The American Library Association today announced that hundred of libraries across the United States will celebrate the first-ever National Gaming Day on November 15, 2008.

The initiative will celebrate "the popularity and educational value of video and board games" through a national video game tournament. On the board game side of things, libraries will band together in an attempt to create a new record for the largest amount of people simultaneously playing the board game Pictureka.

Those interested in National Gaming Day are urged to contact their local library branches, some of which may actually carry games, for details on local festivities and celebrations of gaming.

Residents of Centerville, Ohio can now borrow PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Wii games from their two community libraries, free of charge.

Initial offerings include Kung Fu Panda, Madden NFL 08, Iron Man, Guitar Hero, Sonic Heroes and Final Fantasy titles, according to the Dayton Daily News. The institution will focus on family games and games for players over the age of 10.

Library members can keep the title for up to a week, with one extension available.

The impetus behind the program came from patron requests and the growing video game industry. Centerville marks the fourth library in Ohio to begin offering games, with directory Cindi Klinck stating that it "strives to be on the leading edge of library service."