While many museums and other cultural institutions are opting out of the Pokemon Go craze because the game is seen as as a distraction, a Bronx library is doing just the opposite. NY1's Erin Clarke reports.

The Westchester Square branch of the New York Public Library isn't a PokeStop in the popular Pokemon Go game.

"We had applied to become a Pokemon stop, but they told us that they were not accepting any new submissions at the moment," said Daniel Collado, an office aide at the Westchester Square Library.

No problem. The library’s staff took advantage of the craze and came up with their own version of the game. It's called Pokemon Library Go.

"When children go check out our library material, they'll find Pokemon in the books," Collado said.

Each Pokemon a child gets is posted on a board at the library's entrance.

"If they find the same Pokemon in the book multiple times, they put a dot and they have a chance to evolve it to a different stage," Collado said.

"Like, yeah, I'm actually becoming a Pokemon master. So it's really fun," said Jason Badillo, a 17-year-old participant.

"I love playing Pokemon, I love reading, so two of my favorite things put together," said Christopher Suero, a 19-year-old librarygoer.

At the end of the game, prizes are awarded. There's even a makeshift PokeStop at the library for kids to share their accomplishments.

"With a photo prop that kids are able to take their pictures and post it if they want on social media," said Kathlen Carrasco, library manager at the Westchester Square Library.

And the library's spin on the game is actually working. Kids are reading more.

"When I see someone has more than me, I say 'word.' I see, 'They have more than me? I need to get more.' And that makes me borrow more books," Suero said.

Without knowing it, these kids are achieving another goal set by the New York Public Library. As part of the system's annual Summer Reading Challenge, kids must read at least 20 minutes a day to be eligible for prizes, including a chance to be part of a pregame on-field ceremony at Yankee Stadium.

There are only a few more weeks to catch all of the Pokemon at the Westchester Square Library. The game ends on August 16.