As the ‘Pokemon Craze’ continues over the new game, players are slowly learning about pokestop locations- a place where they can load up on new pokeballs. It just so happens that libraries across the nation have been discovered to be pokestops, and Lubbock library branches are taking advantage of just that.
Amber Shelfer, the graphic novel librarian at Lubbock’s Mahon Public library, says that their non-profit group ‘Friends of the Library’ are helping her to fund ‘lures’ which allow for more exotic Pokemon to appear at the library’s location.
“When a lure is dropped at a pokestop on the little Pokemon go screen you’ll see pink falling flowers at that pokestop and you’ll see it on the map on the screen.” said Shelfer.
She said that aside from dropping lures, and providing the gamers with water and activities, she is also working on a Pokemon club, that will meet every Monday night for the month of August.
“We’re going to meet from about 6:15 to 7:30, and most of that is going to be a brown bag type of meet or a pot luck but we will have at least one viewing party where we will watch a Pokemon movie and eat pizza. ” said Shelfer.
Other library branches in Lubbock are also getting in on the fun, and working to integrate Pokemon into their summer reading program. The branches are currently working on a ‘pokemon safari’ where players can get together and travel from each library location. Paula Puryear says she thinks this will help to remind kids that the library is a helpful tool.
“I think that libraries are a dying resource today with technology the way it is, and so this is a great opportunity to get kids out into the community, and back into our libraries to realize that they can get things in their hands, instead of digitally.” said Puryear.