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September 29, 2007
Wiiiiiiiiii!!!
I love being a librarian, but I’ve been struggling at work over the last… let’s say several months. There are a lot of reasons for this, but one of the biggest has been too much of the same old same old. I perked up a bit when Jason relented and let me do away with the traditional reading incentive program this past summer in favor of something I liked way better, but that’s pretty much the only innovative thing I’ve done in a long while.
Truth is, I need more than that. Truth is, I’m not happy unless I’m experimenting and exploring and maybe making people a little uncomfortable.
Enter the Wii.
Several years ago, we started a PlayStation 2 game collection in the Children’s Room. This was a controversial decision within the library and beyond, but several other libraries have followed us on this path and the collection has been hugely popular. My initial intention was to start collecting other console games, perhaps one a year, but I faced a few roadblocks. Money’s a big one. Time is another. The thought of having to go through the kind of rigamarole I had to go through to start the PS2 collection gave me pause. A month or so ago, however, I got mad about something—I can’t even remember what—thought, “Screw it!” and bought some games to start what will be our brand-new Wii collection.
It was really satisfying.
Even better? I asked the Friends of WPL to buy a Wii system for the library so we’d have a way to test problem games and also so we could use the system in programs, and they said yes!!! I got it this past week. Olivia and I took some time to play around with it, and I think it’s going to be a lot of fun for our Family Game Days and maybe some other more specialized programs. Of course, now that I played the thing, I want to play it more. I know Olivia looks sweet and small and innocent, but she killed me in boxing (while laughing, I might add). I beat her at bowling (barely) and tennis (only because I had the serve), though, so my dignity is still somewhat intact (not really because somehow everyone at WPL seems to know that Olivia kicked my ass). I’d like to be slightly more proficient if only to prevent some kid from beating me up at a program, but, ah, what a lovely problem to have. It will be interesting to see what happens with this….
[By the by, if you are un-loving videogames, I highly recommend checking out Steven Johnson’s Everything Bad is Good for You for a little something to think about.]
Posted by adrienne at September 29, 2007 09:50 PM
Comments
Now, now, there's no need to be afraid of me, just because I won at boxing! And, um, everyone knows I beat you up because....I told them. Sabrina says it serves you right for always jumping out at me and trying to kick me while saying, "RAH!"
Better practice hard with the Wii...I'll take you again in the rematch. ;)
Posted by: Olivia at September 29, 2007 11:52 PM
You don't scare me, buddy.
Posted by: adrienne at September 30, 2007 07:15 PM
Ok--so now I see 2 more things you can talk about at the J meeting...Wii and Family Game programs along with your brand new Library Club (yep, I lurk there.
Posted by: Pat at September 30, 2007 08:17 PM
You think? Do you think people would be interested? I never know.
Talk about things I'm excited about. I can't wait to see if my Library Club idea will work. I've been contemplating that move for quite some time.
Posted by: adrienne at October 1, 2007 01:14 PM
The first rule of Library Club is - you do not talk about Library Club. The second rule of Library Club is - you DO NOT talk about Library Club.
Posted by: Sabrina at October 1, 2007 01:51 PM
Now, of course, I want that on a t-shirt.
Posted by: adrienne at October 1, 2007 03:33 PM
No. You want THIS for a T-shirt.
Posted by: Sabrina at October 2, 2007 11:58 AM
Oh... Olivia told me you would totally buy one if there were a pink Jr. T-shirt. Well, well, well... Look what I made!
Me? Nefarious? Never...
Posted by: Sabrina at October 3, 2007 11:58 AM
Ok, you have me intrigued. I'd love to know what your new program is for the summer at your library. I'm getting bored of the "read for this many minutes...get a cheesy prize" program we have running.
Posted by: Beth at October 3, 2007 12:31 PM
Where did they go, Sabrina? Where did they go??? I click on the link, and it says that it can't find what I was looking for!!!
Beth, Thanks for asking about the reading program! :) I don't know why I haven't blogged about it yet; it's something I've spent a lot of time thinking and talking about. I'll write up a post about it, but probably not until I get back from Chicago. Perhaps early next week?
Posted by: adrienne at October 3, 2007 11:50 PM
Cafepress says using the word "Scrabble" on a T-shirt is copyright infringement. But apparently, the people who use images of Monopoly tokens are A-OK.
Screw 'em.
Posted by: Sabrina at October 4, 2007 01:51 PM