Last week we alluded to the problems some people have with libraries recruiting youngsters by lending games and scheduling videogame-based activities, now the Sacramento Public Library is getting criticism for scheduling a Call of Duty: Black Ops tournament.
The event, scheduled for December 11, is just one of a slew of game-centric events offered by the library; a Super Smash Bros. Brawl tournament is slated for tomorrow, November 23 and similar upcoming events ask players to come and try out Rock Band and Mario Kart.
The inclusion of Black Ops however generated disapproval from a local cable television host named Jeanie Keltner, who was quoted in the Sacramento Bee as saying, “We have enough violence. We don't need the library sponsoring it.”
She asked, “If they come in there for video game violence, are they ever going to go in there for books?”
Library director Rivkah Sass admitted that promoting a war game might not necessarily be her first choice, but games like Black Ops help bring in the youngsters. The event, limited to those 17 years of age and older, is part of the library’s effort to make sure” everyone in the community knows we have something for them,” said Sass.
The President of the local chapter of Veterans for Peace called on the library to cancel the program. Sass, not falling for the sassing, said that the event would proceed as scheduled.
Story commenter “JoeSacramentoDotCom” offered his gentle opinion, writing, “A library hosting a video game tournament to get kids into the library to read is like a gym hosting a cocaine snorting contest to get drug addicts into the gym to exercise.”
The Manhasset Public Library in New York has a similar Black Ops tournament scheduled for November 30.
Comments
Re: Library’s Black Ops Tourney Draws Disapproval
This.
EDIT: comment should have been added to andrew eisen's comment. Please delete.
Treasure bin: Cult Hits, chea pass gaming options, and rants about gaming in general
Re: Library’s Black Ops Tourney Draws Disapproval
I get the impression that without Black Ops. she'd be complaining about Brawl.
Re: Library’s Black Ops Tourney Draws Disapproval
Or Rockband...
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Re: Library’s Black Ops Tourney Draws Disapproval
Ready for a laugh? Read this:
http://www.joesacramento.com/2010/11/20/sacramento-public-library-woos-y...
Re: Library’s Black Ops Tourney Draws Disapproval
*facepalm*...another person to invoke "countless studies" without apparently having bothered to read the actual literature.
I also enjoy how this strawman filled rant complains about strawmen at one point.
Re: Library’s Black Ops Tourney Draws Disapproval
Okay, let me get this straight.They are not happy with the modern warfare type violence in the library(being presented to only those 17 and up apparently).But not one of them is complaining about the Super Smash Bros Brawl tourney?(which im assuming is allowing a younger audience to participate?)Fake violence is fake violence, and these people are just showing their willful ignorance here.
Yea, not to mention all those insanely violent books those damn libraries carry.
Re: Library’s Black Ops Tourney Draws Disapproval
I am guessing these same people have no trouble with all the war books in the library. On noes, youngsters reading On Basilisk Station! The horrors!
Now, I think it CAN be asked if these tournaments result in people coming back to the library for other activities... but I also recall libraries hosting things like face painting and other 'get people in here' activities and I do not recall anyone complaining about those.
Anything that increases the relavence of the library to the community and students is a good thing in my, if you will forgive the pun, book.
Re: Library’s Black Ops Tourney Draws Disapproval
Well, not everyone will come back sure. But that's hardly the point. If 5% of the people who come to the tournament come back, even years later, when otherwise they would not have, I think the librarians would consider it a success.
Yes libraries try a variety of strategies (including Dungeons and Dragons groups...which were themselves very controversial in years gone by...oh the horrors). This is a very good idea, and I hope the library will ignore the hysterical voices out there.
Some people do ask libraries to get rid of "objectionable" books by the way...ranging from Harry Potter to Ulysses. That's why libraries have "Banned Book Week." They're very familiar with this kind of nonsense. Unlike (it seems sometimes) most other people, librarians tend to have a long view of how media (books, television, video games) regularly come under calls for regulation and banning...and can usually be counted on to resist such calls thankfully.
Re: Library’s Black Ops Tourney Draws Disapproval
True, you do have the book banning groups... but my point was that these people never seem to push for banning books with military or violence themes...they usually go after books that fail to demonize gay people, expose kids to other religions, have sexual content, or are otherwise anti-local-authority. But killing people for the government? Not heard of that being banned before.
Re: Library’s Black Ops Tourney Draws Disapproval
“We have enough violence. We don't need the library sponsoring it.” -Jeanie Keltner
So, get rid of all the violent books too, right?
Andrew Eisen
Re: Library’s Black Ops Tourney Draws Disapproval
Heaven forbid they start reading Disclosure by Michael Chrichton. That'd be a shitstorm for the ages.
(It's about sexual harassment in the workplace. Has a very racy chapter early on.)
Treasure bin: Cult Hits, chea pass gaming options, and rants about gaming in general
Re: Library’s Black Ops Tourney Draws Disapproval
Old people baaaawwwwing on videogames on board of the Black Ops bandwagon, lol
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