Library Stuff

GamePolitics.com has a semi-round up.

Obama has said stuff like this before. He mentioned something similar in his amazing speech the day before MLK Day.

It doesn’t mean that he is against VGs. One could also assume, based on the words, that he is against TV. I think he was trying to make a point that overconsumption of certain things is not healthy.

Guardian Unlimited – “Far from spelling the end of proper storytelling, video games point towards its future.”

The Last Librarian – “I love video games in libraries. But the whole concept of gaming programs in public libraries is often sold as a lure for reluctant patrons, and I think this is misguided.”

If video games are to use useful in libraries, don’t hide behind a lure. Say what they really are for. To get kids and adults to play video games.

Adventures in the Wild West Library Frontier – “I’m not trying to be a luddite here, or even really to play devil’s advocate. It’s an honest question. Does gaming fit in to our missions, or is it just something public libraries are flocking to in order to appear hip and relevant (look at us! We’re the library and we’re cool!)? Is it time to adjust our mission statements?”

Library Attack (a new to me blog), deconstructs my post and Jenny Levine’s comments. I’m glad Jenny comnmented on the post instead of ignoring it. She’s right. Don’t like gaming? Don’t do gaming. I say stuff like that all of the time.

That said, that doesn’t mean I won’t post what I think about the topic. And, I love Jenny. Always have. She’s one of the smartest people I have ever met. Truly and honestly. We go way back. My being against video games is not me being against Jenny. Maybe I just don’t “get it”.

But maybe (just maybe) I’m onto something here. When will it end? When will librarians just stop trying to be the cool kids with the cool toys?

Why do we have to lure kids into the library with “candy”? Shouldn’t good literature be good enough? And, if it’s not enough, why? Maybe in some respects, I’m old school. Maybe that’s a good thing.

Dave Gibson – “[I]t appears that this country’s librarians have decided to their part in the dumbing-down of America. What has happened to this country?…All of the librarians I have known were in love with the written word and truly enjoyed opening the door to their world to young people. Perhaps, today’s crop of young librarians would be better served answering their calling as arcade attendants and movie theatre managers.”

Too much of a generalization here. Not ALL librarians think video game nights in the library are a good thing (I think that they are a childish way for adults to reclaim their youth in an attempt to be a part of the cool crowd).

And that last line just hurts. Ouch!

Probably why I won’t vote for Hillary. I’m not one for video games (I don’t “get” them – they seem like a an incredible waste of brain power and time, IMO), but Hillary should not be policing what private citizens do in their own home on their own time. Terrible.