My name is Brian Mayer and I am a Library Technology Specialist for a school library system in Western New York and an Independent Library Consultant on Gaming in Libraries. My focus is on modern board games, putting into practice authentic games in educational settings to engage students with the curriculum. I have been critical in the growth of the designer games as educational resources and have written several documents aligning modern board games with both the AASL’s Standards for 21st-Century Learners and NY State Curriculum.
I am the co-author of the upcoming book: “Libraries Got Game: Aligned Learning through Modern Board Games” due out in the fall of 2009 from ALA Editions. In addition I am also a regular contributor to ALA’s Games in Libraries podcast. I earned my elementary teaching certification at Buffalo State and his MLS at the University of Buffalo.
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Funagain
Library Gamer 
May 28, 2008 at 3:18 pm
Hello Brian,
I came across your site after looking at a link from the shifted librarian. I am encouraged to find a whole web site devoted to board games in the library. More specifically designer games like Catan. I see real value in games at the library as a hub of community involvement and encourage libraries across the state of Iowa to work on programs that will get families in the library and interested in game time as a family. I just wanted to say good work and it is good to see someone out there working on this issue with libraries. In fact i am working on doing a presentation about the Wii in libraries and wonder if you have any insights. All the best, Jay
June 7, 2008 at 11:29 am
Hello Jay
It is great to hear from others who are advocating the benefits of gaming programs. We will be purchasing our Wii’s in the next few months and plan on starting out with games that can connect with New York State curricular standards.
We are looking at picking up Rockband and Guitar Hero for alignment with music.
Wii Fit for physical education/therapy
Cooking Mama for Home and Careers
The games are an easy sell to the kids and the Wii has such a broad appeal beyond tweens and teens. There are numerous cases that show how adults and even seniors are embracing the Wii, due in part to its original interface and accessibility. It is no longer a matter of remembering a sophisticated combination of buttons.
An excellent person to get in touch with is Scott Nicholson at Syracuse University. He has a site: http://www.boardgameswithscott.com where he reviews modern boardgames, but he also is a professor of Library Science at Syracuse University and is running a game lab looking at gaming in libraries.
August 9, 2010 at 4:42 pm
I came across your site after looking at a link from the shifted librarian. I am encouraged to find a whole web site devoted to board games in the library. More specifically designer games like Catan. I see real value in games at the library as a hub of community involvement and encourage libraries across the state of Iowa to work on programs that will get families in the library and interested in game time as a family. I just wanted to say good work and it is good to see someone out there working on this issue with libraries. In fact i am working on doing a presentation about the Wii in libraries and wonder if you have any insights. All the best, Jay
+1
August 23, 2010 at 2:51 am
[…] Comment! My focus is on modern board games, putting into practice authentic games in educational settings to engage students with the curriculum. I have been critical in the growth of the designer games as educational resources and have written several documents aligning modern board games with both the AASL’s Standards for 21st-Century Learners and NY State Curriculum. via librarygamer.wordpress.com […]