In this thread on whether or not libraries still serve a purpose, the question was raised about how libraries should be spending our tax dollars. Rather than continue to hijack that thread further, I’m starting another one to ask the question of how libraries should use their tax dollars.
In the linked thread, three specific instances were cited as “wasting tax dollars”:
[ul]
[li]Allowing kids to play online games[/li][li]A DVD collection[/li][li]A Console Video Game collection[/li][/ul]
I also asked whether or not music CDs were a waste of money as well, but no one replied one way or the other. As a librarian, I think all four of these collections/services are an important part of any library. And they are all well entrenched in the long history of libraries.
At the library I work at, the music collection dates back to the 70s with records and cassettes. The records and the cassettes are long gone, but it has been in place for 30 years. The movie collection is a bit newer, dating back to the mid 90s, so let’s say 15 years. The console video game collection is the newest, and I have only begun building it since 2005. But before that, the library had a CD-ROM game collection (DRM put an end to that) that was begun shortly after the movie collection.
And obviously, you can’t say that online games should be budgeted separately from the Internet as a whole, so that’s not even worth discussing.
My opinions on what should and should not be publicly subsidized are inchoate, but one thing I’m sure of is that exposure to movies and videogames is just as valuable as exposure to novels and poetry. There’s no principled reason to draw a distinction on grounds of form of media alone.
Movies, music, and even video games are all part of the cultural fabric of our lives. There’s nothing more wrong with the library keeping these things on hand for their patrons than there is in keeping books like Red Dragon or the Harry Potter series available.
I just got a call last night that a video I’d ordered on inter-library loan would not be coming. I half expected this; are they really going to go through ILL six times so I can watch an obscure Japanese TV series? Even if they got me interested in it by stocking the first volume? (This series, in case you wonder.)
But the reason given was not, “Hey, the first one’s free, now give your local video store some business.” Nope, it’s just that my local public library doesn’t lend DVD’s on ILL, so they don’t get them either.
So now I’m considering whether to suggest they buy the rest of the series. That first volume gets checked out a lot…
I remember as a child that my local library had board games for children to either use while parents/older siblings were using the book part of the library, or to check out and take home. I’m not sure, but I think my current local library still has these things. How much different is a computer game?
If children can check out fiction books, movies, and CD’s why not computer games?
And for those who feel Education Must Occur! - computer games help introduce children to computers, get them comfortable with them, and many games incorporate skills like math or reading. After my mother had her stroke the rehab place gave her a list of computer games to help recover. There is a prejudice against “just games” but, for goodness sakes, kids are kids, they’re supposed to play!
It’s like the little old lady who recently griped our library was now stocking graphic novels. Well, so what? You still have to read them. If that gets kids interested in reading I’m all for it.
I’m not sure I’m completely on board with allowing people to play online games at the library. What sort of games are we talking about? Chuzzle and Peggle type games, or WoW? I can really get behind having a DVD and console game collection available for checkout, though. There are many movies people might want to watch once, and not own forever. The same thing goes for games. If only I had been able to rent Eternal Ring instead of buying it, I could have saved the purchase price. And music…I remember renting records in the late 70s, and cassettes a little later than that. I think that music is part of our culture, and belongs in libraries.
When my husband was stationed in Biloxi, Mississippi, the public library that I frequented had jigsaw puzzles on some of the tables. People would drop in, work on a puzzle for a while, chat with a friend, and then get some books. I always thought this was sort of cool.
While we’re talking about where libraries should spend their budgets, may I mention that I love a good periodicals section? I enjoy browsing some magazines, which I probably wouldn’t purchase.
My library used to (or still might) loan out toys! And board games/puzzles. Also, artwork (prints of paintings and sculptures), magazines, maps, various electronic things like CD players and video cameras, and even fishing poles. Don’t know if they still do this, some of these things are obsolete because of the Almighty Computer.
I don’t know about electronic games but virtually every public library in Australia lends out videos, DVDs and CDs. Many have toy libraries which are great when you have small kids, you don’t have to buy all the things that kids rapidly outgrow.
Seems most libraries I’ve been to don’t really seem to put a high priority on building up their CD/DVD/games collections. They basically seem to collect what people donate and stick them on a shelf, so I’m not convinced that most libraries are sinking a ton of resources into these collections in any case.
As for kids (or adults) playing games on the computers, I don’t really have any problem with it, but people who want the computer terminals for other reasons should probably be given priority if there’s a waiting list.
My public library charges something like $3 per day in late fees for each DVD or game so I have always figured it was a profit center…even then I still get annoyed if i have to wait in a long line to check out a book when everyone else is checking out movies.
I don’t think the issue is the medium, but the content. Of course there can be educational or reference material on DVDs, CDs, and even gaming consoles. The issue then becomes whether the library should have recreational materials in any medium.
Personally I say yes. There’s nothing “dirty” about recreational materials, and works of fiction can be enriching in ways that purely reference works cannot. But even recreational materials that are purely fun are fine.
When it comes to budgeting, sure there should be prioritizing - I’d rather see the reference section stocked before the Harlequin romances, but given an adequate budget, there’s room for the Harlequins too.
Librarians have been fine tuning the acquisition process for a very long time, and have already hashed out the various philosophical and practical issues involved. They seem to have things covered. Let them do their job.
Full disclosure: My opinion on this will definitely be biased as one of the thing my company does is support public and school libraries for IT type services.
Nearly ever school and library I support has some kind of proxy or filtering capability. So, most of the online games are pretty low key…we ain’t talking WoW or WAR or something like that. In addition most of the machines wouldn’t be up for anything major. The majority of games I personally support are more along the Reader Rabbit or games online at sites like Nick.
So…I’m not seeing a problem with my tax dollars going to support kids who don’t have access to computer in order for them to play the same kinds of games my own kids play at home.
Again, not seeing a real problem here. One of the services I personally use at the local library is for books on tape (well, CD) for my myriad trips. I’ve borrowed audio books for years and it’s a service I am happy to pay for. While I don’t need DVD’s myself I have no problem with public funding for limited collections so that people can borrow them to enjoy.
I guess this one would depend on the budget of the local library and how much in demand such things would be. Personally I think it would be a waste of funding that could be better used elsewhere…but then, I’m biased here since the only console we have is a WII and I play the majority of my own games on a PC.
I agree over all and would say that if a library has the budget for such things and there is a demand then they certainly should get them.
Well…that’s not necessarily true. Public libraries as well as schools can use eRate funding for their internet connections. If the DO use eRate funding then they have to provide some kind of filter or proxy access, which can limit what can be connected too.
However, I agree with your overall point…if a library is going to provide internet access to the public (something I think is VERY important…though I AM biased here) they should allow people to access gaming sites as long as they don’t violate their (or the gubberments) use policies (i.e. they aren’t going to porn sites or trying to play GTA or something on a public machine where children are wandering about).
Well, anecdotally all of the public libraries that are or were my customers (say around 50) had at a minimum a firewall filter and or proxy gateway that blocked category web sites (such as porn, gambling, gang related, etc). I don’t know of any that allowed direct porn access (or direct access of any kind)…though a savvy user could use proxy bypass sites to hit porn (or things like YouTube) if they were really determined. Of course, since most of them post signs saying this would be against the use policies, you would be booted off if you were caught doing so.
