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Last night we held our first Wii program, at a very small branch. I’m talking so small that when 15 people show up for a program, you start to worry where to put them. In a town of around 1000 (this includes the farms and small communities nearby), we had just that—15 people show up to play and see what Wii is all about. As the MasterCard commercial says:  Wii system, around $300. Extra remote,  $75. This quote, priceless—“Wow, I’ve never been here before.”  (This from the mouth of a 10-year old boy.)

So—it took Wii to get him in the building. I know there’s been a lot of talk about whether offering gaming is really and truly a library-related activity.  When kids who have never stepped foot in the library come to play, I say yes, it is. When members of the Town Council pop in after their meeting upstairs in the Town Hall council chambers to see what all the noise is about, and see a group of kids having a good time in a space that is way too small, yes, Wii is a library-related activity.  When the kids who are not playing grab a picture book off the shelf behind them and start reading it, yes, I emphatically say, it is a library-related activity (even if that book was below their reading level, they had a good chuckle reading it). When a mom, dad, and 9-year old boy come in, bicycle helmets in hand, because said boy remembered it was Wii night, and talked his parents into coming to the library mid-bike-ride, yep, library activity. I could go on and on, but I’ll spare you, dear readers.

My point here is that we have kids coming into the library that would not otherwise have come in. Even if they never check out a book after the Wii program (some did), when they need a book for homework they just might remember how much fun they had here and that maybe, just maybe, that library is not such a stodgy old place after all. When a member of the Friends of the Library knocks on their parent’s door to ask for a donation for the new library, that parent might just feel inclined to donate. You can bet the Town Councilors are talking about it—this is a small, trying-to-thrive town that values activities that bring families out.

So, if you are on the fence about offering Wii, or Guitar Hero (that’s next up, and the kids were clamoring for us to set a date), or DDR, just keep this scenario in mind:

11 year old girl: “Can I use the phone? I need to call my Mom. “

Me:  “Sure, but the program isn’t over till 8:30.”

11 year old girl: “I know, but I told her to come get me early because it might be boring. But I’m having fun and I want to stay!”

Finished. ...just in time for the party. Whew.
Basically I have a horizontal two sided card, and the individual Godz/MechaGodz mini-standees for all the party tables.




If you are interested, I included larger printable images of the two side card/ and the mini-standees for your own downloadable enjoyment back at my website.
You know...if you want to throw your own Godzilla themed birthday bowling party!

Here's a preview of a top-secret freelance project I'm doing. The client had me at "draw a giant monster attacking a city."

My Son's birthday is coming up, and we are having his party at a bowling alley...AND he would like it to be Godzilla themed. :) So, I made this invite to send out to his friends.

Now, as far as I know...this is the only Godzilla bowling themed birthday invitation around.
If you find some...be sure and let me know. In the meantime, If you like this, and want to use it yourself, I made a blank version that you can print out over at my blog.