Videogame Night in the Academic Library: Video Games as Educational

From TechSource Gaming Symposium

Presenters: Kelly Lambert and Dede Elrobeh (Phoenix College, a Maricopa Community College)

Description: Plan a library event that is exciting AND educational! Today’s students love to play video games. With student retention and library use a challenge, it is important that academic libraries show students we recognize their interest in video games and add value to campus life, all while providing an opportunity for students to gain higher-level knowledge about a topic they generally appreciate for entertainment purposes alone. Collaborating with local video game studio Rainbow Studios, the Phoenix College Library hosted Get Your Game On: Video Game Night in the Library.

At this event, various video game systems were connected to classroom projectors and televisions dispersed throughout the space. Locally employed video game designers and artists from Rainbow Studios presented on the gaming industry and joined in game play. Positive outcomes from this event included an opportunity for career exploration, establishing a new type of student retention event and an opportunity for the library to serve as a cultural center for the campus. Coordinators for the event will present their planning, marketing, and partnering strategies. This presentation is geared toward all librarians considering a non-traditional event that merges entertainment with education.

Intended Audiences:

• Pretty much any librarian
• Academic libraries
• School libraries
• Student life offices

View the handout (PDF, 516KB)
View the slides (PDF, 3.5MB)

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