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Vacation. It’s a pleasant-sounding word and an even nicer thought. Most folks sigh at the very mention of it or even get a wistful, far-off look, whether they’re thinking about an upcoming planned getaway or just wishfully dreaming of one (as many of us are these days).
There are scientific studies dedicated to proving the legitimate health benefits of regular vacations, research that most of us would favorably support. On the other hand, I’ve also encountered people who have […]

Continue Reading about Getting Away: Is It a Vacation or Trip? Published on:
July 9, 2020

Mary Valentine, The Strong Museum Trustee
Most of us know the connection that Monopoly has to Atlantic City, but for me there’s more to the story than just the board game. Now that June has officially kicked off the summer—and in some ways, it may not be the kind of summer we expected—this might be a good time to share some memories.
We didn’t have Disneyland or Hershey Park or Six Flags when I was growing up in the late ‘50s […]

Continue Reading about Memories of Atlantic City: It’s Not Just Monopoly Published on:
July 1, 2020

Today, with the plethora of home improvement shows and lifestyle blogs, many of us want to create stylish rooms, but we do not always have the necessary resources to revamp our living spaces. While many of us are still practicing the art of social distancing, it might be fun to pull old catalogs from the bin, collect some scraps of fabric or textured paper, and grab an old notebook to make into scrapbook doll house.
At the end of the 19th […]

Continue Reading about Fabrics and Findings Published on:
June 25, 2020

Play is good to do and good for you! That’s why play is universal in humans and widespread throughout the animal world. Here are 10 reasons to play:
1) Play Makes You Smarter 
2) Play Strengthens You
3) Play Helps You Make Friends
4) Play Boosts Creativity
5) Play Reduces Stress
6) Play Enhances Attractiveness
7) Play Builds Resilience
8) Play Helps You Solve Problems
9) Play Promotes Discovery
10) Play is Fun
Now if you want to delve deeper to learn the research that supports any of these statements, these […]

Continue Reading about Ten Reasons Why Play is Essential (for Children AND Adults) Published on:
June 23, 2020

There are five laws of library science, penned by S. R. Ranganathan in 1931:

Books are for use
Every person his or her book
Every book its reader
Save the time of the reader
Library is a growing organism

The fourth law is easily glossed over, but without it the other laws could not be obeyed. “Save the time of the reader” means, at its core, “make things easy to find.” Librarians have spent hundreds of years refining classification systems, standardizing subject headings, and embracing new […]

Continue Reading about Digitizing and Preserving Toy Trade Catalogs: The Sacred Duty of the Librarians of Play Published on:
June 19, 2020

Digital rights management (DRM) tools have been used on software for decades. Companies install these protections to defend software from piracy or the unauthorized copying of the data. However, although designed with the best of intentions, DRM can have a negative effect on legally purchased software as well.
In 2010, Disney released the game Tron Evolution as a tie-in to the company’s Tron: Legacy movie, and distributed it on console and Windows computer platforms. While the console versions have their own […]

Continue Reading about Off the Grid: Tron Evolution and DRM Authentication Published on:
June 16, 2020

Eight months, 169 boxes, 1,270 folders, 1,314 objects, and a partridge in a pear tree. Minus the bird, these statistics hint at just how large the archives of video game pioneer Don Daglow are and how long it took to prepare them for research use at The Strong’s Brian Sutton-Smith Library and Archives of Play. This collection of video game concepts, development papers, original artwork, never-released game demos, and Stormfront Studios company records provides a behind-the-scenes look at […]

Continue Reading about Unboxing the Past: The Don Daglow Papers Published on:
June 11, 2020

Imagine being able to dress up for more days than just Halloween. You could opt for a Renaissance faire, but if your character of choice is a superhero, Jedi, or video game villain, cosplay is a better option. With cosplay comes conventions, school clubs, events, library programming, and just the idea of having fun with those who share a similar hobby as you!

Nowadays you can visit your local fabric or craft store and see items advertised specifically for cosplayers, such […]

Continue Reading about Costuming for Everyone: Cosplay Published on:
June 9, 2020

Since 2017, The Strong has directed significant energy toward our Women in Games initiative, which documents and celebrates the crucial contributions of women to the electronic games industry. Under the International Center for the History of Electronic Games (ICHEG), the initiative builds upon the holdings of museum artifacts and archival records which illustrate the impact of women in the field. (If you attended the Women in Games: Inspire! or Women in Games: Create! programs in 2018 or 2019, […]

Continue Reading about Building a Mystery—Spotlight on Jane Jensen Published on:
June 5, 2020