Videogames at Libraries?

[8bitgamer]

I was at my local library the other day, and it brought back memories of the mid-late 1980s, when certain libraries carried NES games. I don't recall seeing any videogames in libraries prior to or after the NES, but I distinctly remember NES games at two different libraries. Anyone else ever check out (or at least see) videogames available at the library?

[BetaWolf47]

Actually, a library near me carries current gen titles for rent. It's free, but late fees are harsh ($2 a day I think). Other than that, I don't think I've seen any games for rent at libraries.

[Sparkster]

Yeah, my library has current gen games too - all 3 systems. 1 week loans. I'm still working on playing the games that I actually own.

[raptor94k]

The library in my home town carried both NES games and Genesis games back in the 90s. I can't remember if it ever had anything else.

[Coldguy]

My Library had some PS2 and Xbox title, nothing amazing but interesting to give a whirl.

[koster]

The Santa Clara County Library (http://www.santaclaracountylib.org/) in the San Francisco Bay Area has numerous video games available for loan. Try a catalog search for 'Wii' or 'Playstation'...

Nice to see local tax dollars at work. :)

[j_factor]

Last I looked, my library had some PC games, but that was it.

[JohnnyBlaze]

Yeah, a town around here does. Dunellen. I have to go up there one of these days.

[CelticJobber]

The libraries near me don't carry videogames, hell they barely even carry any non-educational movies made after 1965. And just going by the usual shape of rental discs (scratched to hell and back), I'd be scared to even try a library-loaned game.

[phreakindee]

Around 1996 my local main library at the time in Winston-Salem, NC went through a sort of digital revolution. At the time all they had were early 80s computer terminals. As part of the upgrade to internet and such, a PC game and application area was set up. They all sorts of great Dos and Win95 games on CD there. Its actually there I was I introduced to some Lucasarts games for the first time, like the XWING series. Unfortunately it was abused and people stopped bringing the games back, and then CD-Rs became affordable and people just grabbed a bunch, copied them and brought them back that afternoon. Eventually they rarely got any new games, except for library staff. Thankfully I knew a head librarian and got some awesome games since they weren't at the library anymore ;)

[The 1 2 P]

As far as I know the libraries around here never carry video games, but last year I posted a thread where more libraries across the country were about to start carrying video games.

[MissingNo_1231]

I have yet to see a Library around here that carries games.

And actually, I'm kind of glad. The state of their DVDs is so horrible, I'm almost certain they scrape them along the parking lot.

Games shouldn't be in hands of people who don't know how to treat them.

[Haoie]

Only new games at my local library.

Libraries really shouldn't even have games, right?!

[j_factor]

Only new games at my local library.

Libraries really shouldn't even have games, right?!

Any sort of media that can be arranged and catalogued is fit for a library, barring completely inappropriate content, such as porn (even then, a porn library is entirely feasible, but shouldn't be publicly funded).

[Aussie2B]

The libraries near where I live in New York are pretty ghetto, and I bet they still don't have anything other than books (with a lame selection of those too).

But my hometown built a huge, massively expensive new library just a few years ago, and while they don't have games, I've been taking advantage of their DVD selection all summer while on vacation. Honestly, even if they had games, I probably wouldn't bother. I got more than enough games to play, and I'm happy to drop money on them because I expect at least a few hours of entertainment if not a few dozen. I'm not so inclined to buy movies because I'll watch them once and probably take all eternity before I ever get around to watching them again.

[sebastiankirchoff]

At my libraries mini-store, they were selling some 90's PC games, and some early 2000's PC games too. Didn't buy anything, even though they were a buck each.

[The 1 2 P]

Although I seldom go to the library anymore, I'd definite consider it if they started carrying games. However, I can only imagine the horrible condition they'd be in after public use.

[Kid Ice]

Mine doesn't carry video games and I hope they never do. Libraries started carrying DVDs in a transparent attempt to boost circulation and prove their tax dollar worthiness. I'm not talking about Citizen Kane and Gone With the Wind....they carry movies like Transformers and TV shows like The Jeffersons. Real cultural milestones. I remember when the library was a sanctuary from all the cretins that congest the local shopping malls...now I can't go sit and read a book without being disturbed by a bunch of unruly, illiterate freeloaders.

[nhm]

Mine doesn't carry video games and I hope they never do. Libraries starting carrying DVDs in a transparent attempt to boost circulation and prove their tax dollar worthiness. I'm not talking about Citizen Kane and Gone With the Wind....they carry movies like Transformers and TV shows like The Jeffersons. Real cultural milestones. I remember when the library was a sanctuary from all the cretins that congest the local shopping malls...now I can't go sit and read a book without being disturbed by a bunch of unruly, illiterate freeloaders.

Heaven forbid the public library provide services to the general public, not just pinky upturned elitest snobs!:D

[Kid Ice]

Heaven forbid the public library provide services to the general public, not just pinky upturned elitest snobs!:D

Yeah they should serve beer and hot dogs.

It's not exactly elitist to expect a little calm, quiet, and decorum in a library (and a movie theater for that matter).

[Aussie2B]

But it is kind of elitist to suggest that someone who would check out a movie or show that isn't a "cultural milestone" would be incapable of behaving in a proper, polite way.

