As college students, many of us are under constant pressure of succeeding in our classes and extracurriculars, but many students still find time to unwind and reconnect with hobbies. NCSU Libraries is demonstrating how hobbies such as playing video games and creating music work together in an event called Beats & Bits on Jan. 10th.
“My colleague Alex Valencia runs a DJing workshop series, and for the last year or so, I’ve been running a gaming series called Raiders of the Lost Arcade,” said Nicky Andrews, an NCSU Libraries Fellow . “We were brainstorming event ideas and thought a combined event would be a great way to showcase some of the workshops, events and tech lending equipment we have available in the libraries. Unlike some of our prior events, this is a casual drop-in event with no registration or set curriculum. Just come and say hi, explore some of our retro-style video games and try your hand at DJing using video game soundtracks.”
These activities can provide an immersive experience that allows players to use both their vision and hearing to enjoy games. The use of multiple senses helps to provide an extra layer to a game’s setting.
“I think that video games and music go really well together,” Andrews said. “Video game soundtracks are created to be atmospheric and to keep players engaged in video game environments, sometimes for hours. DJing and gaming are both activities that can really connect people to each other, but can be expensive or challenging to get into as a novice, so this is a fun way to break down some of those areas and encourage anyone who is interested to explore their interests further.”
Music is also something that can provide an opportunity for everyone to either unwind or rock out. DJing, which combines a love of music with creativity, is also something that students and staff alike can do in their free time.
“We all curate the music we like to listen to, whether it’s through Spotify playlists, YouTube favorites or Pandora channels,” said Alex Valencia, an NCSU Libraries Fellow. “DJing is all about creatively playing around and mixing the music we love so much. Over the past four years, DJing has become a favorite hobby of mine and a form of self-expression. I want to introduce this art form with others, as it can be a little daunting to start.”
Beats & Bits can give students a way to not only find ways to de-stress, but also explore the events that the NCSU Libraries has to offer.
“[D.H. Hill] Library has a great understanding of the balance between academics and student life outside of the classroom,” Valencia said. “While traditional studying is important, it is also vital to feel free and creative. Additionally, this library lends a lot of technology that will be used in the program. A big barrier to entry with DJing is the sheer cost of all the equipment. NCSU has recently purchased a number of Pioneer DJ controllers that are available for [students to use]. These DJ controllers are a great way for someone to get started with the art.”
Beats & Bits is also an example of the many events offered by NCSU Libraries which help all students feel welcome on campus, as Andrews mentioned.
“Beats & Bits is part of the libraries’ programming for Winter Welcome Week,” Andrews said. “I think it’s important for users to view their libraries as somewhere they can feel
at home, whether studying, engaging with new technology or looking for a way to participate in the wider campus community. People often step into a library with a preconceived notion of libraries and librarians as potentially unwelcoming or stuffy, and this is a fun way for us to actively welcome folks and move beyond those ideas.”
Through Beats & Bits, students can find ways to make their college experience more fun and enjoyable. Video games and music are both hobbies that can help put one at ease for the new semester.
“During grad school, both video games and DJing kept me sane under the amount of pressure from academic reading and writing,” Valencia said. “Both of the art forms were also great ways to meet other people and develop communities.”
The activities highlighted in Beats & Bits even provide ways to make studying for those important exams a lot more bearable, as Andrews mentioned.
“During college, I wouldn’t have much time to play video games regularly, but would always work my way through an old favorite during breaks,” Andrews said. “It was a good way to reward myself for making it through a semester. DJing wasn’t part of my college experience, but I was constantly listening to different kinds of music, whether to get me through my long commute to campus or picking tunes I could listen to while writing long papers.”
Beats & Bits will be held at the D.H. Hill Library from 2 to 4 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 10 in the Fishbowl Forum. The event is free and open to the public.
