I have read many posts on how video gaming is a great program for teens. I have done programming for teens with great success, getting teens to do something positive in the library is so very important. But video games can serve another purpose in the library that I have never heard discussed.
I started directing a different library about 6 months ago. The staff is willing to go along with my myriad of new ideas. But yesterday's staff meeting took the cake. Keep in mind that this is the very first quarterly staff meeting our library has had in years and years. This is new for them with a new director.
So, we are going to be doing a DDR series for teens starting in February. But the staff had never done DDR and many had no idea what it was. So I set up the dance pads before the early morning staff meeting. I did it with a certain hesitation. Would they be willing to see their new director demo DDR in a spectacularly wooden fashion? Would they be willing to let go themselves?
The answer was an amazing YES! We had people who wanted to try it out, ones who threw in great arm movements as their feet searched for the right arrow, and one who managed on her first few tries to score a high score! Those who did not try, called encouragement to the dancers, applauded even when the awful TRY AGAIN swam into view, and were willing to laugh along. No one shook their heads in dismay, no one refused to join in the fun.
So I heartily recommend DDR for staff meetings. It got us all started in a friendly, laughing way. It took the formality from the situation and gave us plenty of stories to share and remember. But most of all, it unified the room with a shared experience: laughter. What a joy to have this staff, this willingness to play, this joy in the early morning.
Now to come up with a video game for our April meeting...
