To keep up with a growing trend among other academic libraries, Helen C. White Library is now offering students a variety of video games available for checkout in the Open Book Café.

Pamela O’Donnell, an academic librarian at College Library, said the staff wanted to make games for the latest systems available. The library conducted a poll through its website to ask students which systems they wanted games for.

According to the poll, 34 percent of respondents said they wanted Xbox 360, 33 percent said Nintendo Wii and 19 percent said Playstation 3.

Once the systems were decided, Kelli Keclik, an associate academic librarian, said she looked at reviews online and spoke with gamers she knew before she chose the games.

Available titles include “Halo 3,” “Resident Evil,” “The Sims,” “World of Warcraft” and many more games which cater to a variety of maturity levels, O’Donnell said. With interactive games, like “Guitar Hero” and “Dance Dance Revolution,” students can borrow the guitar and the floor pads from the library in addition to the game.

“I’m looking for things that will appeal to women too because I know traditionally people think of it as a teenage boy kind of thing,” Keclik said.

According to O’Donnell, almost all of the 32 games are currently checked out.

She added the games have a one-week loan period and are not renewable.

“This is basically a pilot [program] to see what the response is, and so far it’s been very positive,” O’Donnell said.

Keclik said she became interested in making video games available after hearing that it has been done at other schools, like the University of Illinois.

Depending on student suggestions the amount of money available, Keclik said there is a possibility of expanding to include more games and game consoles made available to play in the library.

“We treat games as an important entertainment and art form in the 21st century,” said Kurt Squire, an assistant professor in the school of education who teaches classes about the impact of video games.

Squire said the opportunity to check out games would help his students who study them. He added that gaming has become a very social experience despite stereotypes that it is more solitary.

Don Johnson, senior editor of external relations for UW-Madison libraries, said the video games are mainly for student leisure.

“Our librarians at College Library are very, very proud of being able to provide a service that students value,” Johnson said.