Pokémon GO has become the single most popular game of 2016. According to USA Today, “Apple confirmed Pokémon Go was downloaded more times during its first week than any other app in the App Store’s history.” With is rising popularity however, there comes a host of problems.

“The other day I saw someone, I got this new truck, and he was hovering around it, and I said to him, ‘What are you doing?’ ‘Looking for Pokémon,’ ” said principal Dan Serrano, regarding a recent encounter with a few Pokémon trainers. Loitering, vandalism, theft- all in the realm of consequences brought to light by Pokémon Go. Imagine walking into your backyard and finding another Pokémon trainer trespassing, trying to catch a snorlax. It stands to reason that teens in the generation are not known for their respect of the property of others.

“I don’t know a lot about it. I mean, it’s kind of silly,” Serrano said.

Not to mention, there is also the danger of walking into oncoming traffic or even off of a cliff- it’s actually happened. We live in a world of constant information. Teens, small children, and adults glued to their devices. Many of us are not an exception to this rule. Already, there have been several report of serious injury and even death resulting from negligence during game play.

However, Pokémon GO also has the potential to attract some unsavory characters to Pokéstops and gyms such as the Perry library. The game also has the potential to pose certain safety risks to students and faculty: anyone can come into the library: from a registered sexual offender to an armed gunman. Creepy and dangerous people that put our classmates and siblings in danger.

However, that doesn’t mean gameplay should immediately cease-  librarians Jenn Lopez and Jennifer Brown have different hopes for the game.

“Well we’re a public library, and Gilbert’s pretty undeveloped and we’re still pretty far away…. People aren’t gonna drive that far out of their way to come in here,” says Lopez. After all, there are plenty of other locations are abundant in Pokéstops.

“And we encourage it,” adds Brown.  

“I think it will bring in new customers, so they’ll start coming in and I know the students play it a lot here, so I think it kind of keeps them around,” says Lopez, pleased. Many local businesses, such as the Phoenix Zoo, have used the strategic placement of Pokéstops to their advantage in attracting customers.

Pokémon GO has its up and downs, and just might be able to do some good for public locations and venues where Pokéstops and gyms are present-  even if Team Valor is running around.