The next generation of video consoles are here and many librarians and media specialists might not be sure which system will give their library the most bang for the buck. Nintendo’s Wii, the Xbox 360 Elite from Microsoft, and Sony’s PlayStation 3 (PS3) recently debuted in North America. Which system is right for your library?

To make an informed decision, consider several factors. Who does your library serve? Can a new gaming system bring together a more diverse segment of library patrons? Are your teens competitive gamers? What features are important? Do you want a gaming system or a full-featured multimedia center? What is the cost of the basic system and the accessories? What games are available for each console? Don’t make the decision alone—enlist the help of the young people who will be taking part in your library’s gaming nights, after-school programs, and gaming club.

Know your audience

First determine who your gamers are so you can decide which system’s unique features will appeal most to your patrons. If you’re catering to hard-core gamers and plan to offer tournaments and after-school gaming, then you’ll want a system like the Xbox 360 Elite or the PS3 that has multiplayer games, a powerful hard drive, great graphics, and online chat capabilities. On the other hand, if you’re planning gaming nights to bring older and younger generations together, consider the fun factor of the Wii.

Determine how many gamers will participate in your programs and the space that’s available. Anticipate that after-school gaming, gaming nights, and tournaments will be well-attended. Up to four people can play Wii Sports, but you’ll need a lot of space around the players when they swing into action, while eight gamers can join in with Wii’s Big Brain Academy. PS3’s Marvel Ultimate Alliance and SingStar Rocks can accommodate four and eight players, respectively. The Xbox has massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) options such as Final Fantasy XII, which allows for thousands of users worldwide.

Understand the objectives

Tournaments, after-school activities, intergenerational programs, and movie viewing are some of the ways these consoles can be used. Find out which gaming systems youngsters have at home. Most of the PlayStation and PlayStation 2 (PS2) games can be played on PS3. The Xbox 360 Elite can play all older Xbox games, features HD (high definition), and the quality of the images are terrific. However, an HD-TV costs between $500 and $2000. The Wii, which comes with Wii Sports, plays all GameCube and Nintendo 64 games, but you’ll have to buy controllers and memory cards to play them. Wii games can be completed fairly quickly, unlike role-playing games.

These next-gen consoles also have social networking features. Xbox Live users can be challenged to a game by a buddy on their friends list (similar to receiving an instant message on AOL) while they are in the middle of playing another game. Wireless headsets can be purchased ($40) to speak to friends while playing. Xbox Live offers the most full-featured online service. Sony’s “Home” for PS3 is a 3D virtual world (available this fall), similar to Second Life, that offers multiplayer chat, virtual movies, and the ability to create an avatar. While the Wii is primarily a gaming console and so far lacks online play, it can connect to other Wiis for multiplayer games. The Wiimote forces gamers out of their chairs to interact with the game. The free Wii channels (weather, news, Internet, and shopping channel where games can be purchased and downloaded) offer an online experience, and the Mii channel allows users to create and share an avatar.

Check features and prices

The unique features of each gaming console, its price, and the cost of accessories will also influence your purchase decision.

Microsoft’s Xbox 360 Elite ($480) has a 120 GB hard drive (the older Xbox 360 has a 60 GB hard drive), allowing players to download games, game demos, and HD movies. Controllers can be charged and the DVD player ($200) and a wireless adapter ($100) can be plugged into USB ports. The system also can be networked to a PC to stream music, videos, and photos, and can interface with an iPod. This console’s online service is full-featured, but it costs $50 a year for the Gold version of Xbox Live, which allows users to play against other people online. If you’re looking for a true multimedia entertainment center, this is a good investment.

Sony’s PlayStation 3 (price lowered to $500; a new version, on sale this month for $600, will have an 80 GB hard drive) features a 60 GB hard drive so you can play and record music, three memory card slots for uploading pictures from a digital camera and transferring data from the PlayStation and PS2, and USB ports for plugging in joysticks or USB drives. It also has a high definition multimedia interface (HDMI), just like the Xbox 360 Elite (cable must be purchased separately), integrated Wi-Fi, the Blue-ray model DVD drive (cable must be purchased separately), and a somewhat clunky Web browser. It can’t be networked with a PC, but it has the best graphics and sound.

Nintendo’s Wii ($250) can play GameCube and Nintendo 64 games, but they will most likely use a traditional controller which must be purchased separately ($10 used or $20 new). The Wii’s handheld device, the Wiimote, directs the game, becoming a tennis racket, a salt shaker, and more. The memory storage in the Wii can be used to upload photos and in-game music from MP3 files and also back up saved game data. Wii Sports (tennis, boxing, golf, and bowling) is included with the console. The Wii’s graphics and sound are the least impressive of the three consoles.

Don’t forget older models

While the focus here is on the three most recently released consoles, don’t discount some of the older models such as the PS2 ($150), and handhelds such as Nintendo’s DS and DS Lite ($130), Nintendo’s GameBoy SP ($80), and Sony’s PlayStationPortable ($170). The PS2 is primarily used to play Dance Dance Revolution and Guitar Hero I and II, and new games such as Spider-Man 3 are still being made for it. The Nintendo DS Lite is popular with tweens. It’s easy to set up, has a bright dual screen and 3D graphics, can be networked for a tournament with games such as Mario Kart and Big Brain Academy, has touch-screen technology, and plays GameBoy Advance games.

Whether your gamers are competitive, tech savvy, or just want to have fun, the next generation of video consoles offers something for everyone. If your budget permits, consider buying an Xbox 360 Elite or the PS3 as well as the Wii and a few Nintendo DS Lites. But remember, talk to your young library patrons and find out which consoles and what type of gaming programs they really want.