video games + library = AMAZING

"At libraries, fun and games now the lure"
Mike Musgrove
The Washington Post
November 22, 2009

To keep up with the youth of the eMedia generation, libraries have started to house video game systems, controllers, and games. The ALA (American Library Association) supports and annual Gaming Day event that recently had its second celebration. Some libraries hold regular events for patrons to come and play video games together in the library. All of this is part of an attempt to attract a hard to reach demographic: young adult males. Patrons need not be shocked by this addition to the library collection as "libraries also carry CDs and DVDs." Musgrove also quotes the President of the ALA Camila Alire as saying, "We've always tried to meet the needs of users as new formats come out." In addition to video games the library also has many board games and other fun, family games available to anybody interested. Musgrove also points out that in general parents are very pleased with this new idea, one mother in his article is quoted as saying, "Getting kids into the library is a good thing... They're in the library and not out doing other stuff."

Something I found especially interesting in this article is a recent study mentioned by Musgrove about gamers and their reading habits: "video-game fans spend four times as much time reading reviews, blogs and strategy guides as they spend with a game controller in their hands." That is a lot of reading. I have also thought this was true, as a gamer myself I read forums and tutorials all the time and I am frustrated by people who say "people are reading less because of video games and computers." I don't think people are reading less I think the forms of what they read are changing; instead of reading a book a person might keep up with 5 different blogs and correspond with friends through e-mail and facebook. In any case, I am very excited to see libraries evolving with technology, this can only end well. Library as a place is becoming more and more important and fostering these sorts of activities are strengthening the libraries place in the hearts of the masses.