Library to Increase Traffic With Video Games
The Sun Herald
Nov 30, 2009
PASCAGOULA -- Librarians in the Jackson-George Regional Library System hope to increase teenage traffic by offering popular video games along with books and movies.
Games for Nintendo Wii, Sony PlayStation and Microsoft Xbox 360 were purchased with Library Services and Technology Act grants totaling more than $13,000.
Trend statistics show video games help draw in teens and young adults, said library Director Carol Hewlett.
"To enhance the new teen gaming programs, the library system will soon have more than 50 different video-game titles available for circulation at all eight branch libraries., Hewlett said.
"Games can provide learning and enrichment in the medium most attractive to today's children and teens. It's a natural step forward for public libraries."
The national movement in offering more electronic media has benefited local communities in creating a new meeting place for teens and young adults.
By providing these services, libraries have exposed this patron group to literature and other library services, she said.
Most of the games are rated "E" for everyone, though many carry a "T" rating for teens.
Youth service assistant Rose Guice said the games disappeared as soon as they were put on the shelves for the first time.
"We got them in and as soon as they went out (onto the shelves) they were gone," she said.
Guice said teenagers might be tempted to browse the shelves of fiction and nonfiction books when they come for the games.
"Once you're in here, there are all these books. You can't miss them," she said.
Library patrons are limited to two video games at a time with a one-week checkout.
Board games, card games and video games help fulfill a library's mission to provide cultural, recreational and entertaining materials, Hewlett said.
"Games of every type play an important role in developing fundamental competencies for life," she said.
"They require players to learn and follow complex sets of rules, make strategic and tactical decisions, and, increasingly, collaborate with teammates and others -- all things they will have to do in college and in the workplace."
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