I read the article titled, “Guitar Hero and Other Games Draw Teens Back to Libraries”, by Christy Arboscello. This article is about the growth of young people going to metro Detroit libraries. However, there’s a catch to this. These kids aren’t going to the library to do their homework, they are going to play video games.
This library (Rochester Hills) is fully stocked with games for PlayStation 2 and 3, Nintendo Wii, Xbox, Xbox 360, and others. On any random day, 1,300 games are taken out. Because of the amount of high demands for video games, this libraries circulation has gone up about 12%. Also, in the Clinton-Macomb Public library their 300 games can barely stay on the shelves, and the circulation has gone up by about 7%. On the contrary, when the Rochester Hills library began allowing the public to “borrow” the video games they had a problem with thieving, but they were able to come up with a solution and the crime rate has greatly decreased.
Christine Lind Hage quotes, “Getting teens to come to the library is right up there with getting them to go to church: It's not exactly the first place they want to go.” This may be true, but as far as I’m concerned a library is a quiet place meant for reading, studying, doing homework, etc..To me, this sounds like a library turning into an arcade. "It's a big social event," said Stephanie Jaczkowski, a 17-year-old home-schooled senior from the township. "I've met a lot of friends there, and they're really good friends." I understand that it’s always beneficial to be social and to have special friends but making them at a library playing video games is way too farfetched for me. Go to the park, movies, homesteads, etc.. to do this, NOT the library. I absolutely disagree with this entire concept of having video games in a library. It’s complete absurdity. What happened to the traditional quiet library? What about those people who look forward to going to the library primarily for some quite time? Now they have to listen to these kids playing guitars, dancing, and so on-this is what arcades are for. I understand that yes, it may be difficult to get kids to go to a library, but bribing them with video games when they get there is by no means a way to fix this problem. How many of these kids take out a book while they are there or get REAL work accomplished? Perhaps, I’m wrong but I totally disagree with what these Detroit libraries are doing.
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4 comments:
What an idea allowing video games to be played in a library.I think that this is a ridiculous idea. It's not a fair approach to persuading teenagers to use the library more frequently when there is a chance it will drive away individuals who actually go to the library to study in a quiet environment. Maybe the community will think of a better approach to urge their children to visit the library that is more appropriate.
Ok. First off I would like to be clear that I do not like this idea. Though, I can't help but wonder if the purpose of the library bringing video games into circulation is to keep funding up so that the library doesn't get closed down. Perhaps the librarians dislike this whole video game business themselves but might not have any other lucrative options. Pluses include, kids becoming familiar with the library and by default using it for it's other resources. If the gaming area is set up away from the people who will be reading books then it doesn't seem to be an entirely evil idea. I think it's sad that this is what it takes these days to get young people into our libraries. Hah, maybe in the future we'll be able assigning essays to students asking them to delve into the inspiring effects acquired by playing of Call to Duty 4.
Hi everyone. To respond to what cafecarbell proposed about how the librarians may dislike the whole business of video games but follow through only because of the lack of lucrative options, I would like to introduce the website: http://libgaming.blogspot.com/
~Please note, I am not taking a side at this point. I just wanted to point out that there are librarians in support of gaming under their ceilings. People should click around. There's some interesting things on that site.
As for my own opinion about this issue, I feel cognitively torn. My parents own and operate a video store and, as you can imagine, they also rented video games. Therefore, I have been engrossed in the video game culture for basically my entire life. I am in full support of video games and how they are able to benefit all those who play. However, I'm just not as sure about having them present in such a setting as a library. I don't want to be considered "old fashioned" but I feel the same way about libraries that I'm sure most of you do. Libraries are calm environments with other such attributes conducive to the learning process. They are not places filled with the random clicks of controllers. Although, why can't that change. I know that in my own life video games have taught me things, and no, not how to pull someone out of a car and shoot them or how to sneak through shadows or anything negative to any of my fellow humans. I am just saying I have had morals reinforced via video games, my hand-eye coordination has always been sharp, and I have always had something to do once I did finish my school work. With this argument, I am not claiming any definite side as of now. I just know that every aspect of life continues to become modernized; could it just be time for the libraries?
I have two views on this gaming in the library. I agree with Laice that libraries are sacred places of work, reading, and finding research. The library would be over packed with young teens wanting to play these wild games of Guitar Hero or Sonic. The use of libraries are low, so here is my other side. What if the games were educational? My brother has a game called "God of War," yes it's filled with blood and screaming women. The game is very informational on Greek myth. The plot of the game is to relive Knosas's life, and he must kill the God of War. Yes, death is involved. This game inspired my brother to look into Greek myth, and he asked me for more Gods' personal histories. There have been studies done to show games are educational, in a sense. Some students are visual learners. The libraries could use this idea, if the games have some historic or fun attribute to life. SIMS is another example. My sister played this game, and she learned that making a life for a simple character is not easy. The game needs to be centered around your character thus my sister had to literary feed, cloth, make friends, and make a house for the SIMS. I also I want to say, I used to work in a library. It was the most BORING place to be! Sure, some crowds of people come to see books or for research help. Other than that, I sat doing my homework for the majority of the day. I would have loved to play some WWII game, so I can be prepared for my American History test. I would like to finish with this idea of allowing games in libraries. With a few rules: a set volume, a small contained corner for the gamers, a game per user, a set time for the playing, and maybe a t.v. or two for public use. If there was any damage, the gaming system would be taken away. I am for a quiet library, but why not add the 21st century? Games are not only noisy, nerve racking, bloody, and stupid. The games introduce culture, like Naruto with ninjas and Japanese ways of life. History, like the God of War. And, life's lessons like SIMS. Sure, this library in Detroit is taking a risk. What else can they do? Let the kids roam the streets with drugs, or let them play games in a safe enivorment like a library? I don't mind if game playing is in the library, as long there is a private spot for the gamers to scream if they lose.
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