As a self-proclaimed non-reader, I may not be a likely candidate to enjoy the public library - but I love the library. I admit, I don’t go often but then again, I think that is a problem many libraries are facing these days. Whether it be the internet, Netflix, or just laziness, the libraries need more patrons. As odd as it may sound, a library is a business and businesses need customers.
When I was a kid the library was only good for three things: their set of encyclopedias, the Apple IIGS with Oregon Trail, and their books on tape. The library was just a library - a place for research, books, and maybe a few VHS movies. I must say I’m a bit jealous of today’s kids when it comes to libraries. All these campaigns over the years to get kids into the library and reading and involved I think have worked. And while it’s great that kids now have more things to do at the library, us “old” kids are being left behind.
My (not so) local library schedules a lot of events in efforts to attract different demographics. They have video game days for teens, history speakers for students and adults, music on the lawn for families, movies nights…a whole slew of things, and that’s great, but sometimes I wonder if they don’t niche themselves out of some overlapping demos. And in this case I’m speaking directly about video games at the library.
My library has video game tournaments for kids/teens ages 14 and under. They host games like Mario Kart, Wii Sports, Rock Band, Guitar Hero, and other fun, gender-neutral games. All great and wonderful. But the gamer in me asks, where’s the video games for adults? Even seniors and parents?
We spend all this time to get kids into the library, but what about when those kids grow up? Some of us adults still love the things we did as kids, like video games. So why not have a 16+ video game tournament at the library? You could even put an education spin on things and have Video Games 101 for parents. Invite them in and tell them about games, the rating system, and let them play to see how much fun they can be. It might actually get them to play *with* their kids instead of just watching them play (and complaining about it). And have a senior game day too. Let them play Wii Bowling and those easy/friendly games. It will get them out and give them something to talk about at bingo night.
Today I see lots of kids at the library and lots of parents/seniors. The 18-35 crowd is largely absent. Video games is just one of what is probably many ways libraries could draw in new patrons to the library. If my library held video game events for adults weekly - even monthly - I’d be there every time and I’d probably grab some books, music, or movies while I’m there. And I’d certainly recommend it to people, which would yield more visitors and patrons. We do a lot to get kids into the library but seeming little to retain them once they grow up. I’m proof of that.
This was all sparked by an article and video I found about a library in Michigan that started holding game tournaments at their library. One thing I’m sure libraries baulk at is cost, which is always a concern for a library, but the librarian in the interview explains that the cost of a console and games can often be as much as hiring a guest speaker or reader to the library. So libraries could spend $300 for a one-time speaker, or they can spend $300 for a system you can use over and over again.
And on a secondary note, what’s with a library not having an e-mail address? I wanted to forward my ideas and this video to my library, so I went to their Contact Us page only to find a phone number. In fact, there doesn’t seem to be a single e-mail address on their site at all - which boggles my mind. I’ve always given libraries kudos for having readily accessible technology. Maybe not leading edge tech, nor does it have to be, but they should have good enough computer resources to stay up with the times and as a way to better communicate with patrons. I shutter to think about all the feedback the library is missing (like this) because they don’t have something as simple as an e-mail address. It just seems silly.
Libraries are good. I love libraries. I love their atmospohere (for the most part), their abundant - and FREE - resources. They even have people at the library, called librarians, that will help you do all sorts of things. Libraries are in a tough spot these days, but I think if some libraries would worry less about being “just a library” and more about being a friendly community center that just happens to have a lot of books, I think you’d find more people walking through the doors (and more often). I know I would.
Should the librarian weigh in on this? Haha. I could easily write you an essay on this topic, but I’m sure you don’t want that.
Well, I work for CML - not GHPL. We do have an email interface for questions, so no worries there. :) The 18-35 year olds (esp. those that don’t have kids) is definitely an underserved crowd. Gaming would get some of them in, for sure, but typically the goal is to get the younger kids excited about the library, and hope they keep coming as they grow up. Not a foolproof plan, but I don’t work in admin :) There are libraries that have adult gaming programs though, just not in Columbus that I know of.
Also, there has definitely been a shift in the view of libraries as more than a place to get books - we are becoming community centers and are starting to plan our buildings and services around that fact. I can’t say that all libraries are doing this, but it’s definitely a trend. I am part of the team that is discussing the future of services and facilities at CML, and the role of the library as a community center is a central part of our planning process.
So that’s the reader’s digest condensed version of my response to your post. Honestly, I’m just always excited when a non-library person thinks or cares about what the library does. It’s exciting!
I think what the libraries are missing is the influence parents have on their kids. If the people in the 18-35 age range are being under served and are not interested in the libraries, it seems unlikely that they will express the enjoyment and importance of a library to their children.
Jen has a point. Although I think we could take it a little further and say that it’s kind of the parent’s fault that the kids aren’t interested. I LOVE libraries. That is mostly my Mom’s fault. She took us every week when we were kids and let us check out any 3 books we wanted. Reading was our main source of entertainment. TV was limited, and video games were practically unheard of. I plan on instilling my son with a love of reading like my mom did for me. I don’t like the new generation’s mentality of having to “be entertained” by technology. I hated it when I went to the library and I would see teenagers just surfing MySpace on the computers and then leaving without checking out a single book. Them dang whippersnappers!
Thanks Erica, it’s good to get an “official” library view on things - I was hoping you’d share some thoughts :)
I guess another thing about the 18-35 dink crowd is that they have the ability to make things trendy. If that crowd had more to do at the library from an event standpoint, the word would spread pretty fast, I’m sure. Suddenly a library as too many people, which is a good problem.
…and let me know if you need help on that essay ;) I could write a few pages on the topic as well.
Plus in terms of money/revenue, kids can’t spend money at a library (or donate). Parents might but then it seems more of a babysitting fee than a good-hearted donation. I know if my library had more interesting events that I’d be way more likely to support the library.
Renee, I was raised the same way. I was always allowed to watch TV but I never watched it very much. I’m still not much of a TV watcher. If anything, it is background noise. I went to the library every Saturday, even as a teenager to check books out. I still go weekly. In the summers, when I was little, I remember walking to the library a few times a week.
The GHPL, where we go most often, is a really nice library but it is like a daycare center. Kids are running around, loudly and not just in the children’s department. Those poor librarians are being treated like babysitters. I visit that section a lot for books for my classroom and it is chaos in there!
A lot of the trouble does go back to parents, but a lot is also the libraries (at least mine) to take some control of their building.
If kids are running amuck and so fourth, make them leave. The library is not a daycare center and that type of environment ruins it for the rest of us “normal” people that just want a nice place to visit, read, study, or whatever.
The whole idea of “community daycare” just makes me angry. When did it become OK to impose your children on to others? And worse yet, why do parents trust others? Especially public places like libraries. I would never think it OK to have my kid run around and think, “well, someone will let me know if he gets hurt or something.” And then when the kid gets hurt and the parent finds out, the mom gets pissed because no one told her or minded her child. Just stupid.
I think the library as Community Center can work, but only if it’s controlled and managed. It shouldn’t be like going to the YMCA or anything.
When I worked at an after school program that top’d out at 5th grade, many of the parents readily told me that they were just going to have their 6th grader (11 year old) just go to the library until they got off work. Not smart.
Put a Starbucks in there, that will get the crowd you are looking for.
The Delaware library has a coffee shop just inside the front doors. The Mean Bean.
When I worked in the IT department at the Upper Arlington Public Library, we had the same problems with unsupervised kids. Mostly middle school students.
They were old enough that their parents felt that they could go to the library without supervision, but young enough to still be a behavior problem.
I remember the librarians commenting many times about parents using the library as a babysitter.
G+