Video games --and noise--are welcomed at the Library?

Have you visited your public library and found it to be a little bit noisier than when you were younger? I have. Recently I have noticed this change taking place every time I visit it and wondered: "Is this OK?" "Shouldn't the library be a quiet place?" "This is definitely not what a library should be like." I see elementary aged children and teenagers and have gathered that this is mainly where the noise is coming from. Most of the loudness takes place in the computer section. I pass by and see some of the children playing games at the computer and see them getting up from their computer to see what their friends are doing at their computer causing distractions. There are teenagers using the computers and are on myspace talking about who accepted who on their "friends list"! This is not right; especially if there are people waiting in line to use the computer for school research purposes. Also, one goes to the library to be in a quiet place and it's not because the person in the next cubicle has their headphones listening to their ipod music. I think this can be very distracting! Maybe its just me that has noticed this but guess what? In L.A. County libraries, video games, and noise are welcome! That's right! "Once a month, the San Fernando Library's librarians trade their reading glasses for video-game controllers and invite children to come crank up the volume. "It makes the library a fun place," said Ponce, a 13-year-old eighth-grader who says he now goes to the library everyday when there are no games." (1) In my opinion, I think this is a great idea to reach out to teenagers and get them to feel comfortable with the library. Libraries offer many children and adult programs but when it comes to serving the teenage population the numbers drop and this is one way to help bridge that gap. The branch manager stated that their wasn't direct correlation but noticed that librarians recommended books to visiting game players. "So there may be a relationship she said."(1) So maybe times are changing and if this is one way to have our young people closer to literature, I don't mind the noise. A 2007 survey of 400 U.S. libraries found out that three quarters of those that took part of the game events came back for other services. "Heather Gordon did. Since trying out "Wii Sports" a few months ago at the Pine Valley Library, the nine-year-old has returned every Friday to participate in the libraries craft and science activities and borrowed a few books." (1) Technology is an essential part to our younger generations and if it means that the library should "crank up the volume" to take good literature into the future with them then its not so bad, right?. "Libraries are about content, whether it's in a book or in a DVD or on the Internet." said Jenny Levine, an Internet specialist at the American Library Association. We don't discriminate on the container of form that it's in. If chess is OK, then why not video games?" (1) I think a program similar to this should be integrated in our libraries here in Houston! What will happen to the children's interest in books? What will happen in the future to our libraries? Is this really a good idea? At the moment it seems to sound OK but its taking away the purpose in going to the library. Do we want our children to think of the library as a place where I can go play a video game and I guess I will check out a book since I'm there? What do you think? 

Online: http://www.latimes.com/technology/la-me-libraries17apr17,1,5722500.story )

Elizabeth Mendez

Comments

[Jgomez710 g]

I agree with you when you say that a library should be a quiet place for people to be able to enjoy peace and quiet while studying or reading. Especially when people go to a library to do work and have to wait in line because another user is just playing games. Although it might be better for the library to have designated areas for the children who want to chat, hear music, or play games.

[daryan wilkerson]

I think having video games in the libraries is a good idea because this is a new age of technology. we nolonger just read books, we go on the internet now and other things. its better to keep the kids in the libraries then on the streets. i also don't think that libraries are that loud that you can't read a good book!

[johnsonvlindsey]

I think that students should not be playing computer games in the library. The only library computer should be a database for browsing for books. Students now are loosing something in this technology boom, they no longer desire to read books. With the emergence of the internet students no longer spend time in libraries reading and searching for information, instead they are coping and pasting from the internet. Playing computer games can be enriching but, students are being robbed of the pleasure of reading. They use the computers because it is easy. No longer are they challenged, everything is instant.