Burnaby Public Library (BPL) is holding a teen Rock Band competition–no musical experience necessary.

That’s because participants will be playing the hit video game Rock Band, in which they earn points for how well they simulate the playing of rock music by hitting the sequence of notes that show up on the video screen. The competition gives bonus points for costumes and style.

Each Burnaby branch hosts its own contest, with the last one at the Metrotown branch on Tuesday, July 7 from 4 to 6 p.m.

Burnaby library originally planned for the winners from each branch to compete against their counterparts in North Vancouver, but there was so much interest among teen-services librarians there will now be a final playoff amongst teams from across the Lower Mainland, said BPL’s Sara Lee, organizer of the local event. That’s tentatively scheduled for late August at Vancouver Public Library.

“The use of video games in libraries, especially to appeal to youth, is something that is sort of up-and-coming in library systems across the nation,” said Lee.

Video games not only provide entertainment to the community for all ages, they’re being recognized as helping improve literacy, albeit a somewhat different type than older generations are used to.

“Lots of studies show with the new media there’s a different, more-encompassing type of literacy that people need to know about to function in today’s society,” Lee said.

Video games are also a way to attract younger users. “It’s getting people into the library to see what we have to offer.”

Connor Maultsaid-Blair, a member of the winning team at the Cameron branch competition, thinks it’s a great way for the library to market itself to teens.

Maultsaid-Blair, 17, and his team–brother Linden Maultsaid-Blair, 15, on bass, drummer Ujjval Suri, 15 and singer Sabia Hurley, 17, all from Cariboo Hill secondary–may have had an advantage over their opponents as they’re already in a real rock band called The Richter Scale.

Maultsaid-Blair said he finds the challenge of the game is the need to never look away from the video screen, which doesn’t leave much room for the performance aspect. As for musical experience, he said, the singing role in Rock Band “is the only part of the game that’s 100 per cent realistic.”

The competition is open to teens aged 13 to 18. To participate in the final contest July 7 call Lee at 604-296-7009. Individuals without band mates will be teamed up with others.

wchow@burnabynewsleader.com