As someone who actually worked in a library for awhile, I can vouch for the fact that, no matter what content they offer, the dregs of society will still show up from time to time because that's the nature of a public place. You'll find reeking hobos, weirdos looking for young girls to bother, and people who just have no clue what acceptable library conduct is. And considering how meek and mild-mannered the people who work in libraries often are, they don't always do the greatest job at being assertive with an unruly patron, but I can't blame them because, again, with the public nature of a library you don't want to put yourself in a dangerous position by confronting someone that may have a criminal record for all you know.

[Daria]

weirdos looking for young girls to bother.

True story, in the 70's my mom was at the library flipping through a book in the aisle, when some creep stuck his penis through the shelf.

I dunno. I guess it's not really relevant to the DVD thing but Aussie's post reminded me of the story.

[Kid Ice]

But it is kind of elitist to suggest that someone who would check out a movie or show that isn't a "cultural milestone" would be incapable of behaving in a proper, polite way.

I didn't mean to imply that every single individual who goes to the library to check out the Transformers movie is a boisterous ignoramus. I just think it's wrong that (a) libraries artificially inflate their circulation with these offerings, (b) the taxpayers' monies are used on these items instead of, you know, BOOKS, and (c) standards of conduct have obviously declined to the level of a video store.

[E Nice]

(c) standards of conduct have obviously declined to the level of a video store.

And in some cases adult video stores. There was an article in the local paper in my city that ran some real stories about the patrons of a public library, from sex in the bathroom, drug users, and who knows what else. Even the state library isn't immune but more rare, once a librarian caught a guy beating it. But unlike the public library the state library has security and he was hauled off.

[otaku]

my library seems to carry ds and wii games I haven't found the dedicated section but I find them littered about the hold section and they even have a room with a wii setup for kids to play wii sports and wii fit. Pretty cool.

[garagesaleking!!]

i have never heard of a library carrying video games, that is so badass, i thought the library carrying dvds used to be cool, if my library had video games i would go nuts.

[Kid Ice]

i have never heard of a library carrying video games, that is so badass, i thought the library carrying dvds used to be cool, if my library had video games i would go nuts.

I rest my case.

[FxMercenary]

Im going to have to agree with Kid Ice. A library that would actually carry video games and movies ( a local one here carries movies and TV shows, Like Seinfeld ) is a threat to local businesses that rent movies and video games, and businesses that sell them too.

Think about what would happen if all the Wal-Mart shopper types caught wind of it. The place would turn into a loud, packed drama fest, and god forbid it if you didnt have a certain title in stock.

Sorry, Libraries need to stick to books, and ( Limited ) public internet access.

[Dangerboy]

An interesting aspect on the video game argument though:

What if video games became the "gateway media" to reading?

Picture this:

Each game rental came with a list of available books / categories in the library that would compliment the game, and would allow the player to see the references and influences of the game. Examples:

Imagine: Make Up Artist
Make-up books, how to become a make-up artist, beauty schools

Bioshock
List includes Atlas Shrugged, Architecture for that era, Music of that era

Super Mario Galaxy
Books on mascots, character drawing, space / exploration....plumbing :)

Peggle
Puzzle Books, Introduction to Physics (the bouncing), humor, etc

Fallout 3
Nuclear Weapons, Fiction books based on alternate time-lines, mechanical repair, etc

The possibilities are there - if Rock Band and guitar hero can cause children to want to play instruments, why not let them try and find their own path through their games of choice?

Just a thought.

[Compute]

So where do you draw the line on what a library 'should' and 'should not' carry? We live in the 2000's, and information can exist in many forms, so why neglect archiving those forms as well? This is simply a blurring of the lines between information and entertainment. Look at the section labelled 'fiction' and tell me everything in there is a literary masterpiece. How about the magazines?

Maybe the games/dvds/etc can be used to trick that fat dude at wal*mart into entering a library and using its services rather than looking at it puzzled and wishing his tax money was used for something he wants to use.

[Compute]

Im going to have to agree with Kid Ice. A library that would actually carry video games and movies ( a local one here carries movies and TV shows, Like Seinfeld ) is a threat to local businesses that rent movies and video games, and businesses that sell them too.

They're also a threat to book stores. Barnes and Noble can't come CLOSE to competing with selection and price at the library


Think about what would happen if all the Wal-Mart shopper types caught wind of it. The place would turn into a loud, packed drama fest, and god forbid it if you didnt have a certain title in stock.

Sorry to ruin your last sanctuary, but people already HAVE 'caught wind' of this. Are you afraid they'll get into your secret club? It's funded with taxpayer money, therefore taxpayers get a say in what is stocked. If you don't like it, move to China.


Sorry, Libraries need to stick to books, and ( Limited ) public internet access.

What about audio books? How about movies based on books? Magazines? Newspapers? Fiction books are fiction just like a lot of movies, do they also not belong in your temple of wisdom? These things are all fantastic information resources.

As a member of the general public, I am sorry for using materials in the library for anything besides pure research and knowledge-gathering.

[NCN]

My local library carries PS2, XBox, PS3, XBox 360, Wii, DS and Gamecube. Yeah, I love that piace.

[The 1 2 P]

You know, there was a time at my local library where they had designated one Friday a month for an Xbox tournament, but they only used E or T rated games(for obvious reasons). I never went because I think the age limit stopped at 17. Even during that time though, they still never carried games.

[E Nice]

What if video games became the "gateway media" to reading?


There might be a stronger case for videogames in the library if they actually sold visual novels over here. Most of them are nothing but reading.

[houstonlibrarian]

Libraries are not really for education these days. It's about getting as many people through the door as possible. If this means video games, then so be it.