn about gaming in libraries. I’m not sure what my opinion is until I see some cold hard statistics. Does anybody know where I can find some?

]]> By: Jake http://www.librarystuff.net/2008/08/10/librarys-guitar-hero-contests-a-hot-ticket/comment-page-1/#comment-24972 Jake Mon, 11 Aug 2008 02:52:44 +0000 http://www.librarystuff.net/2008/08/10/library%e2%80%99s-%e2%80%98guitar-hero%e2%80%99-contests-a-hot-ticket/#comment-24972 A library doesn't have to be all about reading... -An avid reader A library doesn’t have to be all about reading…

-An avid reader

]]> By: Stefan Hayden http://www.librarystuff.net/2008/08/10/librarys-guitar-hero-contests-a-hot-ticket/comment-page-1/#comment-24971 Stefan Hayden Mon, 11 Aug 2008 02:05:34 +0000 http://www.librarystuff.net/2008/08/10/library%e2%80%99s-%e2%80%98guitar-hero%e2%80%99-contests-a-hot-ticket/#comment-24971 Guitar Hero doesn't even come close to teaching you to play guitar but for some reason ever sine the game came out people who teach guitar have had a large influx of students. That's not a coincidence. <a href="http://academicbiz.typepad.com/piloted/2007/01/what_i_learned_.html" rel="nofollow">This is a great article about how people in Turkey sell rugs</a>. It starts by offering direction to tourist destinations. These destinations have no rugs for sale. Crazy right? Well it turns out to sell a rug you first have to convince some one to come to your store and offering advice is a good way to do that. You see you have to get them in the door. Playing Rock band will never get me to read. But I have a much higher chance of taking a book out of the library if you first get me to the library. You have to get me in the door before I can leave with a book. I read this great article before (that I can't find) about why reading is down over these past several of years. It turns out it's Barnes and Noble's fault. Or Big Box Book stores I should say. You see book spinner used to be a lot more common in every day stores and since people were near book they would occasionally by them. They were not looking for something to read but once they saw something interesting they were happy to read. Big box stores have kind of taken over the book spinner in other stores. People don't go to the book store with a purpose as much as they would buy something on a whim. And because of the lack of book spinners people are exposed to fewer books. Getting people near books raises literacy. Period. How could being around book not raise literacy? Clearly you see a disconnect there. There are many who think Rock Band will stop young people from forming bands. But if you ask the people who teach guitar they will tell you. Guitar lessons are way up and there seems to be only one reason for that. Video games. Guitar Hero doesn’t even come close to teaching you to play guitar but for some reason ever sine the game came out people who teach guitar have had a large influx of students. That’s not a coincidence.

This is a great article about how people in Turkey sell rugs. It starts by offering direction to tourist destinations. These destinations have no rugs for sale. Crazy right? Well it turns out to sell a rug you first have to convince some one to come to your store and offering advice is a good way to do that.

You see you have to get them in the door. Playing Rock band will never get me to read. But I have a much higher chance of taking a book out of the library if you first get me to the library. You have to get me in the door before I can leave with a book.

I read this great article before (that I can’t find) about why reading is down over these past several of years. It turns out it’s Barnes and Noble’s fault. Or Big Box Book stores I should say. You see book spinner used to be a lot more common in every day stores and since people were near book they would occasionally by them. They were not looking for something to read but once they saw something interesting they were happy to read.

Big box stores have kind of taken over the book spinner in other stores. People don’t go to the book store with a purpose as much as they would buy something on a whim. And because of the lack of book spinners people are exposed to fewer books.

Getting people near books raises literacy. Period. How could being around book not raise literacy? Clearly you see a disconnect there. There are many who think Rock Band will stop young people from forming bands. But if you ask the people who teach guitar they will tell you. Guitar lessons are way up and there seems to be only one reason for that. Video games.

