Librarians in Cumberland and Lincoln experimented last month with video game sessions for teens, in hopes, they said, of sparking an interest in other library offerings - even books.

Later, the young adult librarians said, they'd like to acquire some video equipment and games, including the popular Guitar Hero.

During spring vacation, Cumberland and Lincoln public libraries arranged to have Guitar Hero and other video games like Dance Dance Revolution brought in and set up in the library by trainer and consultant Beth Gallaway, a former librarian who totes the equipment and games from one library to another.

The games took place in an area where the teens could play without disturbing other library patrons.

Friends of the Lincoln Public Library sponsored a Wednesday afternoon session in the program room.

Friends of the Cumberland Public Library sponsored the program for later that evening in the community room on the second floor.

The cost for each library to offer the gaming program: $250.

Guitar Hero is played with guitar-shaped controllers to simulate playing rock music that's represented on-screen by colored notes that correspond to buttons (frets) on the controller. The players progress through multiple tiers of songs to unlock each new one. Gamers also pick on-screen, two-dimensional characters to represent themselves. Choices include a scantily clad female or a spiked-haired male. The lyrics of the songs can be suggestive. In fact, the video games are rated "T" for teens, 13 and up.

Like Guitar Hero, Dance Dance Revolution is a music video game. The game is played on a dance pad. Participants step on a panel in response to an arrow that appears on the TV screen in front of them. It's all about the ability to position your steps.

Some teens played Nintendo's Wii, a motion sensor game where, if a participant plays a game of golf, he or she swings the controller and the animated figure that shows up on a projector screen will also swing his or her club in the same direction.

"This is new for us," said Jennifer Beiermann, young adult librarian in Cumberland. The program was an experiment to see how it would go over, she explained.

Eighteen showed up - 15 boys and 3 girls. "To have that many boys is great," said Beiermann. "It's hard to get them in," she said.

While reading books is just as important as it ever was, the librarian said technology is changing the library.

Her hope is that, while this underserved population is at the library playing video games, they'll check out what else the library offers, including an online tutoring homework program. Users can access it while at the library or from home. The library pays for the subscription to run the program.

Ultimately, Beiermann would like to see the library own its own game systems and videos.

Gretchen Hanley, reference and young adult librarian at the Lincoln library, said she was very happy that 11 teens participated in the gaming event.

A member of the New England Library Association, Hanley said she heard that other libraries in New England were offering the games.

"We're always trying to attract teens to come into the library. They're a tough age to reach," she said. "I knew some of the teens who came; most I didn't," she said.

According to Hanley, a library is supposed to offer activities to the community, and offering gaming programs are just that.

"I came to the library because I thought my friends might be here and I'd have an opportunity to play with them," said Zach Sullivan, 14, of Cumberland, as he waited in line to play Guitar Hero.

"Ready to lose, Pat?" asked Nate Dano, who turns 16 in a few weeks and said he would play the role of the "hot chick."

"I'm just the punk-looking guy," said Pat O'Brien, 16, strumming his guitar-shaped controller.

Beiermann said that if the library had its own game equipment and videos, she envisioned holding monthly gaming nights like the one held last week, as well as holding tournaments.

To learn more, call the Cumberland library at 333-2552, or the Lincoln library at 333-2422.