Will this work? I'm sure it'll get a few kids to pick up books while they're waiting but I expect the majority will just sit and chat.
http://www.wrcbtv.com/news/index.cfm?sid=1698
Libraries have a new, creative way to lure in teenagers and make reading fun: video games.
Workers at the Cape Coral, Florida library hope kids will come for the newly-installed Nintendo Wii's and stay for the books.
"Children that are getting into their teen years, they start reading less and less," said Chris Serio.
Teenagers admit books often lose out to video games.
"I've never really seen them come to the library, so I think they do video games more than reading," said 10th-grader Christopher Wright.
He says that even though he reads regularly, he plays video games with his brother every day.
"Four hours a day at least," said Wright.
He never expected to be able to play video games in the same quiet building usually reserved for reading.
Soon several Lee County libraries will offer kids a chance to play the popular, interactive video game system - Nintendo Wii.
The video games will be used during organized events on the weekends.
"All the games we have involve physical activity, team work, reading and just learning more analytical and strategic skills," said Serio.
And even if it is the Wii that brings the teens into the library, staff members hope when they put down the video game controller they will pick up a book.
"If each kid plays for 15 minutes, the rest of the kids are going to be waiting and they're going be talking. They're going to be picking up books," said Dawn Wright.
The video game systems were bought by the Friends of the Lee County libraries.
