Libraries Drawing Teens With… DDR and Guitar Hero?
ABC News reports that libraries in southeast Michigan are drawing teens in by offering games for checkout, and having tournaments of Dance Dance Revolution and Guitar Hero to draw a crowd.
On the one hand, maybe they just want to get the kids in the habit of going to the library, even if it’s not for reading. But seriously, people… is putting teens in the physical presence of books going to make them want to read? That’s like saying that putting a stripper on stage at the opera will encourage people to explore the theater (yes, that’s “theater” — I spell it “-er,” not, “-re.” You wanna fight about it?), leading a horse to water will make it drink, or whatever analogy you care to throw at it.
The scientist in me would be interested to see statistics, though — if more teenagers have been checking out books (as well as video games) since this program started. Maybe the mindset is, “Well I’m here anyway… might as well check out the latest Hirsute Prestidigitator novel.” I’m skeptical, but it’s possible.