Screw books, libraries are for GAMES!

20% of libraries are offering a selection of games to play and to lend out. These are both current gen console games and PC games. They say the idea is for people who usually play games to come together and meet each other.
 
 "The library has become a place not just for taking materials home, but for engaging with others in the same physical community."
 
Is this another distraction that will keep us from, you know, finding a good place to read?
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If anything, this will actually attract people to reading. More people will go to the library to get games, and a notable percentage of those people will inevitably read some of the books there.

I'm guessing the 20% statistic is exclusive to the US. I'm in Canada and I visit the library quite often -- not once have I seen a video game. Though in this economy, lending video games through the library actually sounds like a good idea. I don't see how it will distract people who go there to read. It may even expose more people to books.

They've been doing the same thing with movies for a while now.

Lemme know when they start lending out hot librarians.

Whoever would go to a library just for a video game needs mental help.

" Whoever would go to a library just for a video game needs mental help. "

My library away from uni (Buckinghamshire, in the UK) have been renting games since the PS1. They originally did PS1 and PC games, then moved onto PS2 games, with a sprinkling of Xbox and Gamecube games, and now they're doing all the current gen consoles and handhelds. The prices have been good. They usually start at £4 for a week near the beginning of a consoles life cycle, and move down to around the £2 mark. It's much cheaper than places like blockbuster, who rent newer games for about £5 for two days. It was great.
 
Unfortunately, my libraries near my uni (in Sunderland) don't do games.

It would be neat if it expanded to more libraries. I want games to come to my library NOW! Lol.

" My library away from uni (Buckinghamshire, in the UK) have been renting games since the PS1. They originally did PS1 and PC games, then moved onto PS2 games, with a sprinkling of Xbox and Gamecube games, and now they're doing all the current gen consoles and handhelds. The prices have been good. They usually start at £4 for a week near the beginning of a consoles life cycle, and move down to around the £2 mark. It's much cheaper than places like blockbuster, who rent newer games for about £5 for two days. It was great.  Unfortunately, my libraries near my uni (in Sunderland) don't do games. "

Ive never seen a library lend out games but I wish they would. Especially if they follow the a similer model to the books where in general they dont seem to get rid of them unless they are damaged etc. I would love to go in and they have a copy of Spyro the Dragon on PS1 to rent or maybe Grim Fandango.

I've never seen a game for rent from any of my local (US) libraries, but knowing what I've seen in the DVD section, I find it hard to believe that the selection would be anything other than outdated sports games and educational franchises like Carmen Sandiego or Reader Rabbit.  My library seems to only buy DVDs that appeared on either PBS or the History Channel, so I'd assume that their game purchases (if they ever start) would be handled in the same manner.  After all, my librarians are sadly not hot sexy nerd girls but elderly women who view games are kids toys.  All of the DVDs that I've ever seen in the library that were actually worth a viewing were donated to the collection by area citizens.  As such, none of the films are even remotely recent.  Any video game would likely be something a person didn't want and wasn't worth the effort for trade-in at Gamestop.  I'd expect Madden '06 and  Konami's Rock Revolution.

" If anything, this will actually attract people to reading. More people will go to the library to get games, and a notable percentage of those people will inevitably read some of the books there. "