Morning Thoughts

Abraham Lincoln with his son Tad reading.

Morning Thoughts

Today is Veteran's Day. Think of all the people who have fought for your country. We would not be sitting here, free and comfortable if someone was not ready to fight for our beliefs.

I think I am ready to write something a little less dark. Right now, I am reading Mary Gentle, A Secret History, The Book of Ash #1. The language and characters can be quite crude at times. I was debating putting it down because of the excessive use of foul language and sex for a while. But, because the story is well written I am still reading it.

The book uses a very interesting literary device. There is the fantasy story of the visigoths having settled a colony in North Africa, then invading the kingdom of Burgundy and then Europe. At the same time, a pair of archaeologists in the future have found a manuscript about the main character, Ash, a mercenary captain. The archaeologists make some strange discoveries, among them is a golem made of clay with bronze joints. This dual story is very entertaining.

Sometimes, you get a hankering for old games. http://www.gog.com/ , Good Old Games has some very interesting old games to download for a very fair price, I have been considering getting Fallout Tactics for $5.99. Games are one of my weaknesses.

Games In the Lbrary Setting

Games In the Library Setting

One of my personal weaknesses is a liking for video games. I can get very obsessive about them. They have a kind of hypnotic effect on me much like tabletop games do everything from strategy to roleplaying.

I have seen a rather interesting thing happen. Libraries are purchasing video games for the teenagers. There was a Halo tournament at one of the local libraries. In a way this bothers me a little bit. I am still not sure the exact place of videogames in the library. The type of games being purchased are Xbox, Wii, and PS3 (Playstation 3) games. Nothing like Grand Theft Auto because of the problems with sexual innuendo and the M rating for mature content, but other things.

A few libraries have SimCity 4, Lego Starwars, and Starcraft on CD-ROM to check out. I think one of the local libraries has uploaded a variety of games for use for the teenagers in the teen section, things like Spiderman 3, and Ghost Recon for the Xbox. A different library has Playstation 2 games, Lara Croft Tomb Raider, and God of War among their titles. So they are just starting up on this process. I checked the catalog for the library system I work at and these are there.

Considering there are a variety of different formats for games, buying for a variety of different systems, pc, playstation, xbox, and nintendo could get complicated. I could see libraries buying for the two major systems, xbox and playstation.

CD-Rom games have been part of the childrens room for quite some time. They are mostly things like Little Bear, Thomas The Tank Engine, Reader Rabbit, Dr. Seuss's Kindergarten Learning System, and Carmen Sandiego. They are learning games to teach children geography, spelling, and similar things. I also can see where buying typing instruction software would not be a bad idea to lend out.

I am not sure the exact value the games would offer. I know it would be entertaining. In fact something like historical simulations could have value in a vague way like Civilization for the PC, Zoo Tycoon, or the various business simulations.

I am really not sure how a library would select videogames. There are some sites like http://www.gamerdad.com which rate games for children and parents. This is the ideal situation, some guy wants to play a game with their kid.

I have been looking at the concept. Apparently, the American Library Association started covering games on their website. http://gaming.ala.org/news/

What is more important is that there is a new program being created to combine gaming with literacy sponsored through the American Library Association. I think this is where it could get quite interesting.

Ah, here is where it gets interesting, American Library Association is mentioning a gaming night at a public library for teenagers. The games are not your typical shoot em ups, they are Dance Dance Revolution, Guitar Hero II, and Sports Videogames. This is something which could be quite interesting if done right. The title of this articles gaming @your library.
http://www.ala.org/ala/pio/presscentera/piopresskits/nationallibraryweek2008a/gl08.cfm

I don't think I would have much of a problem with the Sims, sports, games, historical simulations, Dance Dance Revolution, Guitar Hero and Karaoke style games. I am still not too sure about the heavily violent war games like Halo in some ways.

I found a blog which looks kind of interesting. It covers games and libraries. The site looks to have been created in 2005, about the time when games were pushed as a format to enter libraries. http://libgaming.blogspot.com It lists lots and lots of resources on games in libraries.

I almost think this is a logical extension of librarians becoming fascinated with virtual worlds. I still am a little bit shaken by how many librarians are heavily into Second Life.

The reason I originally wrote this is that I went into Gamestop yesterday to see if there was anything which I wanted to buy. There was a game I tried out, Ufo Afterlight, the controls were so terrible that I plan on returning the thing.

This is just some thoughts.

Thoughts For Today

This morning we went to the mall for Mother's Day. It was actually very nice. You walk around the outside and sit on the benches. I got a chance to go into the Gamestop for a few minutes. Libraries have been buying games for Nintendo lately. We have a few of them, not too many. One of the libraries not far from where I work ran a Halo tournament as part of their young adult programming. It was a complete surprise.

I took a look at some of the games. Most of the games were too high powered for my computer. I really should upgrade my machine to a new model. I am being grouchy. New computers cost money and I don't like spending money. Plus a lot of the places which offer telecommute work on the side don't want you to have Vista, they have problems managing it. There was not a whole lot which I think I would get even for my own use. I think there is some value in the Sims, Guitar Hero II, Dance Dance Revolution, and even the game Civilization IV.

I am not sure about most of the other games. I have heard that if you play video games you get good fine motor skills. It is supposed to help surgeons. However, like most librarians I am a little bit conservative and I can't really think of why or how video games would fit in a library. I am curious on hearing other peoples views on this.

