Your Next Gaming Source: Libraries?

Disparaging comments, baseless speculation by pundits, and being blamed for everything wrong with today’s society — gamers are used to being railed at by politicians and public figures. It seems the establishment has always hated gaming. Which is what makes the support from this group so surprising: libraries.

That’s right, the supposed antithesis to video games, libraries across America are using these games’ popularity to attract young people. According to the Chicago Tribune, the American Library Association (ALA) is urging 9,000 libraries in the United States to add video and computer games as a library activity. As stated in a presentation on library-held tournaments by Young Adult Librarians (YALSA), this is not a bait and switch to “trick” young people into going to the library. Instead, it’s to help young adults feel more comfortable within the library, which will in turn make them more likely to take advantage of other services–like checking out a book or periodical.

Even one of the biggest library systems in the world, the New York Public Library, has joined in on the new trend. Recently they kicked off the new effort with a “Game On @ the Library” campaign, which so far has 2,500 copies of 92 games in circulation. Dissent still remains, however, as Chicago librarians (along with a group of high school student advocates) agreed to keep video games out, citing that they will take focus away from the literature.

Despite the hesitance from some officials, it looks like video games will gradually find a permanent niche within libraries. Aside from providing the tools for more serious endeavors (i.e. research, learning, and study), libraries have also always been places for recreation and leisure. And these days, video games have become a common pastime; it’s only natural that libraries adapt. Meanwhile, as evinced by the growing popularity of video games beyond the demographic of teenage males, gaming has become relevant to a broad spectrum of society. Hopefully these progressive libraries will be able to effect a greater change throughout society, so that people understand that rather than turning children into violent, jaded couch-potatoes, video games can be tools to teach and promote a love of learning.