Good books.....

hhmmm...

Libraries have stopped being about only books and periodicals long ago. Most of them them have tons of movies and music as well so there isn't any reason why they shouldn't have games as well.

Our university library recently started renting out games and interestingly enough in addition to games for the modern consoles someone seems to have dug up (pun intented) an old copy of Dig Dug for the C64. Funny to see that sitting on the shelves next to the 360, PS2,3 and Wii games.

Libraries have books, comic books, vhs tapes, televisions, computers and even playboys(how are those related to learning?)...

Why should they have games???

Besides why should anyone go to a library when most kids have access to more knowledge then they could possibly want inside their computer(with internet access)...

Yeah... when I was a teen 10+ years ago, I just couldn't wait to get my hands on all that literature

no wait, I was playing playstation

When I was a teen, I would routinely head to the library because it was the only place to get a decent Internet connection. Insofar as it was a big draw, it was also a media service, which is what the library is all about. They already stock and lend audio-books, music, and videos; adding videogames to that list is hardly unreasonable. It's a type of information, just like everything else at the library.

I think I still owe them five bucks for an overdue Gabriel Garcia Marquez that I never finished, though.

Yes you do have to lure them in with candy. Unfortunately alot of ppl my age dont read anymore, there just isnt any reason to, not when you have so much technilogical entertainment ready at your fingertips.

"Why spend so much time reading when you can just sit in front of a game or hey, if its a good enough book, they will just make a movie about it. That and reading just takes way too much time, I would rather lvl my warlock and pwn face. If I need to read a book for school, ill just sparknotes it."

Its these reasonings that lure youth away from reading and its sad tbh. Reading reallly is a great exercise for your mind, and what alot of people dont understand or know is that not only will it make you more intellegent, but many of the stories they play are loosly based on some sort of literature, especially anime and Japanese games. How many stories have they based soley on Son Goku?

Its good that that they are trying to lure in teenagers into libraries, it never hurts to try to push education. And what I think would be awesome is if if they do research on a particular game and say "Like the game? well they based such and such from this book and this from that story, check it out today!" That alone will increase the drive from gamers to read literature.

Im sorry but Im a huge adict of games and I love to read. Strange? Not really I hope, but it is true that few and few people have the drive to pick a good book.

[...] wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptLibraries are increasingly turning to video games to reach students. To that end, as reported by the Los Angeles Times, Friday has been designated Gaming @ Your Library Day by the American Library Association. According to a survey by Syracuse University’s School of Information Studies, almost one-quarter of U.S. libraries staged some kind of video game event in 2007. In Los Angeles County, teen use of public libraries has surged by 50% since a video game pilot program was introduced in 2006. Said San Fernando librarian Lydia Harlan: It lets teens be more comfortable with the library and become familiar with librarians. And it’s what kids are into these days. [...]

I guess its just the modern youth that doesn't read a lot anymore.

I had moved from the children's department of my local library to the adult(no not p0rn) section by the age of 10-11 (now almost 17 years ago) because i had finished every book i found interesting in there.

The Fantasy and Sci-Fi sections of the library were my haven, i had up to 5 or 6 books at home at a time, usually finishing all within a week or 2.

Its a shame that todays kids no longer see their own imaginations as a fun place to be. (since books rely on that imagination a lot to work their magic)

I still love to read a good book, and do so regularly. I love video games aswell, so they're not mutually exclusive and i applaud the initiative of those libraries.

I played a few video games in my library when I was younger (we had Carmen Sandiego and Oregon Trail!) - I would argue that a library holds some amazing stories, and I believe that games can do the same. Also, you've got to research things that go into a game/your way to get into the gaming business somehow; the library can provide the information you need.

It's not just gaming, either. My library had tons of videos and magazines, too.

I feel that there are many links between the two, and that games and libraries can interact each other very nicely.

But aren't videogames full of sex and violence? Why do libraries hate children?

I would argue that the main reason I never went to a library as a kid was that it seemed whatever book or series had my addicted would only have one copy, and it would be on loan for a month. Made way more sense to buy the book, and take what I could get for it at the used book store later.

"Why do we have to lure kids into the library with candy? Shouldn’t good literature be good enough?"

WHAT AN IGNORANT COMMENT!!!!!

Listen, before I get angry with this prick, it is better for me to calm down and just say a few words of my own peaceful stance.

Many years ago, when books were first invented, many people in society thought that books were turning people into zombies.

But until they acutely read a book for the first time, they could start to understand the reason for all this text in this page.

But at the time, not many people of the older generation could read, so therefore the gap between the older and the younger was divided between those who could read and those who could not.

Anyway, I would have more likely said, before you criticise Videogames as nothing but a waste of time, try to play a Videogame with a great story or one that engages you into a situration that you have never felt in your life that you can play a part of.

Just like in books, Videogames can be a gateway to another world in your mind.
Also if you don't think Videogames don't encourage reading, try playing some RPG games like Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest or even Legend of Zelda.
These are the games that a major book lover would like to read, especilly if they are into the books about Dragons, King Arthur and MediEvil times

Sadly, like in the example of the older generation not being able to read when books first were invented, the same goes with Videogames when some people like this guy from the older generation somehow can't be bothered in learning how to play "these darm" videogames.

So there is no use in my arguing because these people will never change.

GP: T-bone, your comment got noticed...

The last quote shows tremendous stupidity. I have been going to libraries to read since I was a kid, I'm a bit of a blibliophile. I always see huge Sections for children (sometimes an entire half of a floor) and huge sections for Reference material, and even Huge sections for adults, but when it comes to teens?

I have been in libraries around the country when I traveled with my parents and even now, I usually end up in a library (They did a lot of family history and still do) So I just read whenever. I only ever see books geared at teens in small sections, sometimes put on those spin wracks only meant to advertise the newest books. Books geared specifically for teenagers have almost no space.

Sure a lot of teenagers Read Stephen King, but they also read Tamora Pierce, Patrica C Wrede, R.L.Stine, and those were just some of my favs. Not to mention collections of 3 or 4 books are often incomplete meaning you might drop the series rather then go and try to find the sometimes way old 2nd volume.

On top of that this is one of the few times you might wanna differentiate the terms Kids and Teenagers.

Mmmmmm... I don't know. I think it all depends on what KIND of games these libraries have available to play. I do think that a libraries focus should be on reading, and I don't think a straight up action game would really encourage that.

HOWEVER.

There's tons of games out there that focus on reading, puzzle solving and story. For example, rpg's, or even Hotel Dusk for the DS.

So, mmm, I'm not sure.