We are pleased to announce our newest collection – video games! Based on an earlier survey of our patrons we decided to purchase PS2 and Wii games. There currently are ten titles for each system.
The titles are:
PlayStation 2
Atari Anthology
Crash: Mind over Mutant
Disney Cars
FIFA Soccer 10
Gran Turismo 4
MLB 10: The Show
Monster Jam
Namco Museum 50th Anniversary
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
The Legend of Spyro: The Eternal Night
WII
Big Brain Academy: Wii Degree
Game Party 3
Lego Harry Potter: Years 1-4
Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga
Mariokart
Naruto: Clash of Ninja Revolution
Okami
Pinball Hall of Fame: The Williams Collection
Rayman Raving Rabbids
Trauma Center: Second Opinion
We will be purchasing and lending games rated E, E 10+, and T. Most games that appealed to our population (again based on the surveys) were games which were rated E or T. Individual titles will be purchased for the collection after consulting professional journals, ALA recommendations, and trade magazines such as Game Pro. Because of the time limitation on the circulation of the games, the collection will consist of games that can be played and “won” in a reasonable amount of time.
Why Video Games?
- Public libraries have a mission to provide a variety of materials in a variety of formats. Videogames are stories & information, presented in new formats. Libraries are about stories & information, not just books.
- Public libraries have a mission to provide cultural, recreational, and entertaining materials, as well as informational and educational materials. Games provide stories and information as they entertain and educate.
- Games meet developmental needs of teens established by the National Middle School Association they encourage social interaction between peers and non-peers, enforce rules and boundaries, encourage creative expression, reward competence and achievement, and provide opportunity for self-definition
- Games can enrich vocabulary and expose players to language roots e.g. fighting the flaming monster Incendius can plant the key to unlock the more ordinary word “incendiary” upon later exposure. Crone, spawn, inquisitor, hydromancer, lorekeeper, magister, elemental, tainted, and evocation are other examples of vocabulary builders that can readily be found in games.
- Although a gamer may follow a path laid out by a designer, they are often several ways to get to the endgame. Playing a game requires creativity and imagination.
Happy gaming everyone!
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