In this article we learn about a web-based simulation whose goal is to educate librarians in being effective in what the authors call the "reference interview". Although the game was created for the Belk Library at Appalachian State University in North Carolina most of these concepts and goals are transferable to an elementary or secondary school library.
The game was created essentially to provide training to staff at service desks who may or may not be professional librarians. I can see a tool like this perhaps being helpful to new Teacher Librarians or those who are in training. There are 8 different adventures dealing with the topic of reference services that the player must complete in order to pass the game.
An example we are given in the article is of a game in which a patron asks for help in finding the reading level of a book. (This is a scenario that could hypothetically happen at the elementary or secondary level.) The player is given four choices: telling the patron to figure it out for himself, showing the individual the library databases, looking on the library’s website for the answer, or looking on Amazon. The choice the player selects will lead to a response. If the library databases are selected, the patron will ask for help again. The player then gets more choices to select. Eventually, the series of choices will lead to a satisfied or a frustrated patron.
While playing the games the players are provided with reference interview strategies that they could apply across the board when assisting patrons.
With the use of pre and post-tests the authors were able to verify the effectiveness of this tool. According to the article 80-90 of staff who played the game chose the best response on the post-test. Whereas only 25% chose best responses on the pre-test.
The article is helpful in that it provides a few links to online training games:
I’ll Get It (a reference game produced by Carnegie Mellon) eps.library.cmu.edu/rooms/documents/libraries-and-collections/Libraries/etc/game2/game2.swf
The Information Literacy Game (A web-based board game that can be adapted for your own use) www.library.appstate.edu/elearn/game/
Order in the Library (a game using the Dewey Decimal System and the alphabet to sort, shelve, and re-order books) users.ece.utexas.edu/~valmstrum/s2s/utopia/library4/src/library4.html
Within Range (an LC shelving game produced by Carnegie Mellon) eps.library.cmu.edu/rooms/documents/libraries-and-collec tions/Libraries/etc/game1/game1.swf
Although amusing, I found it a few of these to be somewhat confusing. Nonetheless the concept is quite a good one.
Not only is this a good idea for a tool for teacher librarian but it is a reminder that video games can be great alternative tools for learning. Something similar to the Library Adventure Game could be devised to teach students about library skills.
I believe that it is our duty as educators and teacher librarians to to develop 21st-century skills in both ourselves and our students.
Rice, Scott; Gregor, Margaret. The Library Adventure Game: Using a web-based simulation to teach reference skills. School Library Journal, Aug2010, Vol. 56 Issue 8, p22-23
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