Get Connected - April 2008 - (Page 5)

Popular Demand! Back by that had frequently used and very much loved the library had died, and his parents had raised money for a gift to the library in his honor. New Carlisle-Olive Township matched those funds and created a game room with a big-screen television and video game systems for patrons 13 years old and up. Boggs guesses that 500 to 1,000 different kids use this sensationally popular game room each year. Some of their favorite games include Guitar Hero and Dance Dance Revolution. The room expanded the library’s already substantial gaming offering: four computers loaded with games dedicated to the teen program and the Nintendo 64, PlayStation and four non-Internet computers with age-appropriate games such as the Harry Potter series and Barbie as Rapunzel for the exclusive use of kids up to sixth grade. Besides those gaming computers, there are also ten more terminals for general use and 14 laptops for in-library checkout to patrons of high school age or older. More than four walls and a bunch of books The philosophy behind all the games, comforts and lax rules (patrons can have drinks anywhere in the library, and Boggs admits that it can get kind of noisy in the kids and family end of the library)? “We prefer to look at ourselves as more of a community center than just four walls with a bunch of books on the inside,” explains Boggs. When asked if his library is concerned about the educational or cognitive skills value of video games, one of the justifications that some libraries have been making for offering them to their patrons, he says no. “We don’t concern ourselves with what it is they do, just as long as whatever they are doing, within tactfulness and reason, is here. Far better for kids to be here than wandering the streets.” But the noise? Isn’t the library the last sanctuary for a little peace and quiet? For Boggs, maintaining the convivial atmosphere of his library is far more important than respecting a passé tradition. “The fact is, these energetic kids are our future taxpayers and parents, so the better image and deportment we give them now, the better we can depend upon their fond thoughts in the future when we need their assistance,” says Boggs. “Some memories are burned into your head forever. I mean, ask yourself, if you were being constantly hushed and reprimanded in the library as a 13-yearold, are you really going to come back as an adult and patronize the place? I don’t think so. You’re going to Barnes & Noble.” An all-inclusive library He points out that the video games and influx of kids have not frightened his older patrons away. If anything, there’s more patrons than ever, of all ages. He cites the Hook and Needle club of twenty ladies that meets at his library once a week to sew, crochet and talk. The group used to meet at the county library, but they left because they were continually told to keep it down. They haven’t missed a day at Boggs’ new library since it opened. Parents of young children are particularly thrilled with the library’s supportive, nurturing environment. “So many have told us that they much prefer our library to the strict, unbending one they grew up with,” says Boggs. “Here, we cater to the family lifestyle.” Here, a young child can Continued on page 13 Your Chance to Win a Promethean Activboard! Program Window: May 1-August 1, 2008 ENA Consortium Program Launches May 1; Don’t Miss Product Portfolio: • Brain POP • Brain POP Jr. • Brain POP Español • netTrekker d.i. • Gaggle Student E-mail • Gaggle E-mail Archiving To place an order: Login to https://orders.ena.com To enter the drawing for a FREE Promethean Activboard: ENA and netTrekker are giving away two Promethean Activboards! If ENA customers order netTrekker d.i. prior to May 31, they will be entered into a drawing for a Promethean Activboard. For customers who purchase netTrekker d.i. between May 31 and June 30, they will be entered into a second drawing for the other Promethean Activboard. There is no need to register; customers are automatically entered when they purchase netTrekker d.i. through the ENA Consortium Program. For additional information: Please contact Ami Rains at arains@ena.com. 5 https://orders.ena.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Get Connected - April 2008

The End of a Bottleneck: OCPS’ New Network Contents A Letter From the President Not Your Average Library: New Carlisle, IN New Consortium Program Launches May 1 Hands-on Education Education Leaders Decry EETT Cuts Much More Than E-mail: Gaggle’s Other Apps Notes From the CTO

Get Connected - April 2008

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