After going to Gamestop, the Bodyshop, and a few other places to wander around and look at things, we stopped by Boston Market and got some chicken. It was not too bad. There is something oddly satisfying about looking at things in little packages, even if you don't buy them.

Then we went to Barnes & Noble. We never buy anything. I did look around to see if there was anything I wanted to request for my branch. When I got home, using my internet connection, I tried to place holds for Space Vulture by Gary K. Wolf, Time Spike by Eric Flint, and Reaper's Gale by Steven Erickson. My library had none of these books. However, my library system did have The New Weird edited by Ann and Jeff Vandermeer, and The Algebraist by Iain Banks. I also took a look at a few books on blogging which my library does not have Problogger's Secrets to Blogging Your Way To A Six Figure Income by Darren Weiss, and Increase Your Web Traffic In A Weekend by Jeffrey Lee Ford, Jr.. An awful lot of books that are already in bookstores are not in libraries.

I also took a look at the graphic novels section. There was not anything which I hadn't seen at the New York Comic Con already. I think Barnes & Nobles does a better job with manga than they do with graphic novels. They had a huge manga section.

I am seeing an interesting trend in romance where there are now a lot of vampire romances being written now. I almost want to read Mark of the Vampire Queen by Joe Hill. It is in the romance section. Unfortunately, it is not in my library yet.

It was nice to get out of the house and go to the open air mall and walk around. I don't like closed in air conditioned malls. They make me feel boxed in and they are often too cold.

Afterwards we made a short trip to the supermarket to get some groceries. Now, I am sitting at the computer writing my thoughts for today.

I am relaxing a bit my feet are sore. I have been walking a bit too much lately.

I took a look at Library Journal today. They have a short article called "The Parallel Information Universe." I must belong to this, I certainly read enough science fiction and fantasy. Maybe one day, I'll wake up trapped inside a Myspace page. No, but seriously they have an article on Myspace, Facebook, and Second Life.

It is the Second Life thing which got me. I actually have never used Second Life or the Sims. I admit it, I have tried some online games, but not the Sims or Second Life. Apparently, some public libraries have set up library services in Second Life. This sounds kind of over the top. I wonder if I should sign up for an account in Second Life so I can see what it is about.
http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6551184.html

The next dreaded step of course is providing services for ipods and other digital media devices like cell phones and blackberries in public libraries. They actually had a section on that at the Westchester Library Association conference.

I call it information soup, because you throw a hundred different things into a pot, ebooks, blackberries, wifi, laptops, blogs, myspage, facebook, magazines, traditional books, cell phones, ipods, dvds, videos, databases, internet access, cd-roms, playaways, copy machines, scanners, projectors, and a million other devices and you boil it up with a confused staff and you hope it will turn out to be something that the visiting library patrons will like and be happy with.

Thoughts for the Day

I am reading The Wood Wife by Terri Windling. I rather like the design of the book. It is printed on acid free paper. I wish they wrote down the bond of the paper and the typeface. I very much like the cover design.

I checked back at Spiderweb Software where I had originally started the thread, What Have You Been Reading Lately? For a while there were no posts. The total post count at end was 667 posts. This blog was partially related to that thread.

They have a new thread on What Have You Been Reading Recently? I am revealing my fanboyish tendencies. I rather like computer games sometimes, especially independent computer games. It brings out a childish side to me. Everyone has got a little bit of one somewhere.

I actually regularly check up on what new independent computer gamres are coming out, http://www.indiegamer.com I don't much care for most of the larger commercial game outfits, they tend to be too violent, not requre much thinking, and are full of an excessive amount of stereotypes.

It is snowing outside and cold. There is a lot of slush on the roads. Tonight, there should be freezing rains turning the roads into smooth black strips of ice.

Turkey Day and Some Thoughts.

Harry S. Truman Receiving A Turkey


Happy Thanksgiving (Turkey Day),



Anyways, all the shops and libraries are closed and its a time to be with family and relax a bit. I decided to put down the Alton Gift by Marion Zimmer Bradley and Deborah J. Ross, a new darkover novel. It just didn't capture the way Marion Zimmer Bradley wrote her earlier Darkover novels. Marion Zimmer Bradley passed away in 1999.



I usually put down a book within the first two chapters of reading it. This is normal practice. In bookselling, people claim that if the reader finishes the first chapter they are very likely to buy the book. This is why you see cafes in Barnes and Noble and other bookstores. It really increases the chance that a reader will buy the book. The only real reason not to have a cafe in a bookstore is if the store holds rare or valuable books, like signed editions, and old manuscripts. Still food is a problem, so limiting food to just the cafe area is very important. When I worked at Brooklyn Public Library, they installed a cafe for the library users for the same reason.



I am really enjoying the Bone Hunters by Steven Erikson. Kharsa Orlong the giant Teblor warrior is turning out to be one of my fantasy characters. I also like that he makes monsters into characters in his books, they aren't just cardboard cutouts, they have opinions and actions. There are two spirits, Telorast and Curdle who are quite interesting in the story so far. The writing may be a bit dark for some people and a bit complicated, but it combines intrigue with plenty of action. I am currently at page 82 in the story. It is 799 pages including a glossary. The story is complex enought that there are threee pages of maps in the front of the book, as well as three pages listing the different characters in the story.

Today is a day for relaxation. Tomorrow, I will do the busman's holiday thing again. I will probably visit a bookstore and make a comment or two on the experience. Tomorrow is the busiest shopping day of they year in the United States.

So far Eschalon Book 1 the computer game has been very enjoygable as well. The graphics are very well done.