20°

Video game events draw teens back to libraries

Saying they're going to the library may no longer be the standby excuse teens offer their parents for secretly heading out to a party or to hang out with friends.

These days, more and more young people are flocking to metro Detroit libraries: not necessarily for homework, but to participate in one of their favorite pastimes -- video games.

Hage has stocked the shelves with 1,823 games for PlayStations 2 and 3, Nintendo Wii, Xbox, Xbox 360 and other systems. And the free sources of entertainment are hot items among adolescents -- on any given day, 1,300 are checked out. The addition of the games largely contributed to the library's 12% spike in circulation last year, she said.

The Rochester Hills library (in Michigan) increasingly draws kids in with gaming events, like the one held Feb. 9.

And it's not just happening in Rochester Hills.
The Round Peg - contributor
Published: 673 days 15 hours ago | News | PlayStation 3 | Xbox 360 | Wii | Xbox | PlayStation 2 | Gaming
 
 

Showing: 1 - 5 of 5 Comments
Shut this user up Let user speak
Skerj - 673 days 14 hours ago
1 -
What are Li-br-eries? Is that like Netflix for books? A book rental service?
Shut this user up Let user speak
permutated - 673 days 12 hours ago
1.1 -
Lulz :P
Shut this user up Let user speak
blynx182 - 673 days 12 hours ago
2 - You funny thing is
This sure as hell ain't happening in my library.
Shut this user up Let user speak
solar - 673 days 11 hours ago
3 -
sure, kids are at the library...for the wrong reason. to play video games, not to read...
Shut this user up Let user speak
derekjr - 672 days 21 hours ago
4 -
If you check the mission statement of most libraries, it will state that it is to meet the educational and RECREATIONAL needs of the community.

I have brought gaming into the library I work at and it has been huge with the teens. Last year alone we went from 2000 to 3000 teen residents with a library card. Alot of this is due to the video games that we check out as well as the DVD's, CD's and computers with games on them. We have also seen a drastic increase in the amount of books that check out as well. Here, as teens wait for a computer, they will pick up a manga and read it. We only have about 300 video game titles at the moment as our budget is not that great.
Add Comment (Gamer Zone)
Gamer Zone Posting Guidelines
The Gamer Zone is for members who want a more friendly and civilized discussion. This section is heavily moderated by the N4G staff, so leave your fanboyism at the door please. Members who are unable to behave in a mature and respectful manner will be temporarily or permanently restricted from posting in the Gamer Zone. Using words such as Xbots and Sony droids, or other words from the console war vocabulary, is strictly prohibited in this Zone.
Read More...
 
 
You must log in to post comments.
Username:  
Password:  
 
 
About N4G
N4G is a social game news site that covers the game industry 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
More Info... | Submit News