Game Libraries in the News: January 2009

This article is from the first edition of The Video Game Librarian website I published between 2008 and 2010. It was originally written on January 26, 2009.

Here’s a trio of recent news articles that show more libraries hopping on the video game bandwagon:

Library programs offer something for all – How librarians at the Chili Public Library (NY) are using programs to attract patrons, including teens.

“”I’ve been told if you feed them, they will come,” says Catherine Kyle, who is 29 and leads the teen programs at the library, which pulls high school-aged kids from three major high schools, Churchville-Chili, Wheatland-Chili and Gates Chili.

She has equipped the teen meeting space with a sound system and is hoping that video game systems might lure the older boys to come, such as a Nintendo Wii. She’ll do a Rock Band competition in April, a popular interactive Wii game.”

Des Moines libraries find success using video games to draw students – How Des Moines libraries are using Rock Band and the Wii to bring in teenagers.

“They get large turnouts at each library,” said Brenda Finn, teen specialist at the Central Library. “They may have never been in before to play the game, but they meet me … and ask for a book or how to get a card.”

New teen wing of library will have video games – All about Nashville’s new teen area that includes…

“A remodeled area for teens in Nashville’s downtown library will include four plasma TV screens and a Wii video game when it opens next month.”