Aug 20, 2008 6:53 pm US/Central
Not Your Parents' Library: Video Game Checkout
(WCCO)
For years, teenagers have chosen video games over books, and just about anything else. Now, they can choose them at two branches of the Dakota County Library.
In a pilot program aimed at attracting teenagers to the library, Dakota County is stocking two branches with video games.
"It's kind of surprising to have it at the library," said 16-year-old Erik Welde, "because they usually don't have that kind of stuff here. It's usually books and computers."
"We're always looking for ways to attract teens into our libraries," said Mary Schmook, manager at Inver Glen Library. "We thought the games might be one of the ways to do it."
Starting in April, they stocked the shelves with games for PS2 and Xbox 360 - and within a week and a half, those shelves were out of stock.
"They've been very, very popular," said Schmook, "as soon as the kids found them, they've made that part of their library experience."
Josh Salo liked the games he saw on the PS2 waiting list, even though it could take a month to get his hands on one.
Dakota County spent $5,000 on this pilot program to reach out to teens, but it could also help the kids save some of their own money.
"I'd be pretty interested," he said. "That would be pretty cool because then you can try out new games before you buy them."
"With kids changing their interests almost daily," said Mollie Barnstead of St. Paul Park, "you might buy a game that's $50 and they'll play it for a week and be done with it."
And what will parents think of the changing face of this library?
Josh's 16-year-old sister Jessica had an interesting answer.
"They'll probably like it that we're going to the library more," she joked, "tell them we're going to get books, but we're really getting video games."
The video games are available at the Inver Glen and Galaxy Libraries, but you can get on the waiting list and pick up your games at any of the Dakota County Libraries.
The Library is getting lots of requests for Wii titles, but won't consider that change -- and expanding the program -- until the end of the budget year.
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