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MAMARONECK, N.Y. Kelly Gacio and Ariella Danoski would be thrown out of most libraries for dancing to music, but not at the Xbox-equipped young-adult room at the Mamaroneck Library.
Gacio, of Mamaroneck, and Danoski, of Larchmont, can play their favorite Kinect game, Just Dance, without fear of reprimand from young adult librarian Ellen McTyre. In fact, many teenagers come just to see her.
"Everyone is always asking for Ellen," said Danoski, an eighth grader at Hommocks Middle School. "If she's not here, nobody comes."
The gaming area, which is also used for Friday films at the library, was included in the planning for the new library, said McTyre, who came up with the idea and had it approved by the library's board of trustees.
The Xbox 360 wasn't ready for their soft opening June 30, but was later unveiled for the library's ribbon cutting ceremony Sept. 17.
"It's so fun and entertaining," Gacio said.
The eighth grader spent the two days off from school for Rosh Hashanah playing Just Dance with Danoski, Hannah Paul, Sydney Naftolin, and other friends who McTyre calls her "fan base".
"They're my fan base," said McTyre, while kids flocked around her after returning from lunch.
The games available at the library are either rated "E" for Everyone or "T" for Teen. A game rated "E" is suitable for children ages six and up, while a game rate "T" is suitable for children ages 13 and up, according to the Entertainment Software Rating Board website.
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