We love videogames here at I Love Libraries—especially the first generation of home videogaming systems and their games. Unfortunately, many of these systems and their games have become difficult to find, much less in working order. Thankfully, libraries, institutions, and archivists have stepped in to archive and preserve this essential element of gaming and pop culture history.
During Banned Books Week this year, longtime supporter of libraries Cards Against Humanity offered presales of its new, special edition product, Cards Against Humanity Explains the Joke, and 100% of the net proceeds from the preorder will be donated to the American Library Association.
It’s International Games Month! And honestly, it couldn’t have come at a better time. With the country stretched and divided over political, social, and economic issues, hopefully we can all put our differences aside and come together at our local libraries to play some games-even if for only one month.
International Games Month is an initiative run by volunteers from around the world to reconnect communities through their libraries around the educational, recreational, and social value of all types of games, from fantasy adventures like Dungeons & Dragons and online video games to good, old-fashioned board games. Libraries of all types get in on the action each November, including academic libraries, public libraries, and school libraries, so you can find a game and someone to game with wherever you go.
Here are a few words from Scott Nicholson, professor of game design and development at Wilfrid Laurier University in Brantford, Ontario, author of Everyone Plays at the Library: Creating Great Gaming Experiences for All Ages, and one of the founding members of the American Library Association’s Games and Gaming Round Table, about the history of International Games Month and what you can do to get in on the fun at your library.
What are your favorite games and why? Email pmorehart@ala.org to let us know for a future story on games and gaming at your library!
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