When I was a kid, a library wasn’t the place to be. You only went there if you had to do a book report, or to hide out. Times are a changin, especially in Ohio.

Registration begins Monday for the Akron-Summit County Public Library’s third-annual Madden NFL PlayStation 2 video game competition.

The Madden Madness tournament will be Jan. 5-26 at all branch libraries. The top two finalists from each branch will compete at the main library at 11:30 a.m. Jan. 26 until the Madden Madness Super Bowl Champ is crowned. The public is invited to cheer for the participants at the finals.

What’s funnier; a library having a Madden tournament or a library having it’s 3rd annual Madden tournament? I don’t know the literacy rates for the Akron-Summit county area, but since the libraries are throwing in the towel, I’m guessing they’re not good..

When I was first heard about this, I thought it was kind of a good idea.. Lure the kids in with video games, and then hit em in the head with books.. But as I read on I found out the contest isn’t promoting reading in any way, and there’s no age limit. That means libraries in Ohio are gonna look like ESPN’s Madden Nation.. A bunch of dorks with lame nicknames wearing NFL jerseys. The only difference is, when the Ohioans get on the bus, it’ll be to go home.

Library plans ‘Madden NFL’ video game contest. Courtesy of Ohio.com

Tags: Madden, Madden Nation, NFL, Video Games, Illiteracy