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Libraries use Wii to trick kids into reading !

Gothic Girl | January 02, 2008 | News | Wii 
Libraries are generally known as an "uncool" place to visit. Teenagers don't want to be seen reading books, in fear that it might harm their reputation. So how is a Florida library remedying this? By installing Nintendo Wii's to lure teenagers into the library.
The library is hoping that, while the teens are waiting to play the Wii games, they will pick up a book to pass the time.
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.

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.
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Most recently commented on by Xtrordinary on Jan 5, 2008
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  • 0 thumbs!
    Storm | January 02, 2008
    quote
    "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.
    Yes...yes you keep thinking that. Unless it were a gaming magazine, I don't see this working out well. Oh right, there was an article stating that libraries may begin incorporating games the supposed 'quite reading time area,' guess this library's one of the first to do so. Still, at least it gets kids there, especially since Wii's are hard to come by.

    I bet they have Super Paper Mario...that game requires quite a bit of reading.
  • 0 thumbs!
    Slumpy monkey | January 02, 2008
    thats a good idea actually. I think it will work.
  • 1 thumbs!
    Donnelly | January 02, 2008
    Those bastards!
  • 0 thumbs!
    Capn Droid | January 02, 2008
    Huh. What an interesting idea. I don't like the manipulation, but how clever of them to do that.
  • 0 thumbs!
    Dance Floor Killah | January 02, 2008
    Read? Yeah right. More like pretend to read then push someone else aside to go play.
  • 1 thumbs!
    Xenctuary | January 02, 2008
    To "trick" kids into reading haha
  • 1 thumbs!
    BANDITO ATTACK | January 02, 2008
    this is why there aren't any wii's on the shelves. the librarians are nursing homes are buying them all.
  • 3 thumbs!
    nflsmc | January 02, 2008
    Or kids could play their DS's whilst waiting in line...
  • 0 thumbs!
    Xegaldis | January 03, 2008
    LOL. How is that going to make any difference? They're just going to go to play the Wii. Are the libarians gonna hold books up to the screen to convince them to read instead?
  • 1 thumbs!
    Bri | January 03, 2008
    Clever idea, but as a kid, even though I read and still do pick up a book every month or so (more than I can say for 90% of America's people), I was much, much more content watching the game being played. Some games can be played AND watched - no problem! Good approach but in the end, it won't work.
  • 3 thumbs!
    The Primagen | January 03, 2008
    xD strange idea.. Yet there is still a critical flaw!

    MARIO > BOOKS.
  • 0 thumbs!
    Silver Mirror | January 03, 2008
    This seems to kind of destroy the idea of a library, so much for peace and quiet
  • 1 thumbs!
    Seproth | January 03, 2008
    Kinda pathetic if you ask me. Reading is a lot of fun. Most people just don't spend the time to figure out what genres and authors they like. Most people just take a moronic stance and convince themselves reading is for nerds/geeks...etc
  • 0 thumbs!
    tornjinx | January 03, 2008
    Haha, I quite think this is a good idea. Though I spend a LOT of time in my local library, I don't see many kids in there. A Wii would help get kids there, and even some will pick up books if they see others reading. Enough start reading, more people will start, kinda a good idea in my opinion.
  • 1 thumbs!
    nflsmc | January 04, 2008
    Or maybe they will have a requirement that you read one book and write a synopsis of the main plot before you can play...
    • 0 thumbs!
      Gothic Girl | January 04, 2008
      I have a feeling kids would rather nag their parents to buy their own Wii instead of having to write a book synopsis just to play a library's Wii for 15 minutes. XD
  • 0 thumbs!
    Xtrordinary | January 05, 2008

    Huh.

    I don't really think anyone here, Sweden, thinks it's "un-cool" to read books.. Or perhaps I am ultra lame? :O

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