I think Janet raises important issues. It's true that, as with so much
else, we face a slippery slope. But experience tells me there is a lot
more room for us all to trust our kids. If there's a legitimate purpose
to a card game in the library once in a while (math instruction, for
example), then why not? Let's go for it. The library is not separate
from "the classroom," it's an extension of it.
And what if a school library held a periodic game night, where parents,
students, teachers, and librarians could come together, in the library,
to socialize over something fun that they all had, to some extent, in
common? Might not that go some distance toward firming up an
identification of the school (and the library) with the community and
with the personal lives of our constituent families? Further, many
contemporary games are effectively interactive movies, where kids have
to make real ethical and philosophical decisions and see their
characters suffer the consequences. Not really much different from
novels, except that the outcome is not fully determined beforehand.
And what if students working on a project in a classroom or computer lab
across the building could IM you with a reference or tech help question?
It might not work. Kids with IM windows open might spend too much time
socializing. But why are we so afraid the children will "socialize" in
the library. In the professional world, my experience has been that some
of the most creative work takes place within social interaction carried
out in the broader context of a given task.
/****************************************/
/* Bob Hassett, Head Librarian */
/* Luther Jackson Middle School */
/* 3020 Gallows Rd. */
/* Falls Church, VA, 22042 */
/* (703) 204-8133 */
/****************************************/
-----Original Message-----
From: School Library Media & Network Communications
[mailto:LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU] On Behalf Of janet perry
Sent: Thursday, May 04, 2006 9:41 AM
To: LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU
Subject: Re: Games, no way
I agree that we, as librarians, need to keep current with the
technologies that kids are using, or we could very easily become like
the dinosaurs-extinct. However, I don't see why I should be letting the
kids do computer games or instant messaging in the library. Before
computers we didn't let them play cards or other games, and we didn't
let them use the phone to call their friends during school. What is the
difference?
My thought is that if I let the kids play games in the library, the
library would become a video arcade, and, once again I must point out, I
am a professional librarian. If the district wants a video arcade, they
can hire a minimum wage employee with a club to monitor the students.
I know there are circumstances where games on or off the computer are
used as educational tools. I am not making any judgments aboutl what
teachers do in their classrooms. I just know, that in my situation,
many of the students who come to the library during their "study hall"
have no intention of studying. If I added games and IM as an option, it
would really be a free-for-all. We do allow kids to use the computers
in the library for email or other personal things during study hall.
However, we now have a policy that if you are on the ineligible list,
you may only use the computer for school work. I envy all of you who
work in libraries where kids actually come in to use the library for
educational reasons, not as a social gathering place, or just to get out
of study hall. I spend a lot of my time "babysitting" kids who can't
seem to keep themselves under control unless I'm sitting right there.
Of course, there is a plus side to this babysitting. I have gotten a
lot of books in my collection read while sitting. So, I guess there can
be good along with the bad.
As always, we just have to do the best we can with what we have to work
with. If we remember to keep the kids benefit first, we'll probably do
a good job.
Off my soap box for this week.
Janet Perry, Librarian
Cerro Gordo CUSD 100, Cerro Gordo, IL
perrybros@hotmail.com
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