Published: July 19, 2008 05:57 pm            

Video games draw youth to library

By Trent Moore

trentm@cullmantimes.com

Eleven year-old Noah Stricklin was shocked to be enjoying himself so much Thursday night at the Cullman County Public Library.

“I think it’s really cool they’re doing this,” Stricklin said, as he prepared to toss a virtual bowling ball. “Most times when I go to the library I just fall asleep.”

In an effort to keep kids entertained and out of trouble in the summer months, the library has been hosting different activities for younger children since school let out for the 2007-2008 session.

The activity for July? Nintendo Wii video game bowling tournaments, with free pizza and drinks.

“We’re just trying to do something to get them in the library so they can see it is a fun place,” Youth Services Director Cassie Johnson said. “Plus it gives them something fun to do in the summer.”

Johnson said one thing they were trying to focus on with the July activity was finding something that would interest older kids, so the Wii bowling is only open to children 10 years-old and up.

“We don’t do a lot for older kids, so that was something we were hoping for with this,” she said.

Community support has been excellent for the video game events.

“Last week we had five girls and 20 boys,” Johnson said. “We don’t usually get so many boys this age in here.”

Johnson said their plan to make the library “cooler” seems to be working, as the influx of children in the library has resulted in more books being checked out.

“Last week was the most (books) anyone could remember being checked out on a Thursday night,” she said. “It’s definitely making an impact.”

If the free pizza and drinks aren’t enough to entice kids to enter, Johnson said the Cullman Bowling Center has donated a free game of bowling for the tournament finalist, plus the winners get $20 gift cards to Books-A-Million.

As for working with the Nintendo Wii, Johnson said the kids have been showing her a thing or two about the new ways to play.

“A lot of the kids know more about it than I do,” she said with a laugh, trying to set up the bowling game.

The final two library-hosted Wii bowling tournaments are scheduled for July 24 and July 31, beginning at 5:30 p.m.

        

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