With console games costing $40 or more, rental services are becoming a popular option for gamers. While rental services, such as Gamefly and Blockbuster, are reliable options, many people also can’t afford monthly services fees (dern gas prices). This is where public libraries can come in quite handy.
On a whim, after purchasing a new console, I decided to check the online library search engine for my local library. After all, free is always the way to go. To my surprise, I found 78 Wii games, 53 Xbox 360 games and 35 PS3 games. Among the games were recent titles including Order Up (Wii), Soul Calibur IV (PS3) and Zoids Assault (Xbox 360). After checking out a title, I learned the lending period was 14 days, allowing enough time to really enjoy the game.
So with many libraries now catering to gamers, it is worth finding out the best way to search for and find games. You never know what kind of treasure you’ll find.
Step 1: Check the racks.
The first thing you’ll want to do is head to your local library and take a look around. Video games are usually kept in the Young Adult/Teen or Children’s section, depending on the nature of the game. For example, Zack & Wiki (Wii) was in the Teen section at my local library but Cooking Mama (Wii) was in the Children’s section. So head to one of those sections. Once you’re there, flag down a librarian for help or take a quick peek around.
Step 2: Check the catalog.
When stopping by a library computer and using a search catalog, there are two ways to go. If you’re just looking for games in general, search using by the system name. Actually, type the full console name (ex: “PlayStation 2") and don’t use abbreviations. If you’re looking for a specific game, check to make sure you know the exact title and then look for that entire title. Putting in just one or two words won’t help much, as you’ll probably get a long list of results that includes books, games, CDs and a mix of other media.
Step 3: Place holds.
Once you’ve determined whether or not your library has games, you’ll likely have to put it on hold to get it. Some library search catalogs allow users to log in with their library card number and a password, so they can place hold on items themselves. Others require you to speak with a librarian (one the phone or face-to-face) to place a hold on material. If your library allows you to log in to the search catalog, speak to a librarian to receive your account password so you can access and place holds. If it doesn’t, write down the information on the item you want held for you, and visit the library’s reference desk.
Step 4: Visit several area libraries.
Sometimes a library other than your closest, local branch will have the game(s) you want. You may not be able to place a hold on the game but, if you actually stop by that library, you may be able to check out one of their games with your library card. In this case, you may want to check the catalog to see if the other library has the game on the shelf. If it does, visit that day and talk with a librarian to see if it is possible to take it out with your local library’s card.
Read [The New York Times] Also Read [Joystiq]
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