Contact: Macey Morales
Manager
ALA-PIO Media Relations
(312) 280-4393
mmorales@ala.org
NEWS
For Immediate Release
September 23, 2008
ALA provides free National Gaming Day @ your library activity resources
Can your patrons outwit other library gamers?
CHICAGO – Hundreds of libraries across the country are preparing to celebrate the American Library Association’s (ALA) first annual National Gaming Day @ your library on Nov. 15, 2008. ALA invites libraries of all types to join in the celebration by registering for two national gaming activities: a national video game tournament and board game challenge. Libraries also can develop their own National Gaming Day activities by using free resources from the ALA Gaming Resources Web site at http://gaming.ala.org/resources.
The national videogame tournament uses a GT System, a free service of the Ann Arbor (MI) District Library that provides web-based tools for running tournaments for players of any age or experience level. On National Gaming Day, library gamers will be able to see how they rank on local, regional, and national leaderboards.
In addition, libraries will try to set a record for the most number of people playing a board game at the same time. Through a generous donation from Hasbro, every public library branch in the U.S. will receive a free copy of “Pictureka!,” a frenzied version of finder’s keeper’s. Hasbro will ship the games in early November. Libraries interested in participating in either activity and receiving additional products are encouraged to register at http://icanhaz.com/ngd.
The ALA will offer a National Gaming Day @ your library publicity tool kit to help libraries promote their gaming programs and events to the media. The online tool kit, available on October 1, includes downloadable artwork, a customizable postcard, a sample press release, a sample letter to the editor, and much more.
To learn more about National Gaming Day @ your library please visit, or to register for national activities http://gaming.ala.org/resources/index.php?title=Ngd2008.