Thursday evenings used to be quiet at Sekula Memorial Library.

Patrons checked out books, read magazines and surfed the Web.

No one spoke above a whisper.

Then came teen gaming night.

Now between 30 and 40 teens and tweens gather in a meeting room at the library and battle for bragging rights.

They’re racing down the track with Mario and Luigi, Wario and Waluigi, Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong or Peach and Daisy, while playing Mario Kart Double Dash. They duke it out playing Super Smash Melee. And they have fun.

For many teens it’s the first time they’ve voluntarily come to the library in years and Letty Leija, the library’s director, is thrilled.

“When they start going into sixth grade, we usually start to lose them,” Leija said. “This is a way of bringing the teens back into the library with the hope that they will also be hooked on other things we have to offer.”

Gaming at libraries has become a nationwide trend and is one of multiple efforts libraries are doing to encourage youngsters to step inside and hopefully pick up a book. The library also has a mission to reach out to the public and provide information for them that they might not be able to afford. This may include electronic games, because some children’s families can not afford to purchase them.

“It provides an opportunity to these children who don’t have access to materials at home,” Leija said. “It also allows children to socialize with other children and to build on their social networking.”

The program appears to be working, at least for gamer Jay Diaz, 12. He’s played every Thursday since the program began. The practice has paid off as Diaz has won second and third place on two of the game nights.

“I think it’s a good experience for young adults that way they can enjoy gaming and read books afterward,” he said.

The program kicked off at May 30’s summer reading program and will run until the middle of July. After that, because of its success, game night will continue on a bi-weekly basis.

“Everyone’s getting excited actually competing,” Leija said. “They (the kids) really enjoy it and our staff enjoys it too.”

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Paige Lauren Deiner covers features and entertainment for The Monitor. You can reach her at (956) 683-4425. For this and other local stories, visit www.themonitor.com.

GAMING NIGHT

WHERE:

Edinburg Public Library

TICKETS:

Thursday nights, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

AGES:

11 to 18