Can you find the missing scientist? Travel back in time to ancient Egypt? Escape room games use problem-solving skills to boost curriculum—and they’re fun. Play one here.
Twenty-Five Vlogs for Teens (and Teen Librarians)
By on November 16, 2015
Librarian and blogger Molly Wetta presents 25 notable channels and vlog series—covering categories such as gaming, beauty, and science and technology, and more—that may be of interest to teens.
Scholastic Sells Ed Tech Business to Focus on Publishing
By on April 28, 2015
Scholastic announced on April 24 that it will sell its education technology and services division to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for $575 million to focus on its thriving publishing business.
MinecraftEdu Takes Hold in Schools
By on April 3, 2015
With myriad adaptations for use in the classroom, MinecraftEdu brings Common Core–enhanced gaming to students.
Sonoma Library to Host Minecraft Camp
By on February 3, 2014
Rebecca Forth doesn’t want kids to simply play Minecraft, she wants them to design their own worlds in the virtual building game. They can do just that and learn the necessary coding skills in a program set to launch at the Healdsburg branch of the Sonoma County (CA) Library in March 2014.
A Minecraft Library Scores Big: Mattituck, NY, Branch Is a Hit with Kids
By on September 3, 2013
Inspired by the experiences of Connecticut librarian Sarah Ludwig’s Minecraft library club, Elizabeth Grohoski and Karen Letteriello of the Mattituck-Laurel Library (NY) are now using a virtual Minecraft library to attract young patrons. The game allows users to build in a 3-D virtual world with cubes similar to Legos—but without any proscriptive kits and manuals.
Minecraft Club: Want to bring the hottest game into your classroom or library? Here’s how.
By on March 27, 2013
The popular game Minecraft “is accessible, fun, and, ultimately, an excellent learning tool for both nerds and non-nerds,” says Sarah Ludwig, who takes us step by step through her process of creating a thriving Minecraft club in her library. New to Minecraft? There’s a video primer.
Libraries, Ebooks and Beyond: Library “Makers” Share How It’s Done
By on October 18, 2012
Searching for some great ways to get kids hooked on creating digital content? Attendees at the October 17 Digital Shift event got some great tips from Wes Fryer, Melissa Techman, Liz Castro and Erin Daly, all participants in a panel on “Makers in the Library.”
How Minecraft Mixes with Fiction
By on August 14, 2012
Andrea Buchanan’s young adult novel Gift was the first to incorporate Minecraft. What’s that you say? The creative game, in which users build stuff out of cubes within a 3-D environment, deserves a closer look. YA librarian Erin Daly offers an expert’s view of the Minecraft element in Gift and how well the sandbox game worked as an element within a novel.
Minecraft in the Classroom and Library
By on May 23, 2012
Minecraft 101, with resources for getting a program started in your school or library.
