Video Game Collection Development 101
I’ve been getting a lot of questions recently about how to start up a circulating video game collection that I thought it was time to really dive into the topic here on 8BitLibrary. What I’d really like is for this post to develop and be a collaborative document. Please, share your stories with us! We’ll use your comments, suggestions, fails, etc in a future blog post.
1. Start small
You don’t have to go for broke with your new collection. I recommend starting small. Focus on one branch (preferably the main library in your system) and go from there. By keeping things small at the start, you will understand how your collection is going to be used and how it can grow on a larger scale.
2. Know your audience
The best way to get in touch with the people you will be buying these games for is to have a gaming program at your library for a few months. Over those few months, you’ll get an idea of what types of games will work at your library. Feel free to ask the people attending these programs what they think. Chances are, they’ll be your best resource for creating a unique and well used video game library.
3. Develop a plan for each system
Once you know your audience, the next step is to plan out where you want to take each collection. While they’re all share the name video games, each system has its own audience. The XBox360 is known as the system for more hardcore gamers who really want to dive into the world their games offer. The Nintendo Wii has more casual gamers and laid back games. I myself am still confused as to who has a Playstation 3, and I think everyone pretty much has a Playstation 2 somewhere. Can you rely on these “audience types” all the time. No. But they sure do help when you’re starting out.
| Print article | This entry was posted by JustinLibrarian on March 9, 2010 at 6:00 am, and is filed under 8BitLibrarian Justin Hoenke, collection development. Follow any responses to this post through RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site. |
No trackbacks yet.
Amateur Video Game Composers
about 5 days ago - 1 comment
Video games are so important to people that they are even influencing artistic expression in the digital age. Chiptune music is a great example, and librarianship should take note of these developments.
Banned Books Week ’10 Machinima
about 5 days ago - 2 comments
ALA’s Office of Intellectual Freedom is sponsoring a machinima contest: use a video game to make a movie for Banned Books Week 2010 with the theme “Think For Yourself and Let Others Do the Same.”
Tech Talk with Michael Sauers: Video Game Collection Development
about 2 weeks ago - 1 comment
On Wednesday August 25 2010, 8bitlibrary.com’s JP Porcaro will be presenting a webinar with host Michael Sauers (@msauers)! It is presented by the Nebraska State Library Commission. All of the info and free registration can be found here: NCompass Live: Tech Talk with Michael Sauers: Video Game Collection Development – Online Session Michael will be
Simple & Easy Shared Library Ideas (via Infolink)
about 3 weeks ago - 1 comment
Mary Martin, director of the Long Hill Public Library in NJ recently did a poll on the listserv for Infolink, one of our regional library cooperatives in NJ, and the results were so good I had to share them with you 8bitlibrary.com readers! Hope you can pass these ideas on as well! NJ has a
National Gaming Day ’10 / HELP!
about 3 weeks ago - 1 comment
Via http://ngd.ala.org! We’re happy to announce that libraries can now register for National Gaming Day 2010, which will take place on Saturday, November 13. Registering will also get your location on the national map we’ll be promoting to both the public and the press. Does your library plan to participate in the national Rock Band
Building a Gaming program from the ground up
about 1 month ago - 1 comment
When I came to the Portland Public Library in March 2010, there was nothing in the way of video games at the library. It threw me for a loop. I had to buckle down and get to work. This was quite a daunting task, one that many libraries are facing as they start up their
Technology is not the enemy!
about 1 month ago - 15 comments
Students who show “an exemplary capacity for self-directed learning”, yet still “fail” in schools, are casualties of a broken education system. Use technology, gaming, and libraries to help the classroom will result in greater student achievement.
#libgaming (Topic: July 7, 2010: Core Collections)
about 2 months ago - 1 comment
#libgaming will discuss the following topic today at 4pm EST on Twitter If you were to create a core collection list of MUST HAVE titles for your library collection, what would they be and why?
The 8bitlibrary.com Retro Gaming Festival
about 2 months ago - 2 comments
The 8bitlibrary.com Retro Gaming Festival in Piscataway Public Library
Super Mario Brothers in the Classroom (Part 4 of 7)
about 2 months ago - 2 comments
Released in 1990 as the flagship title for the Super Nintendo, Super Mario World didn’t change how we play video games but it gave the Super Mario Brothers universe some wonderful features that are still featured in the games that we play today. In particular, two things about Super Mario World stood out to me


about 6 months ago
Hey, I really want to read this post, but I totally cannot see it. Is there a way to maybe change the layout from the white sidebar and black background?
Thanks!
about 6 months ago
Kirby! Let me talk to JP. He’s our website guru…
about 6 months ago
One think we implemented early on that helped us to better know our patrons and what games/systems to buy for was to provide request forms.
We started very small with only about 12-14 pre selected games, then placed the forms near where we had these games displayed. On the forms we asked for titles, and for which system. While we made no promises to buy any and all games requested, we did do our best to make it clear on the form that each request would be given its due diligence and that any requested game that was ordered, the person requesting would be placed on hold first when it came it (a kind of reward system for them taking the time to make the suggestion)
Soon enough we had quite a few of these forms, and had more of an idea of what systems were more prevalent in our community and what styles of games our patrons were playing. While this in no way was a substitute for talking with our patrons (which we did a lot of, and continue to do). It was just another way for us gather data and get a sense of the coll dev direction we should take for our community.
about 6 months ago
Doug: Thanks for sharing your input!
about 5 months ago
Cost is the biggest hurdle in building a collection of video games. On average, they are the most expensive media out there. I would heartily recommend offering up a donation drive: spend $100 (just over the price of one brand-new game) on a really sweet prize (like one of those Batman Black and White Statues) and offer it up to your patrons in a raffle. You get one ticket for every game you donate. You can also hit up the the used market; Amazon has a near-infinite stream of used games in great condition, often for much less than the current MSRP.
about 5 months ago
It’s hard getting a feel for who the PS3 audience is because so many more people have a 360 or Wii. I’d say this audience is the VERY hardcore gaming audience. These are the people who live for videogames. They’re also such a small minority that I can’t imagine justifying a large amount of support for this audience. At least not yet.
With the recent price drop to the PS3, a lot more people are getting into it. That’s an audience to watch for the future, maybe, as trends could be changing.