Cardboard Conundrum: Why a Small University Library Has Grown a Monthly Board Game NightPhilip Hendrickson, Director of Library ServicesConcordia University Nebraskaphendrickson@cune.edu

Board games are back!

Board games are back!

A word on words Formerly called parlor games Board and card games Tabletop games Hobby games Modern games Euro games Designer games

Board game players gain what?

Problem solvingLogicSubject skills (e.g.

geography)and…FUN!

Video games are more popular, but…

F2S vs. F2F

How game night benefits the libraryo In our small town, game night offers a fresh activity for students, faculty, librarians and friends.

o It provides a fun, intellectual alternative to the strong sports and arts opportunities on campus.

o Game night draws visitors to campus, which the administration always appreciates.

o It helps library staff build informal relationships with students, which reduces their reluctance to ask us for library assistance in the future.

o It offers a talking point during recruiting tours, allowing librarians to demonstrate to future freshman that we are approachable and friendly.

o It is a non-threatening opportunity to draw into the library students who otherwise avoid us.

What makes this a renaissance?

Easy to learn

Quality components

Player interaction

Definite length

Points, not player elimination

Meaningful decisions

Game nights at Concordia

Library Lingo: Collection Development

www.BoardGameGeek.com

www.DiceTower.com

www.CasualGameRevolution.com

Podcasts, Blogs and YouTube Channels

MeepleTownOpinionated GamersGames for EducatorsRahdo Runs ThroughDrive-Thru ReviewsWatch It PlayedStarlit Citadel… and so on.

The Dice TowerThe Secret CabalCardboard JungleGames in Schools and LibrariesBlue Peg, Pink PegGarrett’s Games and GeekinessRolling Dice & Taking NamesShut Up and Sit DownThe Daily Worker Placement www.BoardGameLinks.com

…and Books, of course!Teaching with games:

Mayer, Brian, and Christopher Harris. 2010. Libraries got game: aligned learning through modern board games. Chicago: American Library Association.

Harris, Christopher, Patricia Harris, and Brian Mayer. 2015. Teaching the underground railroad through play. New York: Rosen Classroom Professional Resources. [Part of a series of game-based lesson plan books.]

Planning game events in libraries:

Nicholson, Scott. 2010. Everyone plays at the library: creating great gaming experiences for all ages. Medford, N.J.: Information Today, Inc.

Board gaming culture:

Woods, Stewart. 2012. Eurogames: the design, culture and play of modern European board games. Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Co.

Green, Lorien. 2012. Going cardboard: a board game documentary. United States: T-Cat Productions. [DVD]

Where to buy games… Friendly Local Game Store … maybe

or Amazon, of course.

Image Credits All pictures taken by presenter except:

Clark, Kevin, “Green Bay’s Board-Game Obsession” in Wall Street Journal (Jan 15, 2015) viewed May 26, 2015 at http://www.wsj.com/articles/the-packers-of-catan-green-bays-board-game-obsession-1421346102

"Monopoly board on white bg" by fir0002/flagstaffotos. Licensed under GFDL 1.2 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Monopoly_board_on_white_bg.jpg

"1911 Ford Model T Touring" by I, Lglswe. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1911_Ford_Model_T_Touring.jpg

“Bentley Continental GT” by nakhon100. Licensed under CC BY 2.0 via Flickr - https://www.flickr.com/photos/8058098@N07/14227691573

“Ticket to Ride cover” by Fawkes. [Circle added for emphasis.] https://www.boardgamegeek.com/image/38668/

"Children playing video games in a video game trailer" by Gamesingear.

Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Children_playing_video_games_in_a_video_game_trailer.jpg

"Carcassonne Miples" by Júlio Reis (User:Tintazul). Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.5 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Carcassonne_Miples.jpg

“BGG Logo”. http://www.boardgamegeek.com

“Dice Tower Logo”. http://www.dicetower.com/game-podcast/dice-tower

“Casual Game Revolution Banner”. http://casualgamerevolution.com

“Cool Stuff Inc Logo”. http://www.coolstuffinc.com

“Miniature Market Logo”. http://www.miniaturemarket.com

“Funagain Logo”. http://www.funagain.com

“Carcassonne” by Sampsa Ritvanen (User: saksi). Licensed under CC BY-NC 3.0 via BoardGameGeek - https://www.boardgamegeek.com/image/1320302/carcassonne

Questions?Also see “Cardboard Conundrum” in the February 2015 issue of Nebraska Libraries, at http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/neblib/9/