Xbox 360 or PS3?

TeenLibrarian@evpl — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 15:03:00 GMT

The library Teen Zone needs your help. It has been suggested by many our teens who frequent Gaming Power Hour (x2) that we purchase a new console. Xbox 360 was suggested for its price and available games i.e. more T-rated games.

While speaking with one of Mr. Hendrix's freshman classes at Harrison High, I got a different opinion. An overwhelming majority suggested we purchase a PS3. The Xbox 360 supporters were outnumbered almost 3:1, but they persevered under the assault of accusations of poor quality and inferior graphics. "You're wasting the library's money if you buy a 360," one student shouted, "It's going to break and be unavailable most of the time." And, this comment almost ended the argument. We settled everyone down and a student eloquently started, "The best game system for the library is the PS3 because it has better quality and can stand up to the rigorous play of teens. The PS3 also has better games." The room exploded!

I realized I wasn't going to solve the console war there, so I told them let's settle it here on our new blog page. They asked one final question, "What console was I going to get?" I told them, I came into the class (not expecting this at all) pretty much sold on getting the Xbox 360, but their arguments persuaded me to consider the PS3.

Despite the suggestive image of the PS3 hovering over the 360 almost victorious, my position is neutral. So, what console do you think the Teen Zone should add, Xbox 360 or PS3?

Image is under a Creative Commons license courtesy of DASLIVE2.0.

The death of the Cassette

TeenLibrarian@evpl — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 20:00:00 GMT

I am old enough to remember riding in my family's Electra 225 ("duece and a quarter") with a small cropped afro, sliding across the vinyl on every turn, listening to the Commodores, on our in-dash 8 track player. You think CDs are difficult to manage, imagine putting a good portion of your music collection of 8-tracks above the sun visor.

I can remember begging my mother for my very own Dynamite 8 portable 8-track player. 45s and albums weren't the best medium for playing on the go. So try to imagine the excitement of an 8-track boom box. Multiply that by 100 to the level of ecstatic when Sony released the Walkman. Whoa, that was a must have gadget!! A portable cassette player. Small for the day. Yes a very long time ago. And, yes I was very, very, (very) young. As a teen dj, I bitterly stood on the sidelines and watched the CD replace vinyl LPs. Now we witness the death of the cassette. What am I going to do with all of my cassettes? Wait, do I even have a working cassette player? Where are those cassettes?

New York Times recently publsihed an an article, Say So Long to an Old Companion: Cassette Tapes celebrating the life of cassettes. The article mentioned the decline of the CD as well. History is our best teacher, so for some of you, your memories the of the cassette will be as quaint as mine with the 8 track, enjoying an afternoon drive with your parents listening to the best music on cassette. You too will be hanging on to all of those CDs recollecting the fond memories of, "I remember playing this when..". Some of you maybe will even affect the next change in audio technology.

Let us pause for a moment of silence while we remember our fondest memories with the cassette and say goodbye. Pretty soon they will but a memory in the library and just as nostalgic as the 8-track.

Have you have ever purchased a casette tape? How many of you still purchase CDs?

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Xbox 360 or PS3?

The death of the Cassette