]]> By: Steven http://www.librarystuff.net/2008/08/10/librarys-guitar-hero-contests-a-hot-ticket/comment-page-1/#comment-24970 Steven Mon, 11 Aug 2008 01:36:08 +0000 http://www.librarystuff.net/2008/08/10/library%e2%80%99s-%e2%80%98guitar-hero%e2%80%99-contests-a-hot-ticket/#comment-24970 Thanks for the comment Keri. One of the reasons I continue to post articles about gaming and libraries is that ALA and others have continuously pushed video games as a way to promote reading and literacy (see their $1 Million Dollar grant from Verizon). I don't see how playing guitar hero or wii promotes literacy. I've played both. They're games. Fine. Promote them as what they are. But don't use them to promote literacy and reading. IMO, they are two separate things. Thanks for the comment Keri. One of the reasons I continue to post articles about gaming and libraries is that ALA and others have continuously pushed video games as a way to promote reading and literacy (see their $1 Million Dollar grant from Verizon).

I don’t see how playing guitar hero or wii promotes literacy. I’ve played both. They’re games. Fine. Promote them as what they are.

But don’t use them to promote literacy and reading. IMO, they are two separate things.

]]> By: Stefan Hayden http://www.librarystuff.net/2008/08/10/librarys-guitar-hero-contests-a-hot-ticket/comment-page-1/#comment-24969 Stefan Hayden Mon, 11 Aug 2008 01:32:12 +0000 http://www.librarystuff.net/2008/08/10/library%e2%80%99s-%e2%80%98guitar-hero%e2%80%99-contests-a-hot-ticket/#comment-24969 I also have a problem with all picture books. What's with all the pictures? you can't read a picture! Who are these toddlers fooling? Learn to read! My mother gave me A Tale of Two Cities when I was one year old and I never looked back. If Charles Dickens didn't think pictures would help people read then neither do I. Also Egyptian hieroglyphs. These pictures masquerading as words are not fooling anyone. I am apart of an ancient order of Librarians who originally formed to ban these "texts" from the Library of Alexandria. How King Tut fooled the people of Egypt in to thinking they were actually reading I'll never know. And that's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recurring_segments_on_The_Colbert_Report#The_W.C3.B8rd" rel="nofollow">the Word</a>. I also have a problem with all picture books. What’s with all the pictures? you can’t read a picture! Who are these toddlers fooling? Learn to read!

My mother gave me A Tale of Two Cities when I was one year old and I never looked back. If Charles Dickens didn’t think pictures would help people read then neither do I.

Also Egyptian hieroglyphs. These pictures masquerading as words are not fooling anyone. I am apart of an ancient order of Librarians who originally formed to ban these “texts” from the Library of Alexandria. How King Tut fooled the people of Egypt in to thinking they were actually reading I’ll never know.

And that’s the Word.

]]> By: Keri http://www.librarystuff.net/2008/08/10/librarys-guitar-hero-contests-a-hot-ticket/comment-page-1/#comment-24966 Keri Mon, 11 Aug 2008 00:57:25 +0000 http://www.librarystuff.net/2008/08/10/library%e2%80%99s-%e2%80%98guitar-hero%e2%80%99-contests-a-hot-ticket/#comment-24966 We don't force books into the hands of every adult who enters the library. Just because they are kids doesn't mean every experience they have between the walls of a library has to be an educational one. The more they enjoy the library the more like they are to return - for other video game programs, for a concert, for their summer reading books, to ask for help with a homework assignment, to hang out with friends in a social setting after school. EVERY kid who came to my Wii Sports/DDR/Rock Band programs this summer is a reader. Books are probably the most important thing a library has to offer, but not the only thing. We don’t force books into the hands of every adult who enters the library.

Just because they are kids doesn’t mean every experience they have between the walls of a library has to be an educational one.

The more they enjoy the library the more like they are to return – for other video game programs, for a concert, for their summer reading books, to ask for help with a homework assignment, to hang out with friends in a social setting after school. EVERY kid who came to my Wii Sports/DDR/Rock Band programs this summer is a reader.

Books are probably the most important thing a library has to offer, but not the only thing.

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